I felt fine about drawing from the photo. It took a long time to get the dimensions of the bird right and I don't have it right yet but I stopped after making 2 copies of it. I noticed the wing structure more and where the wing starts and ends at. I noticed how far back the legs are situated on the warbler. I noticed the placement of the eye in relation to the bill. I tried to notice the relationships in the anatomy of the bird. I find the feathers in the wing difficult and want to simplify it. In a photo I think it's harder to simplify than if I had been copying a  drawing. Would it make a difference when nature journaling? Well, good question. That's why I'm taking the course. I want to be more exact in the drawings I make of birds. Wings and feather structures have defeated me and I simplify as much as possible. It doesn't make a difference to my nature journaling in so far as I'm usually trying to tell a story, something that happened and is of interest to me, some behaviour or event I want to capture. Still, I would like to have a better idea of how to draw the bird more accurately. 

I love drawing from photos because you can take as long as you want! I had a little trouble getting the body shape right at first, but once I got it filling in the details was fairly easy. I don't think I would have noticed that some of the leaves have bug bites in them if I had not taken the time to draw it.

Photos are quicker to take although if you want a nice high res photo, it takes time. Drawings - details! Nov 19/20 - My first yellow warbler drawing.

It is easier to draw than a real bird because it doesn't move. If I am going to paint or draw something, I often snap a picture with my I phone. I don't think I would have noticed the moss or fungi if drawing in the moment for the journal

Drawing from the photo made me really pay attention to small details.  It was challenging to get the proportions right - but fun to try.  Thank goodness for erasers!  :)

The photograph allowed me to get a sense of how the bird grips with strength in its legs and to get a closer look at the softest of the feathers and patterns os the feathers.

It was challenging to get the proportions right.  I didn't know how to get the shadings right either.  I know that details, such as the color of certain feathers and the striping are important in bird ID but it was hard to get them right in my drawing.  The beak I drew was not like the beak in the photo!

I might not have noticed how the wing flows into the body and the overall balance of the figure. Also the expression of the face, which I was not able to capture well.

It was hard to get the proportions right and to show shading without using colour.  As others have said, because the bird isn't moving it's easier to observe.   I want to learn how to do this better because I think I'll be doing this a lot from photos at the beginning

It was fun!  I found it easy to get the basic shape, but I struggled with the details of the feathers, particularly the wings. The feet were challenging too!  Drawing helped me notice how the feet are folded around the branch and how the wing feathers are stacked in layers.

I struggled most with the warbler’s proportions and feet. Also challenging, how do you capture and  represent feathers with a pencil? Drawing a active bird in nature I imagine will be a lot harder. One thing I did notice studying the photo was the ring encircling the warbler’s eye.

I felt very comfortable drawing from the photo as this the predominant way I  practice drawing.  I find capturing the basic shape and position to be fairly easy, but am more challenged by creating shading, dimension and details without feeling like the drawing becomes over-worked.  If I hadn't drawn the photo I would not have noticed the layers and sections of feathers in as much detail, nor would I have noticed the array of lichen present on the twig.  If one of the purposes of nature journaling is to understand the subject more deeply, then drawing the subject is a way to be focus to details that would other wise be looked over.

had lots of fun with this exercise. Hard to give the tridimensional aspect and the wing details.

Proportions were difficult, as was conveying the sort of tilt of the bird's head, and the color of the bird when drawing with pencil.

Definitely a fun exercise!I can see how spending more time with a photo can yield greater detail; real-life, maybe not so much given how long the subject stays still :)

I rather liked drawing from the photo, the bird couldn't fly away!  Especially a warbler, they move so fast!  The details were challenging, specifically the feathers on the wings. As I was drawing I noticed it looked like the bird was looking back over his/her shoulder at the photographer based on how the body was positioned away but the head was turned.  I also noticed so much detail in the branch, the fungus, lichen - I would like to spend time on more identification around that as well as keep up with my bird ID.

1. I felt challenged to have the bird look like the picture- it was easier since the bird was frozen in time--challenging because I struggle to draw proportionately 2. I noticed the colors on the chest, also the  details of the lichen and moss on the branch it was sitting on. This focus helps with seeing beyond the bright obvious subject, also may share details about the environment.

Drawing from a photo is easier in some respects because the bird stays still and you can take your time looking at details. It is more difficult to see how it behaves and see what the margins of the wings were colored. Proportions are difficult for me. I was interrupted when I started the drawing and when I went back I tried to correct them. Still not happy but not bad for the first time. I am enjoying that sketching slows you down and gives you an opportunity to really notice small details. Photos catch everything all at once but I generally don't spend as much time really looking at them.

Drawing from a photo was good because the subject didn't move. I could take as long as needed to get the details right. The easiest parts were the items that were in the foreground and were seen head-on or in profile; flat leaves and even the bird itself. I find the items that are at an angle, like bend leaves and things that show different sides, like the bird's little talons, a bit more challenging. Even though I watch birds all the time, I noticed the various wing feathers more than I might in real life. Yes, it may make a difference; I might annotate the drawing if I noticed them.

This is my first hand drawing of anything in a long time! Drawing from the photo was definitely easier than from a live bird. I still had trouble with the shapes and proportions of the different parts of the bird (i.e. the bill) and getting the subtle transitions of the coloring on the nape and back. I wouldn't have paid as much attention to that yellow to greenish/gray color transition and the reddish brown striping on the chest if I weren't drawing. I would like to capture as much detail as possible with journaling, it will be challenging to try this in the wild with live birds!