The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Bird Photography with Melissa Groo › Practice Gaining an Audience with Birds
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I often walk to a local park which has a lake and other bird friendly habitat. Even though it is close to a busy street/highway, birds do not seem to be disturbed by the traffic. I go there and find a place to just sit and look over the lake and the edge of the lake. One day I was sitting there and watching a Great Egret feeding on the far side of the lake. I patiently sat and watched as the Egret made its way closer and closer to where I was. I was able to get this shot and found it quite rewarding to see it feeding and to capture that activity in my photo. The lighting was such that I was also able to get the reflection. I was also able to get a photo of a Great Blue Heron along the lake's edge.
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Great you got the reflections!
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Nice photos and the one with the egret capturing the food I like even better.
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I saw there was a sparrow visiting a feeder, so I sat in a chair about 30 feet away, with the sun at my back. I took various shots of the feeder, trying different modes (manual, shutter priority, etc.) and ISO levels to optimize the light. I waited about 30 minutes but the bird didn't return. I was too close and too obvious. Although I moved some, I didn't make any sudden movements. It gave me a sense that I need to work harder to get well positioned.
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Near my backyard feeder, there is a fence, a brush pile, two potted plants, and an evergreen bush. Birds will often perch on these, or in a nearby maple tree, while awaiting a turn at the feeder or to retreat to with their meal.
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What lens support does Melissa use when shooting from a low position on the beach? It appears to be saucer shaped.
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In Lesson 2, in the section called Understand tripod, Melissa mentions at the end that she uses Ground pods, in particular the Skimmer Pod from NatureScapes. That could be the one.
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@Isabelle Isabelle, thank you! I checked out NatureScapes and it is a ground pod.
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It appears that you use AF rather than manual?
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