The Online Photographer

Beautiful work! I especially like the cardinal and the gnatcatcher. Nice way to start the week.

Very nice bird photos from Bob! There is no shortage of bird photographers on Earth (birding of one sort or another is, apparently, one of the most popular activities taken up by retirees), and I have great respect for those who come up with images that are refreshing and interesting.

During the early days of the pandemic when I was pretty much confined to my suburb with its very nice bird-filled park, I toyed with the idea gearing up and taking a crack at it. Apparently I was not alone in this thought, as the park is now crawling with camo-clad bird photographers with gigantic lenses, floppy hats, and huge binoculars. Nah, maybe not. I'm not a joiner. That said, I do have one bird photo from that period that I'm happy with, primarily because it's unlike the zillions of other bird photos one sees every day. No huge lens needed, just a dark forest and a steady hand. https://flic.kr/p/2qDgfE1

Why do good bird photos make me so darned happy?

Good images, especially the Cardinal. Having just started trying some bird imaging, I'm beginning to understand how difficult it can be.

For me, it's flowers (and blossom). I would say that over the last few years most of my best shots have been of, or have included, flowers. And the camera doesn't really matter - I'm as happy with the best flower shots out of my phone as out of my ILC.

I like them, good stuff. I photographed birds pretty intensely when I lived in Alaska, and who knows, maybe I'll get back into it someday. It was always meditative, and because you are photographing something alive, pleasingly unpredictable. A little like fishing, but without the hooks. Like fishing, the more you do it, the better you get.

Great shots by Bob Burnett.

Like others here I too am expanding into bird photography, a natural addition to my usual travel and landscape photography. It inevitably drags you into the world of birding, which is having a moment, to wit Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a bit of a hit, and various articles in media where you normally wouldn't find them. I've joined the local chapter of the Audubon Society and gone on some bird walks to learn more about these critters and where they hide.

What a challenge. Tiny subjects at some distance, often on the move, usually away. I normally think it is composition that makes a good photo, not equipment. But birds challenge that notion as the right equipment clearly helps. And I'm not a pixel peeper but sharpness seems to count more with birds than other subjects.

As to whether gear or photos should be featured here, I like the photos, from which I learn a great deal.

Terry B. sayeth"

"Tiny subjects at some distance, often on the move, usually away. I normally think it is composition that makes a good photo, not equipment. But birds challenge that notion as the right equipment clearly helps."

OMS OM-1
100-400
1.4x teleconverter
OM-1 Bird Focus
OM-1 Pro Capture
Topaz software

No birds today in Capital Reef NP; landscapes, rocks,big and little, lizard, plants etc.