One of the reasons I don’t take more photos is the sheer weight of my Canon DSLR and the 100-400mm lens! It kills my neck and if I shift it to my shoulder, my back starts getting sore. So I ordered one of these and it really does keep the weight more evenly distributed.
Tag Archives: photography
Better Photography – Using Gorillapods
I have one of these but it isn’t strong enough for my Canon 60D & 100-400mm zoom lens. They’re good for smart phone cameras though!
Tamron 150-600 f/5-f/6.3 Compared To Other Zoom Lenses For Birds
Reply
I came across this video on Youtube with a very interesting comparison between the Tamron 150-600 f/5-f/6.3 with other lenses such as Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L & 400mm f/5.6 prime. I have both the Canon lenses but I find myself using the zoom lens a lot more since I need to go wide to locate the bird in the sky or a tree, then zoom in on him. The prime lens doesn’t allow for that. I really have to admire the physical strength of the photographer in this video, that Tamron weighs 1951 g (4.30 lb)! By comparison, the Canon 100-400 zoom weighs 1380 g (3.04 lb) and it’s already hard enough for me to hold more than a few seconds! More specs on this lens can be found in DPreview.
Quick Photography Tip – Silica Gel
Most birders have been there. It’s early in the morning and you spot an absolutely stunning bird and you reach for your camera……………only to find the lens all fogged up!
This is a common problem in hot, humid places such as rainforests. One thing you can do to avoid this problem is to keep silica gel packets in your camera bag. It’s pretty easy to acquire them for free. They are often included in food products and bottles of medication to prevent spoilage.
.
20GB Free Cloud Storage With Copy.com – Good For Photographers
One thing about birders is that we take a lot of pictures. One of the worst things that could happen to you is having your camera lost or stolen and losing all those precious photos. Copy.com is offering 20GB of free cloud storage. You get 15 when you sign up and 5 when you confirm your email address.
This link gives me a 5GB bonus if you click through it when you join. Once you have an account, you will also get a link to pass on to your friends & family.
Join Copy.com
If you are unfamiliar with cloud storage, they have a series of video tutorials.
“Beauty of Costa Rica” Photography Contest
Hurry because the last day to enter is 31 Oct. Who wants to win a FREE 5 night stay at Selva Verde, Costa Rica? Airfare not included, but we know how to get there on the cheap! Good luck to all who enter!
|
Show us your best “Beauty Of Costa Rica” photos for a chance to win a 50% off coupon for a 3 night stay at Selva Verde OR this month’s book title: The Wildlife of Costa Rica: A Field Guide by Fiona A. Reid, Twan Leenders, Jim Zook & Robert Dean Winners will also be entered into a draw for the Grand Prize – an all inclusive 5 night stay for 2 at Selva Verde! How To Enter
“Beauty Of Costa Rica” Photo Contest runs from Contest Prizes
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to Selva Verde Resort and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used to determine the winners of this contest. Website: www.selvaverde.com | Phone: 1-800-451-7111 | Email: info@selvaverde.com |
||||
Save & Share Your Memories With A Shutterfly Photobook
Even though your precious travel memories are most commonly shared on Facebook or in blogs like this one, most people like to have a photo album to relive their experiences and share with their friends. I personally have big bulky photo albums going back to the 80’s of some of my trips. Many of the photos are fading and the plastic pockets they are in are peeling. These albums also weigh a ton!
For the past 2 years, I have been using Shutterfly to create coffee table style photobooks of our trips. I first started using them from a promo that awarded a free small photobook and some Hilton HHonors points. I was so happy with the results, I have been using them ever since!
This is the album I created using photos from our trip to Indonesia in March 2013.
Click here to view this photo book larger
Shutterfly photo books offer a wide range of artful designs and embellishments to choose from.
***Please note that I do not have an affiliate relationship with Shutterfly as of this date.
What I like about Shutterfly is the ability to choose all kinds of layouts, some with large photo slots and some with smaller ones so I can squeeze everything in. You can have up to 1000 photos in one book. In most cases the book and first 20 pages cost around $40, then you add pages for $1 each. Once you are a member of Shutterfly, they email you codes for up to 50% off. This photobook would have cost me $123 but I got it down to $53 after applying discounts and codes. I also clicked through Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall which gives 4 points extra per $.
Here’s an example of current discount codes, you are allowed only one per order.
They have tutorial videos to show you how to make a photobook. Unfortunately I can’t embed them here but you can see them on their website. I use the custom page option and do my own layouts, dragging the photos from the strip as you see this lady doing in the video.
Shutterfly ships internationally and you save on the US sales tax if you take this option. Otherwise you can sometimes get free shipping with a code within the USA. In my experience, it takes 4-6 weeks for the photobook to arrive in Australia once it’s ordered.
Canon EF Lenses – Lens Tutorials – Lenses For Sports And Wildlife
Birders need a wide variety of good lenses to get those stunning “Nat Geo” style shots. While you do need a lot of patience and practice to get your photographyskills to professional level, having the best possible lenses helps a lot. This video by Canon shows just a few of their lenses but is really interesting. How would you like to carry that huge 800mm one around?
Lonely Planet Travel Photography Book
If you’re like me, you dream of getting those crisp clear wildlife shots that are reminiscent of a National Geographic cover. Realistically, we aren’t going to make it to Nat Geo, but we CAN improve our photography skills. I have the previous edition of this book and as I was looking through Amazon.com, I just happened to notice they updated it a few months ago. It’s a great book for any kind of travel enthusiast, not just eco-tourists! It also comes in a Kindle version but in this case I would recommend the paper version so you can take it out in the field while you practice photography.
Thank you for using my affiliate link for your Amazon purchases. It won’t add anything to your costs and none of the airline online malls link to them anymore.
CONTEST: Ever Wondered What It Would Be Like On Assignment As A National Geographic Photographer?
This is your chance to go to Oman and be mentored by Nat Geo veteran and host of National Geographic Channel’s Pure Photography series, Jason Edwards!
Applications close January 14th 2013, at 2pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (GMT +11)
We know that you have been patiently waiting all year for this one…
WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel are giving one aspiring photographer the opportunity to accompany renowned wildlife and natural history photographer, Jason Edwards, on assignment in Oman. Find out firsthand what life is like in the field for a travel photographer and learn the tricks of the trade during this 8-day mentorship experience.
For more information, visit their website.