Great photos, Tony! I like the way you show the light catching the water. It's more than just taking a good shot, you have a knack for knowing what to accent in a particular photo. We could both take a photo of that swan and mine would be ordinary and yours outstanding. I'm a lousy photographer but your photos inspire me to maybe look into it as a hobby.
Thanks for your wonderful comments! I still approach photography as a "serious" hobby. Serious because it inspires a level of commitment to steadily improve my camera skills through practice. Hobby because it reminds me that a hobby is supposed to bring enjoyment. The knack of knowing what to accent in a particular photo, as you say, is simply a matter of experience, which is a byproduct of practice. Understanding the major difference between "making" a photo versus "taking" a photo is paramount. Here's what I mean. Before I even think about pressing the shutter I've already decided in my mind how I want the final image to look. Do I see the subject in terms of color or black & white, how do I want to use the light I have available, etc. For example, for photos 6. (egret) & 10. (swan) I imagined the final image in black & white and wanted to showcase the water sparkles. I positioned myself in such a manner as to "place" the birds in the middle of the water sparkles. Literally standing two to three feet left or right of these subjects would have resulted in no water sparkles! So, the idea of how I wanted to present the final image motivated me move into the required position and allowed me to compose the photo as I had envisioned. This is exactly what the difference between making and taking a photograph is all about. You could also say that it's the difference between a considered photograph and a quick "hey look, there's a swan!" hastily taken "snapshot." And this difference is something that can definitely be learned! Tony
Hi Holly, Thanks so much for looking and commenting. I use the following point-and-and-shoot cameras: Canon SX50 (my favorite!) Canon SX40, and Nikon Coolpix P610. All are considered "superzoom" cameras. Tony
Smashing pictures again @Chrissy Page - if we did (I don't think so) why are there still apes ? Its just one of those things, they are like us - well not me personally
I don't think so either Patsy, I'm just saying they are very human like....but we did have a common ancestor maybe. This is what I believe.... http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/human-evolution-101/ You can still believe in a God and evolution but not so much in the bible and that's where I am in my beliefs.