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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I found this tiny tyke by accident as I watched a black-capped chickadee dance around on the limbs of this tree. I'm not sure if it was the mother or not...for that matter, I'm not positive what sort of bird this is - but I'd appreciate it if somebody else can identify it.
I took this during the late afternoon hours. The lighting was intense outside the tree; it took several angles to capture a photo without severe hot spots.
I suppose this final photo is the result of a learning experience because I came back to the nest many times during different parts of the day and ended up with a decent lesson in lighting and exposure. It took 40 shots and a slight case of whiplash before I walked away with one I felt was sort of decent.
The camera's ISO was set at 400, but due to the darkness under the tree, I did a +1 exposure compensation - just enough to allow the sun to do a bit of illuminating while making up for the difference (using parial metering) with my exposure.
This youngster didn't try once to leave the safety of the nest (I watched him/her for two days), and although I never spotted another bird bringing food, his open beak snapped on insects as they flew by.
The heat that weekend was intense; during the hottest part of the day, the beak remained open, reminding me of a panting dog. Do they cool themselves down in the same way a dog does or is it possible he just wanted more insects?
In order to get a closer shot, I climbed onto a table unaware that it was off-center. When it tipped, I did a stop, drop, and roll, making sure my camera was protected. I didn't repeat that stunt - climbing on the table or the stop, drop, and roll.
I did, however, manage to tick off a squirrel that heaved a pinecone at me (sorry, I just don't believe in coincidences - and besides, he nailed me) followed by an intense scolding.
Given his little tantrum, I figured he wanted his own candid moment, but decided not to give in. As much as I love photographing squirrels, intimidating me to get his fifteen minutes of fame just would not do.
Ignoring the squirrel, I replaced the 200 f 2.7 lens with the 300 f 4.0 one. Ironically, I can thank a wolf spider for this shot.
Until that afternoon, I wasn't aware that jumping spiders existed, but jump on me it did. Later, when I asked the owner of the resort about the speices, I was told that the jumping spider was known as the Wolf Spider. Not that it mattered because as an arachniphobic, I simply wanted to avoid them. (I know, I know, a fear of spiders and my adventures into the woods make little logical sense!)
Anyway, when the spider jumped, I jumped, and ended up in the spot that was 1) away from the spider, and 2) placed in a better position to get this capture.
One of these days, I'm going to find myself on youtube from somebody who happened to have a video camera while I'm on one of my mis-adventure... |
Silke, nglen, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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