
This chipmunk was part of last week’s photo assignment. The photo is an example of Point of View. It turns out my sunken pool bar is good for more than bird photography. I like the perspective of being eye to eye with the critters.

For the assignment, I had to pick three out of severn composition techniques or aesthetics. My three were Point of View, Depth of Field and this one is called Centering. It’s a Century Plant stalk. The professor said centering is one of the most dissed aesthetics, but can be effective.

The House Sparrow photo shows off Depth of Field. I like how the background is out of focus and looks like an impressionistic painting. I had rarely noticed the yellow planter barrel before, but it’s finding it’s place in my photos.

Mr. Curve Billed Thrasher was another example of Depth of Field. I like how he pops out of the photo from the blurry background. He also shows an extreme dislike of my taking his picture.
Photos I took for fun:

Red gets his time in the limelight. But he’s been pretty flighty, even though he yells at me to fill the feeder every morning and afternoon, he doesn’t stick around for a lengthy photo session. The photo below has wispy aloe blossoms in the foreground that look ghosts or accidental lights. The focus was on Red.

However, there are other birds in the yard to photograph:

Gilded Flicker.

House sparrow.

Mrs. Red on the yellow barrel.

This quail reminds me of myself, facing a steep walkway.

My newest objective is to catch birds in flight. With a fast enough shutter speed you can stop their action. But I wasn’t very good at getting the whole Mourning Dove in the picture.
Which photos do you like and what’s your favorite of my three composition techniques?

Oh wow thanks so much for sharing these! I love birds so so much. I think the dove one is my favourite, I know it’s under the one you took for fun, but, absolutely love that wingspan.
Thanks! I’m trying to capture more birds in flight. It’s a hard thing to do, because I don’t know if I’ve caught anything or not.
Oh, I love them all Elizabeth. Amazing shots
Thank you so much. I now have my final assignment. I need to tell a story using six to 10 photos. I have two weeks to complete it.
I’m sure that you’ll ace it. You can also submit your photos to Unsplash. They also pay for them.
Thank you for your kind words. Also, I’ve never heard of Unsplash.
It is a website where you can get free pictures. They ask for contributions ( photos) too. I think yours are great so you can submit a few. You can download the app too.
Thanks so much for the info! I appreciate it and your praise of my photos!
You’re very welcome. Your pictures are genuinely so good.
Those first two shots are amazing. Class is really paying off.
👍
Thank you! I have learned a lot and enjoy spending time every day shooting nature.
I like Depth of Field. I try to achieve that with my photos but I’m hit or miss. Yours is perfect.
I like Depth of Field too. It depends on the lens focal length. The longer the lens, the easier it is to achieve. I got a 80-400mm telephoto lens a few weeks ago and the Depth of Field comes out much better than the 55-200mm lens that came with the camera.
I love your captions, Elizabeth. The quail that reminds me of yourself – so clever! Beautiful photos!
Thanks. I’m laughing about the quail, because I struggle with heights, especially going down anything steep. I’m so impressed with your mountain climbing!
Ohhh….the chippy stole my heart! I love it! Point of view for the win! 🥰
Thanks! He looked like he was charging me. Now I’ve seen a baby chipmunk with a parent. I hope to get photos of the two together.
LOL – I think that’s what I love. Like he was ready to do battle with you in the “arena”. 🤣🥰🤣
So true. Now I need to do my final project. Six to eight photos that tell a story….
Oooh! Can’t wait! 🥰
It’s difficult! I’m taking lots of photos and hope a story appears naturally!
You’ve got this! 🥰
👍🏼
I’ve said this before. If you ever get tired of taking photos, you could open up your house and charge people to visit your nature preserve. Chipmonks, birds of all types, bobcats. Wow. Very cool. Great shots.
Thanks! But across the street is the real nature’s preserve with 130 miles of hiking and biking trails. Next to that is Tonto National Forest, so I think I’ll be lower on the list of attractions.
Nah, they got nothing on EA’s preserve. You just need to come up with a cool marketable name and you’re golden. You’ll have tourists lined up to visit. Ha, ha. Just kidding. The photos really are wonderful. Does Red get mad when take photos of the other birds. Ha, ha.
Red has been really obnoxious lately. Whenever I take his photo, or before I can get the camera up, he flies away. All I have is a series of red blurs. Mrs. Red is a little better, but also flighty. They move so quickly!
Oh they are all wonderful! The chipmunk eye-to-eye is a delight. I think your mourning dove shot came out well, actually.
Thanks! Now I have to tell a story with six to 10 photos for my final. I have already told stories for myself with antics of the birds and chipmunks. Now that I’m trying for it, they aren’t cooperating! Thank goodness I have two weeks.
I know you’ll come up with something good!😊
I hope so!
These are really good!
Thank you! Now onto my final project.
All of them are amazing, Elizabeth! But I love the centering photo!
Thank you! I have my final project put together, but I have another week to improve on it. I had to tell a story with six to 10 photos. I have a chipmunk hiding from a quail and the quail following him around.
Sounds like a fun story! I’m sure it’ll be wonderful!
I just looked at my assignment from last week and the professor told me to increase my ISO and shutter speed settings. So I’m starting from scratch!
Oh no! But I know it’ll be great!
I’m working on it!
That little red bird gets me every time. What is it about red or blue birds that is so attractive? Hugs, C
Red is so colorful that it’s a joy every time I see him. I immediately get a spark of excitement and reach for my camera.