I shoot with a Sony A65V and a Tamron 70-300 Macro lens. Also have a Sony A65V with an 18-250 lens that I use quite frequently. Bought the Tamron new on Ebay for $28.00 and it is a fine lens. How lucky can I get?
No I don't use a tripod. These little birds skip around too much for a tripod. The problem I have is this bush is almost always in deep shade between two buildings causing me to have to use more ISO or lower shutter speed than I like. Would also like to shoot at f8 or smaller to get a little more DOF.

Thanks for sharing. Brings back some wonderful memories. When I was a kid of about 10 {83 years ago} there was a horned owl living in a woods near our house. I would go by often and talk to it. I could walk right up to it and all it would do is blink its eyes and turn its head. I know it just turned its head back really fast but it appeared to be spinning its head 360 degrees.

Thanks everyone for your nice replies. You have made my day.

I am 93 years old and unable to walk without a walker but still love to hobble outside my front door and sit and photograph the birds as they light on a shrub on their way to a nearby bird feeder. I can then spend many enjoyable hours processing and printing a few to give away or put in album.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

Great shot of a difficult capture. Love the background. You should be proud of this one.

I find that if I totally relax my muscles for the shot my arm never feels the needle insertion and my arm never gets sore. Takes a little mind control to do this.

Wonderful bird photos.

I always enjoy your fine bird photos and look forward to your latest every morning.

Not quite enough information but here is my personal experience. I am not a professional but do insist on a quality print. In my lifetime I have used a goodly number of printers. I'm 93 yrs old and have been printing almost all my own photos including calendars for some businesses. I have had a few in museums and hospitals.
Almost every printer I ever owned was either a Canon or Epson of one variety or another. My present printer is an Epson XP-7100 that I have been using for about a year and have printed well over a thousand 8.5 x 11 prints. It does a beautiful job and has been absolutely trouble free. By far it is the best I have ever owned.

Was once an amateur radio operator and ordered a headset from Sears. They substituted with a copper bottom tea kettle. I never did figure out how to use it.

I have always been perplexed at how the female red winged blackbird can look so different from the male.

In your images, especially number 5, I see great opportunities for some close-up work. One of my favorites for close-up is old wagons, wheels and fasteners in particular. Thanks for sharing your work.

Beautiful.

Tried that once and when I returned about an hour later the suds had filled the entire kitchen and dining area to a neck deep sea of suds. They are not simple and easy to clean up.

It's always amazing to me how other people change but I don't.