lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

I would appreciate any comments on my editing. Thanks.

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NMGal Loc: NE NM

The pictures look fine.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Not a comment on your editing, but on the photos in general...they are not in focus.

If you want people to perceive your photos as being sharp, you have to at least get the eyes in focus.

You need to work on using your AF points.

erl Loc: Carolina Shores,NC

What a great series of pics. Very hard to catch Heron having lunch!

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Thanks for your comment, flip1948. I am having trouble focusing and am trying to work on it. I am discarding too many photos that would be good, in my opinion, except for focusing errors.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

Use the automatic focusing tool that is built into your lens and camera. With the old split image view finder in my old film camera I could focus just fine. Today I can't see well enough to focus with just the view through the lens. I let the camera do the focusing.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Bigmike1,

Thanks for your comments.

If I focus manually, I have several helpful options, including a split screen. Of course manual is not a good option in many cases, including shooting birds. I also was a fan of the split screen.

I have been trying to observe the "1 over focal length" rule, but perhaps my vision (with glasses) and my hand shake mean I should use a tripod more or modify the formula to "1-1/2 or 2 over focal length."

Maybe use "single point" focusing for more precision, though it is certainly prone to error. It seems like a wider focus area might not be precise enough.

I'm not sure what you are referring to by "letting the camera do the focusing," since there are so many focusing options in modern cameras.

Thanks again for your comments.

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

That would be an anhinga, not a heron.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I agree with the comments about your focus issues. Not much you can do in post-processing with an image that is not in focus. You'll get it with more practice.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Thanks for the encouragement. I've had years of trying, made more confusing by not fully understanding each new camera. I'm committed to one camera now, the Fujifilm X-T3, which I will learn how to use properly.

Thanks again.

vonzip Loc: cape cod

Focus is key, especially the eye. These are soft. Good subject matter however. vz

vonzip Loc: cape cod

Looks like a anhinga to me. vz

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Great sequence ⭐⭐⭐ That was an awesome, eye-catching swallow 🏆 I'm glad you weren't standing too close 😯😯😯

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

You are confusing focus with camera motion. The"1 over focal length" concerns camera motion and that is where you might be concerned about using a monopod or tripod. The best tripod in the world can't help with out of focus photos.
If your camera has auto focus, by all means use it. If it doesn't, make every effort to get sharp focus on your own. If you need reading glasses use them. If you need an enlarged view through the viewfinder get it. If you can and need live view to get sharp focus use it.
Read and reread the camera users manual. I think you have some misunderstandings that you will have to clear up in order to get the images that you want. Most importantly, if you are truly interested in photography, don't give up.
It WILL come if you keep at it. But you won't learn it by playing around with your camera over the weekend. I bought my first camera over 50 years ago. For the first 20 years it was a love hate relationship. But I'm comfortable enough in my own skin that I can say I'm a pretty darn good photographer these days. There is no reason why you can't be too.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Thanks for your kind words, Retired CPO. Camera shake or focusing errors, I’m determined to figure out my mistakes.