Photographs by Dave Phillips
57 Years Without Birds
After a 25-year layoff from photography as a hobby, I bought a digital camera 6 months ago and became a beginning amateur all over again looking for a challenge. Driving around a nearby lake, new camera by my side, I discovered "birds." I had never paid much attention to them all my life. I am now so aware of the character and beauty of the smallest birds to the grandeur of the larger species. Over the past few months, birds have kindled what I'll call a most pleasurable photographic challenge.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ30 digicam with a Nikon TC-E17ED Teleconverter and a mounted Red Dot Site go with me almost everywhere now, as I constantly listen for the chattering singing sounds of birds, mostly photographing from the van window. Vehicles up close just don't spook birds like people do! Along with a modern digital camera, patience, perseverence, and familiarity with the inhabitants/habitats in an area are the ingredients for rewarding photos.
The 8-megapixel camera and 1.7 X extender that takes the optical magnification to about 20X.
These photos are very obtainable with modern digital cameras having
optical zoom up to 12X, image stabilization and more. One's photos need
not be textbook or pro-perfect. Take the opportunity to capture the
moment so that others may see too. When I miss an opportunity, I recall
what a fellow photographer once wrote: "When you miss shots, laugh.
When you capture great shots, thank nature for the opportunity" —Gil
Seize the opportunities that nature provides. I do often. So far it's
just photographing more common species, but I'm learning and catching
up after 57 years without birds!
All photos are from the C. Bickham Dickson lake area in Shreveport, Louisiana. Additional photos can be seen on Dave's web site.
Dave Phillips