an idea..A project results
Sep 23, 2019 16:53:06 #
A fun project…...Completed
A little more than two years ago I set before myself a project to photograph the birds in my backyard. At the time I did not know all my feathered visitors and residents, or even how many different species there might be (would you care to guess?) I figured the only way to really know would be to capture (photograph) male, female, adult and juvenile of each species, after all how hard could that be. Soon it became apparent to me that I would need to add another parameter, that of breeding color, for some of the birds altered their appearance dramatically. The attempt to capture one species often reveled an other in the background, or just on the edge of the frame. Some of the biggest surprises came when the subject fled the frame and there deep in the bush was an unexpected and unknown prize.
Two years and 72 species later I asked myself what I was going to do with all these pictures. Thousands of pictures some composed for species identification, some for visual enjoyment. I have chosen to present them in the form of a coffee table picture book. Printed with a Canon pro 100, spiral bound 8.5 x 11 with a Fellows star 150. Two volumes, (Vol. 1 pictured below) 40 species in volume 1 and 32 in volume 2.
I know this reads like “look at what I have done”, but nothing could be further from my intent. I found this project to be fun, exciting and rewarding and thought some of you might like to try it yourselves. A rewarding and exciting long term project with no time table & no pressure to complete.
Should this sort of a project appeal to you, allow me to suggest f8 to begin with, and cropping with bird size indication.
A little more than two years ago I set before myself a project to photograph the birds in my backyard. At the time I did not know all my feathered visitors and residents, or even how many different species there might be (would you care to guess?) I figured the only way to really know would be to capture (photograph) male, female, adult and juvenile of each species, after all how hard could that be. Soon it became apparent to me that I would need to add another parameter, that of breeding color, for some of the birds altered their appearance dramatically. The attempt to capture one species often reveled an other in the background, or just on the edge of the frame. Some of the biggest surprises came when the subject fled the frame and there deep in the bush was an unexpected and unknown prize.
Two years and 72 species later I asked myself what I was going to do with all these pictures. Thousands of pictures some composed for species identification, some for visual enjoyment. I have chosen to present them in the form of a coffee table picture book. Printed with a Canon pro 100, spiral bound 8.5 x 11 with a Fellows star 150. Two volumes, (Vol. 1 pictured below) 40 species in volume 1 and 32 in volume 2.
I know this reads like “look at what I have done”, but nothing could be further from my intent. I found this project to be fun, exciting and rewarding and thought some of you might like to try it yourselves. A rewarding and exciting long term project with no time table & no pressure to complete.
Should this sort of a project appeal to you, allow me to suggest f8 to begin with, and cropping with bird size indication.
Plastic ring binding would be a better description than spiral binding
Canon's Photo Paper Glossy is printable on both sides, with the back side perfect for text.
Sep 23, 2019 16:57:04 #
What a positive, uplifting enjoyable posting! Thank you so much. If the printing isn't prohibitive, I wonder if you could donate copies to places like nursing homes and assisted living?
Sep 23, 2019 17:01:31 #
I respect what you have done very much. The birds are not pumped up with over-processing, but appear quite natural, in their real environment, even to a cat's carrying its bird prey. Solid, wonderful project. Thank you.
Sep 23, 2019 17:09:44 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
What a positive, uplifting enjoyable posting! Thank you so much. If the printing isn't prohibitive, I wonder if you could donate copies to places like nursing homes and assisted living?
Linda that is a great idea. The printing cost is low, however the time and coating costs are high enough to give a pause. Each printed page must sit 24 hours (off gassing time) before the stabilizing spray
protectant can be applied. Not really saying no to your idea, just considering maybe smaller offerings.
Sep 23, 2019 17:13:16 #
artBob wrote:
I respect what you have done very much. The birds are not pumped up with over-processing, but appear quite natural, in their real environment, even to a cat's carrying its bird prey. Solid, wonderful project. Thank you.
Thank you artBob, your reply encapsulates a few of the things I learned along the way. Crops that do not include size references leave the impression the wren's are the same size as Black birds.
Sep 23, 2019 17:15:11 #
unlucky2 wrote:
A fun project…...Completed br br A little more th... (show quote)
Looks like a great project. I would love to browse those volumes.
Hemet huh? I like you anyway, everyone can't live in Corona.
