One of the things I enjoy about being involved with photography is all the folks I meet. In the early 2000’s I met my friend Chuck while at the dog park. Later on I became interested in photography and we found ourselves out shooting together. Chuck was the first person who explained how aperture controlled the depth of field. I still use his method to show others how it works.
Chucks next door neighbor, Jerry, is a photographer also – a real photographer – as in he makes money selling is photos and has for years. I really enjoy talking with Jerry and I do not get very many opportunities to so. so Friday I was very excited that I was able to go and talk with Jerry. Just about anything Nikon Jerry usually has the answer or will pretty darn fast.
I arrived exactly on time – I actually sat around the corner text messaging to kill time so I would not arrive early.
Jerry
The purpose of my visit was two fold. One I really enjoy Jerry and looking at all his photos. Two, we both just recently purchased d7000’s and I wanted to pick his brain about settings and what not. And talk we did. I left with a loaner book and a super photo he took of two Sand-hill Cranes. I believe that Jerry has forgotten more about photography than I have even known
The Book
Last night I read and read the photography help book about the d7000. I jotted down a few notes and fell asleep. This afternoon I loaded up my gear and headed out to the refuge armed with some new ideas on specific camera settings. I still have not gotten it all worked out but I did get some better shots than my first attempts and the Sandhill Cranes did fly over head – way up but hey – I managed to grab a few shots of them. Not the best as most were shot at the max of the lens. But, way better than the before my chat with Jerry.
Sitting at a bench a noticed a bunch (what do you call a group of dragon flys? a swarm?) of Dragon Flys and zoomed in on them. I was really impressed at how fast the camera focused and how well it meters. My Nikkor 70-300mm has never taken this clear of a close in (ok I have never taken this good of photos with it).
Some Crane shots:
and these little birds were fluttering all around:
All photos can be viewed larger by clicking on them.
I might upload them to flickr or picasa later on?
i enlarged the dragon flies… wow! such detail… i would’ve never ever known they have little fuzzy hairs… and the prisms in their wings from the light reflections… and i wanna know who zentangled their butts?! LOL
really good shots jan… really good… great color saturation…
that book… the d7000 bible… jerry sounds like a great find… you’ll have to keep him around ha
Jerry and chuck are both dear to me. chuck is a good friend and Jerry is a super nice guy! He is signed up for some course from a photographer in Florida and is not using it right now so he is going to send the course to me to go over!
He also knows how to get usage of the blinds at the refuge – that is huge!
Wowsers! That’s some camera you have! Of course you have the talent of taking great shots with it. Love the dragonflies! Keep shooting!
Karen,
It has way too many menu choices L:) so I am slowly figuring them out. I am very excited about it since my old camera’s auto focus stopped working and manual does not work great with my eyes anymore.
The dragon flys were everywhere so had fun while waiting for the birds.
Jan
More new toys! The cranes are beautiful. They used to fly over the house when I lived in Michigan, sounding like a bunch of 400 pound pigeons. And the little fluttering birds – Eastern Kingbirds? Nice catch. Those flycatchers are fast!
Thanks, as always, for sharing. So, what are you waiting for? Go take more pictures! : )
I am not sure as what the little bird is? I thought sparrow at first now I am leaning toward a dark eyed Junco.
The sound the cranes make is loud ha ha but at least they let you know get the camera out.
I am playing with the macro this evening as it is raining very steady out there and I might melt.
🙂
The bugs, the bugs, I love your bug or in this case, dragonfly, photos!
Sandhill cranes are something too. I was fortunate to see them do their mating dance gig when I lived in Fairbanks of all places.
Glad you’ve got some good photo mentors.
Bugs are always interesting and great time consumers. I end up watching them – they bring out the anthropomorphic thinking side of me LOL.
The cranes should be here in mass soon. Hopefully I will get out to one of the plowed over fields and get some shots. Never seen them do the dance – YET!
I have been very fortunate in getting to learn from many different folks. I am a pest if in a group of awesome photographers. Sometimes I learn something new and others times they brush me off like a fly on butter.