Learning to work within...

...lens capabilities.

Since I'm out there Blippin' everyday, I may as well learn from my mistakes. I love to photograph birds, and would love to have a longer lens, but I have a 70-300mm and it has it's issues (not including this photographer's shortcomings). This lens just isn't as sharp at 300 as it is when you back off a little bit. Until today, I have alway wanted to get as tight of a shot as I could, chose 300mm and put up with the soft focus.

I watched a 'class' this week (Photography with John Greengo, on Creativelive.com - free if you want to watch the re-watch this weekend) He had some great pointers and I tried a few out today. One being... back off the soft focus area of your lens... As well as knowing the shutter speed needed to hand hold and get the sharpest focus.

Putting these two tips to use as well as a few other adjustments, I got this. Cropped to death, and still sharper than the ones I got at 300mm. Go figure.

The birds weren't really cooperative today, this was the only one I had to practice on. She only stopped by for a few minutes at a time. But, I am happy with the results regardless.

Female Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens

Still reasonable BIG even with the cropping.