Nature's Best Photography Students Blog

… What will show up in a photograph. Connecticut received its first measurable snowfall since the storm back in October. They were calling for 4-6 inches, which got me excited. I knew I would be up the next morning sitting in my blind photographing the birds. There is a certain character of birds in the snow, especially when those subjects are Dark-eyed Junco’s as shown in the photo above. I was shooting at f/5.6, ISO 500, with a shutter speed of 1/40. You’re probably asking why I had my shutter speed so low. Well, I wanted the snow to leave streaks in the image as it fell to the ground. That called for a slow shutter speed. I took 195 images that morning, and 37 of them were sharp. That just goes to show that the more images, the better chance you have of obtaining a sharp image. Now here comes the surprising part of this image:

This is a 125% crop of the first image in this blog post. Check out the snowflakes on the birds head. Up until now, I always thought those intricate snowflakes were just a decoration, but they are really real! As the title says, you never know what will show up in one of your images. Let’s just hope it’s a good thing!

To see more of my work, please visit my personal blog at www.jlounsburyphoto.com/blog

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Shooting moving water is quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do, simply because it is so fun, yet simple. You can do it any time of the season, any time of the day. However, the best seasons for it are Fall and Winter, and the ideal light is overcast, because it allows for slow shutter speeds. You want to set your f-stop to somewhere around f/16-f/22, and use the lowest ISO your camera will go, which in my case is ISO 100. Slow shutter speeds allow the water to flow while the mirror is up, therefore showing the motion of the water rather than freezing it. The key is getting into the water. I use my Dad’s old fire boots, which allow me to go into thigh high water. Getting into the water allows the water to flow through the scene and dump out into your viewers lap.

You don’t have to go for the wide cascade shot, but can focus on those small scenes. In the Winter, I love to focus on ice along the sides of the streams. It provides a strong anchor point for the eye, since the rest of the scene will be blurred from the water movement. The most important thing is to have fun with it! The images can be very rewarding!

To view more of my work, please visit my personal blog at www.jlounsburyphoto.com/blog

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Gitzo 3541LS Systematic Carbon Fiber Tripod & Induro BHD2

I just purchased a Gitzo 3541LS Systematic Carbon Fiber Tripod and Induro BHD2 to add to my gear arsenal. Both of these pieces of equipment are extremely precise tools. I though I would share a couple of tips on what to look for in a tripod and ballhead.

What to look for in a tripod?

• Go carbon fiber – It is much lighter than aluminum tripods and transmits less vibrations. Carbon fiber is also easier to maintain, and isn’t as susceptible to corrosion.
• Lose the center column – The center column drives up the price in a tripod, but isn’t the best thing for sharp images. When you raise the center column, you effectively have a three legged monopod.
• Buy for the future – All of us who post here are fairly young. You want to buy a tripod that will last you a lifetime. Buy from the reputable brands such as Really Right Stuff and Gitzo, as they often carry lifetime warranties.
• Go for height - A tripod should be at least tall enough to come up to your chin. This will insure comfortable usage.
• It should be durable - Ask about the tripod you are interested in on various photography forums and watch YouTube videos. This can give you a sense of how the tripod will perform out in the field.

What to look for in a ballhead?

• Fluidity is the key - A ballhead needs to be fluid. If it isn’t, you won’t be able to pan very well.
• Look for independent panning lock - The independent panning lock allows you to pan while the rest of the head is locked down. This is great for panoramic photography.
• No creeping - Make sure that the ballhead doesn’t move when you tighten it down. If you frame a scene to the precise inch, you want it to stay like that when it gets locked down.
• Support the weight - A ballhead should be able to support the weight of your camera plus some.
• Look for warranties - Warranties give you an extra peace of mind. Look for the ballheads that come with them.

Well, here you have it. These are my tips on choosing a good tripod and ballhead. If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail at joey@jlounsburyphoto.com

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Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you are having a day filled with fun and family.

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Cooper's Hawk

This was one of those times where I wish that magnificent bird was perched on a branch. A lot of people ask me why I don’t delete images that include the hand of man. Well the simple answer is that the hand of man is everywhere! The birds have learned to adapt and use these things to their advantage. Hawks will perch themselves on power lines to search for food. That was the exact case with this image. I am showing the biology of this critter, which makes it okay in my eyes. Now on to the technical part. The background was pretty bright, while the subject was in deep shade. I broke out the Nikon SB-800 and the Better Beamer. My biggest challenge was keeping the red eye away. This was the one frame of about 30 that the red eye was not present. Now the big question. Is it obvious that I used flash on this one? Any feedback would be appreciated.

To view more of my work, please visit my personal blog at www.jlounsburyphoto.com/blog

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