Cameras and Birds
I was a fortunate as a kid to be exposedto cameras. My dad with his mechanical mind was really into photography and the workings of a camera. He had many lenses and camera bodies around the house but they all were Nikon and Nikor.. Probably where I get my fierce loyalty towards brands!
My earliest memories of photography was in our families master bathroom. It was a really small bathroom with a cast iron tub (some sort of peach color). In that tub was dad's dark room. He would develop his own negatives and prints in the tub. I can still remember the smell of the chemicals used to process prints. Dad had a great eye for composition and really worked and manipulated the photos with his darkroom. These experiences through my childhood hooked me on photography.
Photography for me was tough, this is probably why I didn't take it seriously until college. The hardest part for me was the mechanical process of taking the pictures. Watching my meters, getting the focal length right, ISO settings, and getting it focused. This is why the process of taking a great picture was an evolution...but like everything in life..practice, practice, practice.... which is the same mantra for birding. As I became more comfortable with the setup of a great shot my photography really improved thus giving me new love for photography.
Funny story about one of my first birding experiences. I had listened to Brad and Sam talk about birding for years and finally decided to see what the fuss was about. We were on my 40th birthday Vegas trip and they were going to bird Henderson Birding Preserve. I tagged along leaving the Flamingo parking -lot before dawn and getting back after lunch. I had a great time and was hooked after this trip but I birded the whole day without binoculars and just my camera. looking back I wish I had a pair of binoculars but it was my love of photography that got me out of my Vegas bed and on to this birding journey...
With the evolution of digital photography taking photographs has become easier. the days of hoping your prints were exposed correctly are over now you have instant feedback. But birds don't care about your technology... they jump from leaf to leaf or fly right when you are about to push the shutter release button. So this creates new lessons I need to learn and practice to have pictures I can be happy with... I will never be the guy investing thousands of dollars for a 800mm lens and a large tripod and flashes trying to carry it all to the birds..... I want my birding photography to be an organic one like being able to carry my camera and binoculars without struggling the whole trip. So I will always be on the fringe of tack sharp photos but in the end they are only for me and for me to share with you.
Jonathan-