Cable Release

Having spoken with Steve about the problems in 'hiding' myself to take photos of the birds in my garden I have this morning purchased:

HAMA Digital Camera Connecting System Connecting Cable OLY-1 (for Olympus Cameras) 00005210

HAMA Wireless remote control Digital Camera Connecting System  Base (Universal) 00005202

I visited my local camera shop so that I could be given expert advice in an area where my knowledge is limited. This proved to be the case.

The remote control base was chosen since possible sites for the camera are 30 feet or more away. I would need several linking cables for this.

Plan:
Hopefully on Sunday I can play with this & see if I can achieve good images of birds at or near the feeding stations.

Introduction to Photoshop: Cropping; Layers; Retouching

This was a basic session on Photoshop using version CS5 at Burton College.

Prior to this I have used Photoshop Elements at home - for cropping and very simple retouching. I have NEVER understood the  concept of 'layers' within Photoshop.

This is the base image I have chosen - a sunrise at home in late September (Indian Summer). When looked at closely there is a large blemish in the sky (possibly a dirty camera sensor), and also telephone cables running from left to right. Otherwise this is an image with which I am reasonably happy.


Initially the image was imported into Photoshop and sized to fit the screen:
       View --> Fit On Screen (Command O)

1. Cropping;

Initially I decided the necessary size of the photo - in this case 10" by 8", with a resolution of 300 dpi. I amended the opacity to 100% - background 'black', and clicked on the 'Cropping Tool', also choosing the 'Rule of Thirds' as an aid to composition. I decided to lose the central flowers which are at the bottom of the photo, and to have the sun at a Rule of Thirds intersection, keeping the clear sky quite central. By having a black background the image is easier to evaluate. Once happy with the image I clicked the tick to accept, and then resized to fit the screen. This gave me my background layer, which will remain untouched from herein.

2. Layers:

To facilitate adjustment layers are now added on top of the background layer. The advantage of using layers is that since the background layer remains untouched any changes can be deleted without having to start the whole process from the beginning.

The method used is to click:
     Layer --> New Adjustment Layer --->
The choices then can be seen on the image below.

Brightness / Contrast:
     Initially the settings for both were 0; I reduced the brightness to -10, leaving the contrast at 0.

Hue / Saturation:
     Initially Hue, Saturation and Lightness were set as 0. I amended the hue to +30 (green image below) and then -23 ( red image below), before returning all settings to zero.

Color Balance:
     See below. These were kept at zero.

In this image the build up of the layers can be seen.

Vibrance:
     Again kept to zero.

Exposure:
     See below - again unchanged.

Black and White:
     The image below shows the settings chosen, whilst the image produced appears next. The monochrome image is not an improvement in this instance, since the attraction of the original image is its light and colours.

This image shows more clearly the visual blemishes which can be improved by:

3. Retouching:

For this we must click on the background layer and duplicate it. The original must remain untouched.

     Layer --> Duplicate Layer ( see above)

Ideally the area to be 'fixed' should be at 100% magnification. For this the 'Magnification Tool' is used.

Once at 100% magnification the 'Clone Tool' must be selected - in this instance a soft edge is required. By clicking on the target area together with the 'ALT' key the copy can be made and then released onto the blemish to obscure it.

In this way the large blemish was removed. However the cables require more precise work for their removal.

Finally the image can be saved:

Birds / Mammals currently visiting Church Farm.

Front Feeders:

Blue tits

Great tits

Greenfinches

Chaffinches

Sparrows / Dunnocks

Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Not seen recently:

Long tailed tits

Bearded tits

Bullfinches

Nuthatch

Patio Feeders:

Similar to above, plus pigeons

Those that feed on the ground:

Pheasants

Partridges

Blackbirds

Grey squirrels

These are generally under the oak tree and around the compost area – not clearly visible from the house.

Birds seen but not feeding:

Magpies

Crows

Geese (flying overhead)

Wrens

Challenges to Photography:

Determining a ‘hide’ from which photos can be taken

Sufficient light to enable a fast shutter speed without a high ISO number

Attracting birds and mammals to photogenic and accessible spots:

Birds on branches not feeders

Ground birds perfectly visible

Possible solutions:

Improve photographic technique

Innovation in developing ‘hides’

Placing food to attract birds not normally visited

e.g. on the ground of the main lawn near to the patio

Scouting for places from which to photograph birds visiting the feeders.

This weekend I planned to discover the possible vantage points from which to take photos of birds (or squirrels) visiting the garden feeders.

Since the birds are exceedingly shy (and fast) either to be hidden from view or at a great distance would appear to be the first options.

I have initially identified three possible sites; two overlook the feeders at the front, with the third overlooking the patio

SITE 1:

• From the upstairs window that overlooks the feeders. I hoped to use a tripod for this, and would be completely hidden from the birds.

Findings:
Indeed the birds were undisturbed. Unfortunately the window is not large and opens outwards and upwards, with a quite restricted view. For one feeder it was impossible to use the tripod as the camera could be placed neither at the right angle nor close enough to the opening ( I did attempt using the tripod as a monopod).

The image below uses the tripod as a monopod. This proved exceptionally cumbersome and unstable, so if I wish to shoot from here the camera will have to be hand held.

f/22; ISO 200; 0.80 sec; focal length 133mm

For such an incredibly slow shutter speed the clarity is amazing (or plain lucky!). For all other shots I increased the aperture so that shutter speed could be increased.