Sep 23, 2019 17:24:44 #
Thanks Robert, my next project is to photograph my fellow residents. From the lowly soil worm and rose aphid to the Opossum in my garden, how hard could that be. Presently I an stuck on trying to capture the bats at dusk. It looks like I need some sort of light strobe and trigger system. I guess if I lived in Corona they would hold still.
Sep 23, 2019 22:13:22 #
unlucky2 wrote:
Thanks Robert, my next project is to photograph my fellow residents. From the lowly soil worm and rose aphid to the Opossum in my garden, how hard could that be. Presently I an stuck on trying to capture the bats at dusk. It looks like I need some sort of light strobe and trigger system. I guess if I lived in Corona they would hold still.
Over the years I have seen tutorials and articles on doing bats. I think someone posted a how-to here on UHH a few years ago.
A little googling etc and you should get tips - I do remember some of the rigs got pretty elaborate and expensive - detectors etc hooked to cameras to trip the flash and shutters. One was a frame with bait and infrared beams to trip the camera when a bat went through the frame - camera pre-focused on a spot just an inch or two on the near side of the frame so when the bat tripped the beam the camera went off, hopefully, when the bat was at the focus distance.
Nope our bats don't pose, but we have so much ambient light they do wear little sunglasses. I have seen moon lit nights in places where it really gets dark that weren't as bright.
Possums are hard to photo in my yard, they stay on top of the fences to travel past me. The reason is named "Tara"* and is 18 pounds of Irish Shorty Jack Russell (well a mix, Momma was 1/2 chihuahua and 1/2 miniature dachshund, but she is a Daddy's Girl in looks etc.) She has killed possums in the yard and the coons avoid the yard ever since she almost drowned one by not letting it get out after she chased it into the pool. She usually leaves the birds alone, I have seen her half asleep in the yard while they feed only a few feet from her. She does go after the squirrels when they raid my bird feeders. Hasn't caught one but our squirrels on the block are in great shape with her as their fitness trainer. Now in the Spring when the fledglings are breaking necks and wings flying into things she regards those as free, self delivered snacks.
* I made the mistake of letting the wife take her to get her first license and the papers said "Terror". I asked Why? Because "Little Holy Terror" wouldn't fit on the form. Better than Debra's other nick name for her when the cats were running upstairs because Tara (10 weeks and 2+lbs at the time) wanted to play- "Al Qaeda".
Sep 23, 2019 22:24:16 #
I never thought of taking on a project like yours, well done!
I do shoot birds in my yard and was surprised at the variety, from Hummingbird to Cooper's Hawk.
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I do shoot birds in my yard and was surprised at the variety, from Hummingbird to Cooper's Hawk.
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Sep 24, 2019 06:38:12 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
What a positive, uplifting enjoyable posting! Thank you so much. If the printing isn't prohibitive, I wonder if you could donate copies to places like nursing homes and assisted living?
If they were would you be willing to help cover the costs?
Sep 24, 2019 06:59:19 #
Sep 24, 2019 07:28:43 #
Love this project and a great idea from Linda. I wonder if you approached a printing company if they would donate printing off some copies for local nursing homes/assisted living facilities. They could be laminated to last longer. Some facilities have windows where the residents watch birds at feeders. They would love a guide from a local photographer. Really great, fun project. You did a lot of work but it was well worth it! Congrats!
Sep 24, 2019 07:44:56 #
Hat's off to you for completing a fun project and publishing it for others to see!
Sep 24, 2019 09:15:43 #
Congratulations on a wonderful project. Your books are beautifully done and so carefully laid-out.
I think you'd make a pretty good publisher if you wanted to. So many folks on this site are capable of so many wonderful things and I love reading about their efforts each day.
I look forward to it every day now and have learned an enormous amount of wisdom from the many contributing voices on this forum.
Thank you again for an inspiring effort and a new benchmark possibly for all who dream like you do.
Wow.
I think you'd make a pretty good publisher if you wanted to. So many folks on this site are capable of so many wonderful things and I love reading about their efforts each day.
I look forward to it every day now and have learned an enormous amount of wisdom from the many contributing voices on this forum.
Thank you again for an inspiring effort and a new benchmark possibly for all who dream like you do.
Wow.
Sep 24, 2019 09:27:43 #
unlucky2 wrote:
A fun project…...Completed br br A little more th... (show quote)
I agree with Linda. Beautiful, positive and Uplifting.
Bruce
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