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Nikon

The Beginning

The Beginning

It feels wrong to say this is the "beginning" as I feel that I have been building to this point for a long time. My interest in photography, consumer technology, and wildlife have long been threads in the tapestry of my life, it's only now though that they intersect so violently. But regardless: here we are. With an interest intensifying and a desire to talk about everything I have learned so far. "My" "First" Camera and Lenses I was very fortunate to have a coworker who has already been hit with the bug of photography. We had some discussions on his work and he, very graciously, lent me his old Nikon for me to play around with, along with a set of lenses. While I was, and am, appreciative for this gear, I couldn't help but think that there wasn't much to do with this old ~17-year-old camera. But boy, was I wrong. The gear:Nikon D5000 Nikon DX 18mm-55mm Rokinon AF 85mm 1.4F Nikon Nikkor 70mm-300mmThe Nikon D5000 still has quite a bit of life in it. The MP count of 12.3 would lead you to believe its photos will not be sharp, but they certainly can be if the lens is solid. And to my unprofessional eye, the Nikkor lens is quite solid, even when zoomed in to 300mm. Truthfully, I did not experience much with the other lenses because I was so fixated on birds, but I had enough to know this was only the beginning. My First Shots The funny thing is, looking back on these photos, they aren't especially good. The issue with an older DSLR is that its autofocus is not great. That can be a good thing, since beginners would be forced to learn manual focus better instead of learning with a crutch, but still. Good or not, they are part of the beginning. My beginning. And they are worthy of preservation.My First Revelations A local park was the first obvious destination to mess around with the camera. On this peaceful spring afternoon, I surveyed the waterfront, in search of some waterfowl. But something unexpected struck me as I was searching for a worthy subject: everything was a worthy subject. The most inconsequential object can be a key fixture of the art you create. No object is inherently unworthy. It's up to you to showcase it in a worthy way. I was also struck by the peace. It feels like my mind is constantly on the move: thoughts, memories, concerns, anything and everything is flowing back and forth. But as I am standing in this forest, observing the birds sing their mating songs, or watching the squirrels zigzag through the grass in search for a nut: my mind is empty. I am at peace in a way that I have seldom felt. And finally: the heron. This shot came from a boat while with my parents, it was the shot that made me realize I want to photograph birds. The ubiquitous creatures that surround us on a daily basis, yet we refuse to observe them. The vast variety of these creatures is a mystery to most, myself included. Yet once you observe them, you see how beautiful, colorful, and unique they are. They deserve to be studied. With this experience under my belt and fire growing in my belly, I know it's time to accept the next step: figuring out what in the world I have to buy.

The First Wave of Birds

The First Wave of Birds

With the gear in hand, I went about searching for the birds in my own backyard. As it turns out, there was quite the variety. Birds and colors I was unable to identify prior to last week, but with this new photography interest came the desire to learn more about the subjects. Admittedly, I still have a lot to learn. But I have enjoyed starting that process. American RobinThese red-breasted birds can be seen eating anything it can find by the bushes of the local commercial buildings. While I don't notice any resemblance to the titular superhero, they are quite pleasing to observe, if a little dull. BluejayEasily the most elusive bird of the bunch. In order to get a good photo, I had to sit and observe for 30 minutes. The attached is not one of those good photos, but it captures its secrecy. Eastern Blue BirdThis particular building is home to a collection of bird boxes for the local blue birds. Coincidentally, at the same time that I began taking pictures, the local blue birds laid their eggs. That made it quite convenient to stake out a bird box with some babies and wait for the pictures. I have not yet observed them in the wild outside of the boxes, but I am quite interested in this beautiful little birds. Northern CardinalPerhaps the cardinals are the most elusive bird. I have not managed to get a good close shot of one yet, even though they are more prevalent. Which is unfortunate, as the North Carolina state bird deserves better. I will have to focus on them soon. Northern MockingbirdPerhaps these are my least favorite birds thus far. Quite bland and in abundance, they are not nearly as intriguing as the others. Cedar WaxwingOriginally I did not think much of the waxwing, but the more I observed, the more beauty I've found. On the surface they appear bland, but underneath a vibrant yellow can be seen. And on the wing, a slip of red can be found, almost analogous to an armband. Canadian GooseCertainly the most angry bird of the bunch. I have spent some time at a wildlife rehab and the geese are, without question, the most violent of the bunch. Regardless, I find them to be pretty creatures. And the babies? Adorable. I ended up driving around the local area in search of the babies I happened to see during work hours. Cooper's HawkI was very fortunate one day to see the Cooper's Hawk land right above my head as I was lakeside. Very majestic and intense. The hawk is not a creature that I thought would pique my curiosity, but I find them to perhaps be the most remarkable. VultureLet's be honest, it's a vulture. Not exactly the most interesting bird in the brood. I don't have much to say about it. Mourning DoveI have only seen one mourning dove (at least, one that I have noticed). They are the most curious bird to me at this time, one that I have not had the opportunity to observe. But I do hope to get the opportunity to observe them more.