Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted March 14, 2011233 views12 comments
Blue Tit
Usual pool set up.
Interesting water patterns created by other birds bathing nearby and slow shutter at 80 th sec.
JohnR
Comments
12 comments
Comment posted by Neil Burton on March 15, 2011 at 5:17 AM
Very precious John!
Registered on September 16, 2010, 26 Posts, 461 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Cole on March 15, 2011 at 9:16 AM
that's very nice John. An unusual blue tit shot and there's some lovely detail in the large version.
(Comments are bit limited these days aren't they?? The forum doesn't seem to have recovered from the shift to the new gallery format).
Matt
Registered on February 18, 2008, 17 Posts, 267 Comments
Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on March 15, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Very appealing capture John - I'm new to this forum so would be very interested to know roughly what the usual pool set up involves? I always love watching birds bathing in our bird bath (through the binos) and this is a super example of why.
Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments
Comment posted by Karen Summers on March 15, 2011 at 3:01 PM
different take on the blue tit John and I like it great little set up you have there
Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments
Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on March 15, 2011 at 4:15 PM
Super little Blue Tit shot JR, the fine feather detail is excellent and he seems to have grown a big yellow moustache. Great sharpness too for a 1/80th.
Andy...
Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments
Comment posted by John Robinson on March 15, 2011 at 5:04 PM
Thanks all
Lizzie - a few points you may find helpful.
First of all try to find a spot as far away from other water as possible.When I work a quarry site after rain and there are numerous pools I use scarecrows or cds on cotton to pursuade the birds to use mine. !
The pool need not be too big - a metre or two across is fine. Pond liner is cheap or even plastic bags.. Its worth spending a bit extra as it will last longer.You need some sort of cover such as bushes or branches etc . A permanent hide for long sessions and also to get the birds used to it is good. Make two side shallow - up to two inches . All species prefer a different depth. Make it deep around the edge where you DONT want the birds to go.Decorate the edges with grass turf or plants. Try to avoid too much green moss!
I wont go into my dislike of a low angle due to reflection problems which can impede cropping later. Afew bits of floating weed can be attractice. You can use a sone or two for perches in the water or branches. Remember if the branch is at right angles to you the bird will be side on. Going crosswise it will be head or tail forward.Somewhere in between can be good.Some use dripping water from a container on top of the hide as an added attraction.
Hope that helps. All you need now are some birds and a lot of hours. !!
Best of luck.
Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments
Comment posted by Justin on March 15, 2011 at 5:20 PM
A nice quality image John, especially considering the slow shutter speed.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 106 Posts, 1697 Comments
Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on March 15, 2011 at 5:25 PM
John
Thanks very much for the suggestions - funnily enough we are in the process of trying to sell up and move somewhere with a bit more garden and if all works out (which it may not of course) a little pond could well be on the cards - so these are very useful suggestions. We get loads of birds in our garden now but it's too small to hide away somewhere really. Landscape and travel is 'what I do' but I love photographing and watching birds so if I can bring that into somewhere I live, that would be even better. Thanks again...
Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments
Comment posted by John Robinson on March 15, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Regarding the shutter speed-its about the slowest I can get away with when the birds are in "mid splash " There are a lot of chuck outs though but I like the effects it gives with moving water when it does work. ( Sometimes better than the bird ! )
Cheers
JohnR
Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Haskell on March 16, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Hi John, I like the detail in the feathers and the pose of the bird in the water.
Ian
Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments
Comment posted by Barry Southon on March 17, 2011 at 1:07 PM
John
Now that works so well the detail and water droplets add the polish. Thanks for sharing the pond construction pointers WIP.
Registered on March 13, 2006, 21 Posts, 150 Comments
Comment posted by David Kjaer on March 17, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Love it John.
David
Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments
Comments
12 comments(Comments are bit limited these days aren't they?? The forum doesn't seem to have recovered from the shift to the new gallery format).
Matt
Super little Blue Tit shot JR, the fine feather detail is excellent and he seems to have grown a big yellow moustache. Great sharpness too for a 1/80th.
Andy...
Lizzie - a few points you may find helpful.
First of all try to find a spot as far away from other water as possible.When I work a quarry site after rain and there are numerous pools I use scarecrows or cds on cotton to pursuade the birds to use mine. !
The pool need not be too big - a metre or two across is fine. Pond liner is cheap or even plastic bags.. Its worth spending a bit extra as it will last longer.You need some sort of cover such as bushes or branches etc . A permanent hide for long sessions and also to get the birds used to it is good. Make two side shallow - up to two inches . All species prefer a different depth. Make it deep around the edge where you DONT want the birds to go.Decorate the edges with grass turf or plants. Try to avoid too much green moss!
I wont go into my dislike of a low angle due to reflection problems which can impede cropping later. Afew bits of floating weed can be attractice. You can use a sone or two for perches in the water or branches. Remember if the branch is at right angles to you the bird will be side on. Going crosswise it will be head or tail forward.Somewhere in between can be good.Some use dripping water from a container on top of the hide as an added attraction.
Hope that helps. All you need now are some birds and a lot of hours. !!
Best of luck.
Thanks very much for the suggestions - funnily enough we are in the process of trying to sell up and move somewhere with a bit more garden and if all works out (which it may not of course) a little pond could well be on the cards - so these are very useful suggestions. We get loads of birds in our garden now but it's too small to hide away somewhere really. Landscape and travel is 'what I do' but I love photographing and watching birds so if I can bring that into somewhere I live, that would be even better. Thanks again...
Cheers
JohnR
Ian
Now that works so well the detail and water droplets add the polish. Thanks for sharing the pond construction pointers WIP.
David