Gee Herb, your shots through glass look a lot better than mine. I like the idea of providing a perch with favourable light and background in mind and will definitely 'borrow' this idea, thanks!
-Cam
eyelaser wrote:
It does go to show just how diverse the bird life in our own backyard can be and with a little bit of observation no telling what we'll see.
Very true.
I'm also in northern NJ and have seen at least 98 species of birds without leaving the structure of my house (i.e. sitting on my deck IS included). There were a few things I never quite got 100% on, but were surely something different, the real total is likely 103 or so.
And not just birds, various mammals including larger ones like coyotes and bear. Various reptiles and amphibians.
The real neat thing is how many types of moths one can find just on their back door screens alone! I've found dozens of types of little micro moths and such and a couple don't even seem to be in any ID lists and some others are first reports for region on BugGuide. So many don't pay attention or realize how many tons of various little moths of all sorts they have on their property. The smallest one I've found was only like 1mm long and at first glance seemed like a common small gnat! Try it and be amazed! Leave the back room lights on and then check out the back door screens!
(I'm fairly worried that the diversity will plunge for my yard for moths and birds though as the new neighbors came in and clear cut their entire yard, taking down 100-200 (literally, not exaggerating as the portion of the forest going right up to our backyard property borders and over is a very rare patch that is at least 185 years old, so they took down, tall, long bole before branching forest grown beauties, in a highlands forest preservation zone no less (sadly exempt because their lot was under 3 acres or something) year old maples and oaks, sadly including the only truly giant Red Oak and Black Oak within 60' feet or more of the property, what a sin. And I see they got some chemical service to come around every few weeks and spray pesticides all over their property AND mind since the company is so sloppy that half the time they just hold the nozzle straight up in the air and the stuff drifts down in clouds across the property line!
Birds love oak trees since they provide tons of food and they also tend to contain the highest number of moth species. We have mostly giant old sugar maples with some oaks mixed about, but the closest giant oaks were taken out by Sandy and then then neighbors. I think I probably saw about 70 of the 98 bird species in that one giant Red Oak the took down alone. )
Herb these are a wonderful set. You have given me food for thought. Here i have been standing with the door of the deck open,, and in Toronto at -20 thats cold. You don't even have to worry about your lens fogging up.
KirkB wrote:
Thanks for the full disclosure about shooting through the bedroom window, because the IQ is good enough that I never would have thought they were shot thru a window.
Lots of good ones here Herb... #1 is terrific, great color/contrast... #5 Reds which are tough to handle, look good... 7 & 10 are my other faves... well done.
For this type of bed room work I suggest you turn off the lights! This will help with the reflections just like working from an angel. Also wearing dark solid colors helps.
Morris
I never have the light on Morris. My room is full of windows and sliding glass door. Natural light is the only light I need until sunset. I do wear dark blue or black, that's right.
Disaster wrote:
These are great. I've been setting up outside a kitchen window but I've got a lot more branches to contend with because it is an actual bush.
deke4774 wrote:
You have a great series Herb with great light and details. it's amazing the quality that can be achieved shooting through "extra" glass.
Derek
RogerC11 wrote:
Herb, this is an excellent set. I really like 1,4, and 10. Thank you for giving us insight to your setup as well! Never would have guessed this was shot through a glass window. Great job!
)
thanks Rod 