The next group of photos were also taken from the upstairs bedroom, using the tripod. By this time my husband had kindly trimmed back excess foliage which compromised the images (Thanks Andrew!!).

f/5.6; ISO 200; 1/20 sec; focal length 190mm

Increasing the aperture did enable a faster shutter speed, but the lighting was so poor (and this was at 1pm - maximum light!) that the shutter speed was still too slow, so the birds are quite blurred.


For the next photos I increased the ISO number so that again I could reduce the shutter speed.

f/5.6; ISO 400; 1/50 sec; focal length 114mm

The shutter speed is still too slow to prevent blurring of the movement of the birds.

f/5.6; ISO 400; 1/50 sec; focal length 96mm


For the next 4 photos I opened the aperture to the maximum possible for the lens to try to increase shutter speed.

f/4.6; ISO 400; 1/100 sec; focal length 158mm

f/4.5; ISO 400; 1/50 sec; focal length 149mm

f/4.5; ISO 400; 1/50 sec; focal length 149mm

f/4.5; ISO 400; 1/50 sec; focal length 149mm

The clarity and focus have improved. Unfortunately I struggle with a tripod so the image is not positioned as I might wish.



SITE 2:

• From the downstairs lounge window next to the feeders. I hoped here to again use the tripod to either shoot through an open window, or with the door open.

Unfortunately the tripod cannot get sufficiently close to the window, and the camera would be so high to make it unworkable for me.
The door seemed a good second option - but it opens to the left - which means the door is between the feeders and the lounge when open. The photos below were taken hand held as I stood just behind the open door.

These photos were all taken at 14.40pm, with the fog beginning to descend and the light beginning to fade fast. For this reason I increased the ISO to 800 in an attempt to attain a reasonably fast shutter speed. Even at ISO 800 the speeds were too slow.

f/4.9; ISO 800; 1/40 sec; focal length 190mm

f/4.5; ISO 800; 1/25 sec; focal length 70mm

f/4.5; ISO 800; 1/40 sec; focal length 149mm

f/4.5; ISO 800; 1/60 sec; focal length 141mm



SITE 3:

• From the upstairs back bedroom window, overlooking the patio. Here the window is large and opens to the right giving a perfect view of the garden whilst I remain hidden to the birds (although they do sense any large movements).

There are 2 photos here. By now the light was poor, and I used ISO 1600 and a tripod. Shutter speed is certainly adequate, although this ISO setting will obviously detract from the final image clarity. The problem encountered here was the auto focus of the camera. In the first shot the wooden support is in focus; in the second it is the feeder.

f/4.8; ISO 1600; 1/100 sec; focal length 179mm

f/4.8; ISO 1600; 1/160 sec; focal length 179mm


A fourth site within the house is possible - from the room which directly overlooks the patio. The patio door can be opened to give a clear view of the garden and feeders and a tripod set up inside.


Action / Learning Points:

• To investigate taking photos from the patio door
• To take more photos from the lounge door
• To use the tripod exclusively until I become comfortable with it
• To take photos from the bedroom overlooking the patio
• To use manual focus more until I am comfortable with it
• To use 'live view' on the camera more
• To discover more sites where I am hidden from the birds from which photos can be taken
• To explore the use of other aids ( e.g. remote controls?)



Reflection after Week 9

This week I have managed to upload most of my photos to date, and feel that there is now a good core of photos for Theme 1 – Close Up photography in the garden.

However Theme 2 – Wildlife photography seems less secure. The main issue is being able to take photos of birds or animals in motion. This weekend I hope to review possible sites from which photos can be taken, plus take some speculative shots. Lighting will be an important factor since I shall need a fast shutter speed, which may be a factor limited by autumnal weather (fog and rain!). High ISO will help, but does not enhance the clarity of the photos.

Addendum.
The weekend was foggy and as anticipated light was a limiting factor. Photos to be uploaded asap.

Autumn Hedgerows- November 2011

f/5.6; ISO 200; 1/40 second; focal length 73 mm

f/16; ISO 800; 1/25 second; focal length 55 mm

f/16; ISO 1600; 1/60 second; focal length 55 mm

Toadstools - November 2011

Whilst wondering around the garden I discovered these toadstools and decided to experiment. The camera was handheld using the telephoto lens (70 - 300 mm). I wanted a reasonable depth of field - f/11 was a compromise. Since the camera was hand held I could not reduce my shutter speed any further even with image stabilisation, so the ISO setting was increased to 800.

f/11; ISO 800; 1/25 second; focal length 123 mm

f/11; ISO 800; 1/30 second; focal length 128 mm

f/11; ISO 800; 1/30 second; focal length 76 mm

f/11; ISO 800; 1/30 second; focal length 123 mm

The final image has been chosen to be in the final folio. My initial thoughts were delight at the colours and varying textures shown. If I could get a lower perspective it might prove interesting, as possibly might be a narrower depth of field.

f/5.6; ISO 200; 1/20 second; focal length 150 mm

This image I find fascinating as the various colours and textures are shown. Possibly a closer image , a narrower field of view and brighter light would help to produce a livelier and more interesting image