With Spring just around the corner I cannot wait to get some shots of my favorite things. One of the first will be my beloved Daffodils, go figure, and then hopefully some time soon some of my favorite flying things. I love when the bees show up and the Hummingbirds get up North but I really want to get some more pics of the wonderment know as a Damselfly. Till then here is one from last year.
Why would I title this post “Most Unusual” you ask? Because my folks, now mine and my brother’s, Jack is standing still long enough for me to get a picture of her! Most unusual indeed.
As my last post mentioned, I spent sometime by the lake yesterday. I used my Canon Powershot S3is on several captures but wanted to try my Sony A300 on some nature shots. I have practiced with it on portraits and such but wanted to see what it would do wide open in the “wild”. I have mixed results, the mix being from o.k. to that really sucked! As I have relative success with manual controls of my point & shots, I am somewhat frustrated by my lack of skill with a full on DSLR. For the most part I was able to place my self in an advantageous spot on most of my shots but the old Minolta lenses leave something to desire in the speed department. With that said they take great portrait and wedding shots so I am just going to have to hone my skills to maximize their strengths and work around their weaknesses.. Here is one of the captures of a Sea Gull Flyby!
I took a few moments this week to try out my new-to-me Sony A300. I went to the lake and walked about in the hope of capturing Mallards in-flight and other cool things. What I found was several types of Geese that I am not familiar with and Mallards happy simple staying on the water. So I would have to settle for “other” cool things. Here is one of them and it is I believe a Embden Goose.
Below are four captures I took this afternoon of the Daffodils on the Hill. Two of the photos I used my Canon Powershot G3 and two my new-to-me Sony A300. On most of my photos I use Microsoft’s Digital Image Standard 2006 Editor for some one-touch editing/love if I feel it is needed. All four have had the same one touch ” love” applied to them. I have been shooting, since my introduction to the digital world, with point and shoots almost exclusively. I am new to the DSLR world and must admit I take better portrait photos with them than my point and shoots. I feel I take better nature shots, both micro/macro and broad spectrum captures, with my point and shoots. Also it is easier for me to carry around a good point and shoot than my DSLR equipment.
Other than ease of access and size cost is a big issue. I know first hand that DSLR equipment is expensive, well at lest for my budget. I have been able to gather five point and shots for the less than , though just barely, my Sony A300 body alone. With the lenses added in I have come in at about half of the cost for with my point and shoots! There are many opinions, both pro and con, for both formats but I have just one question in this DSLR vs Point Shot debate: Can you tell which camera I used on which capture?
I looked at this bird house and wondered if it too was waiting for the return of Summer. Was it like myself waiting for the return of the familiar and the joy of new life. I wonder as well as this Summer home on hiatus.
Today was a wonderfully sunny day but I have been inside most of the day with a sinus headache. After taking a short three or so hour nap, I awoke with just enough energy to snap a few shots of the Daffodils blooming on the hill across from our place. Spring is coming because there are Daffodils on the hill!
The Bride and I made use of the sunshine today by going on a walkabout. I got to test drive my new-to-me Sony A300 and enjoy great company. The lake was not overly crowed because it is still somewhat chilly out but we did have a few feathered friends stop by. Also had a few non-fauna photo ops as well. I tested drove a few of the manual settings as well as auto-pilot. I tried the on board B&W as well. So here are a few at the lake.
Daffodil Hill Photography 