Red made it into my week seven assignment. This was shot with a 55-200mm telephoto lens.
My homework this week was about lens perspective. I learned about lens speed, focal length and how my different lenses can be used. Whew! A lot of stuff there.
The assignment was to take or download from the interwebs two photos with a short focal length lens. The “kit” lens of my camera is 18-55mm, so I set my wide angle photos at 18mm which is the shortest focal point.
This is my wide angle shot at 18mm. It’s of our backyard outside the fencing that keeps the wild critters away — or at least some of them. If you compare this photo to Red’s, you can notice the difference in the depth of field. Red’s photo looks like the wall is right behind the fence. In the photo below, I was standing against the outside of the fence. It was taken at a focal length that makes the distance look further away. The real distance is at what we see with our own eyeballs, more in between the two but closer to the photo below.
This is my wide angle view of the nature’s preserve across the street from our home.
The next part of my assignment was to take two photos with a normal focal length. I used the same lens, but set it to around 50mm. Notice the difference of the photo below and photo above. The photos were taken only a few yards apart, but the photos are different due to focal length of the lens. Look at the mountains below compared to those above. They are the same mountains, shot from the same distance.
This is the entrance to our neighborhood. I picked a great day for photography because of the dark sky and clouds.
The third part of my week’s assignment was creating two telephoto long focal length images. My photo above of Red is my first example. I like using my telephoto lens to capture birds and wildlife. I also like the shallow depth of field that includes a fuzzy foreground or background with the emphasis on the subject.
I had taken a shot of a Gila Woodpecker in the tree and had completed my photography for the day. Then lo and behold, Mr. Harris’s Hawk stopped by for a visit. But after looking at the two photos, I’m going with the woodpecker. It’s a cleaner looking shot with less distraction in the background.
I’m enjoying this class because I’m learning new things. It motivates me to take a look around me and see things from a new perspective.
What’s going on with you that you find motivating or interesting to learn?
Do you think I made the right choice with the woodpecker photo?
You’re learning about so many things I’ve heard but never understood. Thanks for sharing your new knowledge. I really like the photo of the flag against the dark sky. Gorgeous! And I do think you made the right call with the woodpecker photo.
I had heard about the photo terms too, but I didn’t understand how things worked together. I’m grateful I decided to go forward with this class. I love driving or walking into our neighborhood with the flag flying. Different neighbors donate a new flag when one wears out.
I don’t know one bird from another but I like the red hatted bird. The shots are all gorgeous. I just bought a new jigsaw puzzle board so that’s my new obsession
I had to look up what a jigsaw puzzle board was. That sounds like fun. Yes, I’m turning in the red hatted bird, which is a gila woodpecker. Thanks for the kinds words about my photos.
💕
Your first question made me laugh EA. I’m not feeling really motivated to learn right now but am inadvertently learning while standing by as the oldest daughter and family search for a new home in Colorado. It’s like watching a social experiment in action with all the human emotional responses and I’m getting mini lessons on real estate at the same time 🙂
You are really doing amazingly well in your class. These photos, and your explanations, are great examples of each technique in your lesson.
That’s great that you’re learning through osmosis from your daughter about real estate. Thanks for the kind thoughts about my photos. The professor said he’s taught this class for years and he has a process. He introduces us to a subject, then a few weeks later reintroduces it in depth. It’s helping me to put the pieces together and not be overwhelmed.
I’m impressed by how you got a shot of the flag almost totally unfurled. You live in a beautiful place.
Thanks! The wind was perfect for that picture. I do like where we live now, but at first it was an adjustment from Palm Springs. They are both in the same desert, but one is manicured and green and this is wilder.
Love your photos…but in this array I really enjoyed the pic of the dark sky and clouds. Ominous…but I like it! I’m amazed by all that you’re learning! Woohoo! 🥰
Thank you! It was a perfect day to go for a walk and get the gorgeous cloud photos — before the downpour! At first I was struggling, but now the pieces are coming together in this class.
Love it…love it! 🥰
It was a nice change from bright blue skies! 😊
Wow – this is such an interesting lesson in perspective and depth. Fascinating, Elizabeth! Thanks for sharing these incredible photos and the thinking behind them. Love all the thought and care you put into these assignments.
Thank you for the kind words. It was interesting, as I was putting together this post, I had an Aha moment. When I saw the photos together, I noticed the connections. Before laying this out, I had them in sets of two, all separate according to focal length.
Great pictures, the highlight is RED!!
Thanks! Red is a highlight to me every day!
Anything that gets us to take a look around from a new perspective is a good thing! Have fun EA.
Thank you! Yes, it’s good to try something new and to stretch and grow.
I commented on your post today twice, but the comment disappears. There was something I wanted to add to it, but it’s not there.
Hey Elizabeth, I’m not sure what’s going on. I have WP set up to prevent spam. I have to accept all comments before they post, but I’m not seeing any comments pending from you. I set it up that way to prevent spammers. But like I mentioned, there’s nothing currently waiting in the pending folder. Another WP gremlin.
Sounds like you are gaining a new perspective on pictures (not the things captured with a cell phone). Sounds like fun.
I am. It really wan’t until I was creating this post that I saw how the depth of field was different depending on the lens! This blog helped me work out the written part of my assignment.
Nice shots. You’re doing well in this class and tutoring your readers at the same time.
Thanks! I am sure there are some bloggers who are more experienced at photography than me. But maybe some aren’t!
I’m getting deep into research for the biography I’m working on, but trying not to forget to do some writing as I go!
I think the woodpecker was a good choice. It’s well in focus and the tree less distracting.
Good for you! Yes, I can put writing aside when I get involved in projects, too. That’s exactly what I thought about the woodpecker. At first I was excited to see the hawk, but the woodpecker is a better photo.
The photos are so different because of the lens settings. This course is really awesome.
Thank you. I have a macro close up lens that I got for Christmas. I am having difficulty using it. I hope the class cover that, too. If not, I can ask the professor for tips, or take the next classes.
You’re welcome. I never knew that the way you take a picture makes that much difference. Bravo.
I didn’t either. 😊
👍🏼👌🏼
🙌🏼
🫶🏼
Photography is such a fun hobby. I love playing around with depth of field. I haven’t picked up my camera in months, and I didn’t realize how much I’ve been missing my photo outings until reading your post. Any wildflowers popping up?
Your photos are gorgeous! I’m glad my post has motivated you. No wildflowers yet. We had three days of rain, so that is good.
I love the dark sky with the clouds, and of course Our Flag. The clouds are not normal in your area, this I remember so well—so many clear blue sky days.
Red is such a handsome boy. You’re coming along beautifully in your course!
Yes, on the woodpecker photo!
Thank you for all the compliments. You’ve made me smile. It was a perfect day to get some photos with all the clouds. At the start of my class, I was turning in photos that I took in bright sunshine and they were overexposed. Red sings to me three times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Iove driving into our neighborhood with the flag up front. Neighbors take turns donating new flags.
What a great class, there is so much to good photography that we don’t notice, just that we love the image. You have such talent and a fabulous eye. Love that Red, he’s a looker. Hugs, C
It’s amazing how much I’ve learned in a few months. Each week, pieces of the puzzle go together. I may continue on to his next class.