In the fall of 2015, I was scheduled to go a multiple day overnight school fieldtrip called Outdoor Education. For Outdoor Ed, we slept at a camp in the mountains, learned survival skills and did fun team-building activities. My mom wanted me to take photos of cool things I saw there. So, in preparation for that trip, I learned how to use a simple point and shoot camera that we had lying around the house. We went out on several hikes over the summer while I learned how to use it.
Here’s a pic my mom took of me on one of our first photography hikes:
Here’s a pic my mom took of me on one of our first photography hikes:
And here’s the pic I took that you see me taking above:
My parents really liked my photos, and wanted to encourage me, so for Christmas, they purchased me a better point and shoot that had insane zoom! My mom said the zoom could go farther than her camera!
On December 26, 2015, we went out shooting at Cherry Creek State Park to test it out. I looked across the lake and saw a bald eagle on the other side. I pointed and tried to find it, but couldn’t, I was just too unsteady, plus the camera didn’t have a viewfinder, so I was trying to find my subject using the LCD only. We came across a perching red-tailed hawk, and I tried to take a few photos as it flew off. But, the frames per second rate was also not fast enough to capture it, so I could not photograph many birds in flight. (Which is what I REALLY wanted to do, and it quickly became my favorite.)
Here’s me trying to use my point and shoot:
On December 26, 2015, we went out shooting at Cherry Creek State Park to test it out. I looked across the lake and saw a bald eagle on the other side. I pointed and tried to find it, but couldn’t, I was just too unsteady, plus the camera didn’t have a viewfinder, so I was trying to find my subject using the LCD only. We came across a perching red-tailed hawk, and I tried to take a few photos as it flew off. But, the frames per second rate was also not fast enough to capture it, so I could not photograph many birds in flight. (Which is what I REALLY wanted to do, and it quickly became my favorite.)
Here’s me trying to use my point and shoot:
My mom and I talked about returning the shiny new red point and shoot, and getting a more complex camera for me. I wanted more control over my images, and wanted to be able to change settings and have a faster frames per second rate. We discussed the pros and cons: a point and shoot is lightweight and compact, but wasn’t fast enough, and a DSLR is big and bulky, but would allow me to grow with my hobby and give me creative control. My parents were awesome and returned the snazzy point and shoot and purchased me my first DSLR instead… a Canon T5i. Two days before the camera even arrived, my mom told me about the exposure triangle. She explained the relationship between shutter speed, ISO, and the F-stop (aperture). Once my camera came, I was really excited, and we went shooting at Cherry Creek again.
My first day out with the new gear:
My first day out with the new gear:
I started off with the two programmed modes, Tv and Av. My first two shots that I took were of Harold, (we named the hawk because he is always around, and very tolerant of people) in flight. I thought they were fantastic. I loved the quality and sharpness of the photos. I’m so glad we made the decision to upgrade my camera!
Here’s one of my early shots of Harold, the red-tailed hawk.
Here’s one of my early shots of Harold, the red-tailed hawk.
For the next couple of months, I went out every weekend with my mom to go photograph animals. She took me to different places like Belmar and DIA-loop. After a couple months, I wanted to try using single point focus instead of using all of the points. I also wanted to try full manual mode, so I could change all of the settings. So one day I tried both, and I got much better shots than I used to! (Or at least I thought I did.) I was really happy and I have been using manual and single focus point ever since.
So, that’s how I got started! Now, are you ready to see some of my favorite shots??
So, that’s how I got started! Now, are you ready to see some of my favorite shots??
I am interested in falconry, so my mom asked some falconers if we could tag along when they took their birds out hunting. This is Lila, a captive juvenile red-tailed hawk. She was flying past her owner, to land on a pole and I happened to be in between so it looks like she’s coming right at me. EXIF info: 1/800th of a second, f/8, ISO 400.
While my family was vacationing at the Grand Canyon, we popped over to Bearizona, and I snapped this pic of a captive fox. It was pacing it’s cage like it was bored, so I happened to get really close to it and then zoomed in all the way for this close-up. EXIF info: 1/2000th of a second, f/5.6, ISO 400.
We went looking for big horn sheep at Waterton Canyon. I like going there because you can get really close to the sheep. This girl was curious about me! EXIF info: 1/2000th of a second, f/5.6, ISO 800.
This is Khaleesi, a captive aplomado falcon. I had the privilege of photographing her because I attended a birds in flight photography workshop, and the photographer who hosted owns her. EXIF info: 1/2000th of a second, f/5.6, ISO 400.
After the birds in flight workshop ended, my friend and I spotted this wood duck hanging around and he kept taking off for medium-ish flights. I was happy to capture him in flight! EXIF info: 1/1000th of a second, f/9, ISO 800.
Sometimes I can’t find wildlife, but I can usually find other neat subjects that call to me. EXIF info: 1/1250th of a second, f/5.6, ISO 200.
I like to take photos at high shutter speeds just in case something excitedly random happens all of a sudden!
I like to take photos at high shutter speeds just in case something excitedly random happens all of a sudden!
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