All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Warblers Gone Wild! (year 2, month 5)

Year 2,

For the past two days, strong northeast winds off Lake Superior have stopped the northern warbler migration. If one has been willing to brave the ugly weather (40F, 20+ mph winds, and drizzle), hundreds of warblers may be seen at the end of Park Point and on the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth. These birds are smart, and do NOT want to fly against such strong winds.

The two locations noted channel birds into high density concentrations as the birds definitely do NOT want to fly out over Lake Superior in these conditions. Thus, the birds hold in location, or work their way along the shoreline. Although Park Point may have had more warblers, I prefer the Western Waterfront Trail. It allows better opportunities for photographs. The trail works its way along the St. Louis River, and one may often look down, or level with small trees which sometimes makes bird photography easier.

Wilson’s Warbler
Y2-M05-Wilsons-Warbler-2

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American Redstart
Y2-M05-American-Redstart-1

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Common Yellowthroat
Y2-M05-Yellow-Throat-2 Y2-M05-Yellow-Throat-3

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A Great Blue Heron surveys the warbler scene!
Y2-M05-Great-Blue-Heron

An Afternoon in the Fog: Swan Attack! (Year 2, Month 5)

Year 2,

Last winter’s cold, cold nights means the Lake Superior water temperature even in mid May is still very cold (i.e. in the high 30’s). Unfortunately the direct result of this cold water is lots and lots of fog. Most outdoorsmen know that fog and photography don’t mix, or that’s what lot’s of people think. I often head out in during these conditions. The fog itself can present eerie image opportunities, and one never knows when the fog may lift, even somewhat.

Yesterday afternoon was just such a day. Rather than be grouchy at home I took a quick bike ride and then headed out with my camera. The results speak for themselves!

Trumpeter Swan attacks and drives Canada Goose off local pond
Y2-M05-Trumpeter-Swan-Attack-Canada-Goose-2

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Love in the fog … Ring-billed Gulls
Y2-M05-Gull-Love-2

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Common Yellow-Throat (Warbler)
Y2-M05-Yellow-Throat-1

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Ring Necked Duck
Y2-M05-Ring-Necked-Duck

Learning from other photographers!

Background

Curious to learn what settings other folks use for their photos? For instance, I love to prowl the wilderness of Northern Minnesota, and photograph the Aurora Borealis when the lights shine out over the northern skies (see my Northern Lights photos). Using a tool from Flickr, one may compare images taken used by photographers who have the “same” exact camera as yours. Flickr allows one to check what camera settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc).

Follow this process: (also works for bird photographs)

  1. Browse to Flickr Camera Finder via this url: https://www.flickr.com/cameras
  2. Click upon your “brand” from the list (scroll a bit down the page to find the “long” list of camera manufacturers)
  3. Select and click upon your camera model from the long list of cameras models for your brand (scroll down the page to find the “long” list). Use “search on page” for your browser to find your camera. Only search for part of the “text string” as Flickr may abbreviate your camera a bit differently than you think. For instance, I own a Sony NEX-5T, but on Flickr it is just NEX-5 for the Sony brand.
  4. When your Flickr camera model page loads, scroll to the very bottom of the page and find the search box. Try some searches such as “Aurora” and “Northern Lights” or “Birds in Flight”
  5. Images taken by other photographers will then load. Click upon any picture you like. On the resulting page that loads, find the “EXIF” link. Click upon that link. It will then display all the information for that particular photograph such as ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, etc.

Remember, the EXIF data will not tell you how much light was present that night the Aurora shined (i.e. variables like the moon, backlighting, light pollution, etc), but by checking a bunch of photographs for your model camera you will learn what other people are doing in terms of settings when they utilize the exact same camera that you own. The same reminder should be considered for bird photos … light conditions will vary, but you still will learn from other photographers who have identical equipment to yours!

Finally, remember … there are not “right” or “wrong” camera settings. Taking photographs is an art form. The important fact is that YOU like your images!

Finally, here are two of my own Northern Lights photos taken this past March. If you want the EXIF data, follow this link to my Flickr Aurora photos.

Northern-Lights-Little-Stone-Lake-3 St-Patricks-Day-Aurora-03