How I shot that - Baby Owls with a Beginners Camera
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| I used the Nikon Coolpix p510 http://amzn.to/2GQZXR8 Current version of this camera: Coolpix p900 http://amzn.to/2F132gM |
When I was starting out with my photography, I had what people called a Bridge Camera. There was one lens that had an effective focal length ranging all the way from 24 mm all the way out to 1000mm equivalent of a 35mm sensor. Just starting out, I didn't know what to photograph. That meant I was taking pictures of everything.
Maybe that was a little much for a starting new photographer, but it was fun. Some of that fun came from living in an area of western Wisconsin that had easy access to some great wildlife and birding areas. So many times, it is as simple as walking around. But for this shot, I had to talk to some people before I knew where to look.
Specifically, I was walking in this city park that is a part of a marsh to the La Crosse River that feeds into the Mississippi River. The city park system has taken ownership of a wetlands area that keeps people in appreciation of the Great River wild life, and has made it mostly enjoyable (minus the summer and fall mosquitos).
That day, I had my camera on shutter priority. I wanted to control the speed of the shutter and let this thing think about the ISO and aperture. I was still relatively new back in September 2015. For fun, I was walking around this park called Myrick Park Marsh.
It just so happened, that the area Audubon Society was meeting at the shelter here. I popped in for a little bit and realized every one was way more serious than I was. I just wasn't prepared and I was here for fun. But walking outside, I realized most people in the park (even though they weren't at the meeting in the shelter) were birders. I had to talk to some of them and got a couple of ideas for the day.
But then there was the prize, baby owls. This marsh was a fantastic place for the owls, because no one was able to get in their face or walk up to the tree they were in. The tree was surrounded by water. But I just sat there for a good 20 minutes and found them inside this broken trunk of a tree.
What a reward.
Talk to people, find a spot, sit there.
Using a point and shoot Nikon P510 bridge camera.
I still feel great about that shot.
