Comments on: Here be dragons! http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/2009/06/here-be-dragons/ Loving nature while living in the city Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:53:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Bird http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/2009/06/here-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-6740 Bird Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:10:50 +0000 http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/?p=2019#comment-6740 Hi Kit and thank you! It was a really lovely day, and full of good luck too. It really was fantastic to talk wildlife with someone who had plenty of local knowledge - I'm eager but I don't really know a lot, so I lunge at the chance to pick other peoples brains! I loved David Cottridges website, he told me that for the moment it's his art prints on the site (and aren't they lush?) so there is another whole other body of work that isn't even up there. It was also fun to talk cameras and post editing though I trailed behind severely on the subject of equipment :D You know, there are so many of us out there using point 'n' shoots that there should be a special point 'n' shoot club! I might berate my cameras lack of lenses, manual focus and unerring ability to blow out highlights to kingdom come but secretly I'm very affectionate towards it. Hi Kit and thank you! It was a really lovely day, and full of good luck too. It really was fantastic to talk wildlife with someone who had plenty of local knowledge – I’m eager but I don’t really know a lot, so I lunge at the chance to pick other peoples brains! I loved David Cottridges website, he told me that for the moment it’s his art prints on the site (and aren’t they lush?) so there is another whole other body of work that isn’t even up there. It was also fun to talk cameras and post editing though I trailed behind severely on the subject of equipment :D

You know, there are so many of us out there using point ‘n’ shoots that there should be a special point ‘n’ shoot club! I might berate my cameras lack of lenses, manual focus and unerring ability to blow out highlights to kingdom come but secretly I’m very affectionate towards it.

]]> By: Kit http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/2009/06/here-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-6732 Kit Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:25:32 +0000 http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/?p=2019#comment-6732 What a cool adventure, and SUCH a handsome dragonfly! I love this little story you shared, from the swan to your fortuitous meeting, to the lovely pictures. I checked out David Cottridge's website, and am impressed. I LOVE the texture in his images! I am often captivated by textures I see around me, and trying to capture them on film. Of course, I haven't devoted the time or expertise to them that Mr. Cottridge obviously has. How very cool to bump into him at just the right time! How nice that he was welcoming and helpful. I use a point-and-shoot, too! Poor little old thing, it's been through the wringer. One of these days I'll get a nice new camera, but until then my trusty pocket companion will have to keep truckin' on. They certainly teach us to work around limitations, don't they? What a cool adventure, and SUCH a handsome dragonfly! I love this little story you shared, from the swan to your fortuitous meeting, to the lovely pictures. I checked out David Cottridge’s website, and am impressed. I LOVE the texture in his images! I am often captivated by textures I see around me, and trying to capture them on film. Of course, I haven’t devoted the time or expertise to them that Mr. Cottridge obviously has. How very cool to bump into him at just the right time! How nice that he was welcoming and helpful.

I use a point-and-shoot, too! Poor little old thing, it’s been through the wringer. One of these days I’ll get a nice new camera, but until then my trusty pocket companion will have to keep truckin’ on. They certainly teach us to work around limitations, don’t they?

]]> By: Bird http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/2009/06/here-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-6662 Bird Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:23:59 +0000 http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/?p=2019#comment-6662 Hi Holly...yep, my camera is a point and shoot. I've used it constantly every day since I got it so I know all it's quirks but trust me it isn't perfect! It blows out detail in whites and the lens isn't up to much in many ways, but it's great in low light and the macro is very good. It's a Fuji Finepix F20 (I think...the manufacturers logo and make wore off long ago). We have a bittersweet relationship ;) I was very lucky to bump into someone who knew the Marshes so well, it felt like being given the keys somehow to have all this great insider knowledge and information passed on. I know I'll bump into him again one day too, he is a local like I am :D Hi Holly…yep, my camera is a point and shoot. I’ve used it constantly every day since I got it so I know all it’s quirks but trust me it isn’t perfect! It blows out detail in whites and the lens isn’t up to much in many ways, but it’s great in low light and the macro is very good. It’s a Fuji Finepix F20 (I think…the manufacturers logo and make wore off long ago). We have a bittersweet relationship ;)

I was very lucky to bump into someone who knew the Marshes so well, it felt like being given the keys somehow to have all this great insider knowledge and information passed on. I know I’ll bump into him again one day too, he is a local like I am :D

]]> By: earthtoholly http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/2009/06/here-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-6659 earthtoholly Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:08:35 +0000 http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/?p=2019#comment-6659 Wow, Bird. These photos are the best! A point 'n shoot...really? Well you've done an awesome job--every detail is crystal clear. I just love that beautiful blue on the dragonfly. And how lucky to come across a famous photographer on your outing--sounds as though you were in the right place at the right time. Good job! Wow, Bird. These photos are the best! A point ‘n shoot…really? Well you’ve done an awesome job–every detail is crystal clear. I just love that beautiful blue on the dragonfly. And how lucky to come across a famous photographer on your outing–sounds as though you were in the right place at the right time. Good job!

]]> By: Bird http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/2009/06/here-be-dragons/comment-page-1/#comment-6645 Bird Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:13:34 +0000 http://www.thebirdsinthemeadow.com/?p=2019#comment-6645 Hi Michelle... I am hugely behind with blog reading myself, to the point that it's getting embarrassing. Hopefully we all understand how hard it can be to keep up :) The neatness craze in gardening drives me absolutely nuts. I think the only thing to be said about being surrounded by chopped, shaved and regimented gardens is that you then get so much more wildlife in your own - where else can it go? Actually that's not quite right, it's not neatness in its-self but you know, that strange kind of neat gardening where you can tell the gardener does not like/has no interest in living things. I think you get what I mean. I bet those people also have pale upholstered furniture that their children and pets are not allowed to sit on. Where is the joy? Sigh. Anyway, rant over. You see, I do have my little ranty moments ;) Hi Michelle… I am hugely behind with blog reading myself, to the point that it’s getting embarrassing. Hopefully we all understand how hard it can be to keep up :)

The neatness craze in gardening drives me absolutely nuts. I think the only thing to be said about being surrounded by chopped, shaved and regimented gardens is that you then get so much more wildlife in your own – where else can it go? Actually that’s not quite right, it’s not neatness in its-self but you know, that strange kind of neat gardening where you can tell the gardener does not like/has no interest in living things. I think you get what I mean. I bet those people also have pale upholstered furniture that their children and pets are not allowed to sit on. Where is the joy? Sigh. Anyway, rant over. You see, I do have my little ranty moments ;)

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