Category Archives: Bird Detection AI

DxO Smart Lighting

DxO Smart Lighting is an adjustment that I use with all of my RAW files, regardless of the subject matter in my photographs. I can’t comment on the use of this function with larger sensor cameras, but I can say that I’ve found this tool to be very useful with all of my images captured with smaller sensor cameras like Nikon 1 and Olympus/OM System M4/3 equipment.

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Local Bird Photography

For many folks, doing local bird photography is their best option from both cost and time commitment perspectives. Flying to an out-of-country location to spend a week with a professional photographer/guide to photograph exotic birds can be an exciting prospect. From a practical perspective it is simply out-of-reach financially for many of us.

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Mid-March Birding

Mid-March birding can be a bit of a challenge in Southern Ontario since the spring bird migration is only in its earliest phase with robins and grackles starting to arrive. We are left with a limited number of species… many of which some folks do not find particularly exciting to photograph. Birds like Canada geese, gulls, fairly common ducks, swans, and small species like sparrows and chickadees.

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Intensive Practise Session

This article discusses a recent bird-in-flight, intensive practise session I did along the shoreline of Forty Mile Creek Park… and some of the planning that went into it.

In my mind, casually grabbing a camera and going out to create a few impromptu photographs does not constitute a practise session. There is no clear objective. There is no forethought or preparation. Nor is there any discipline involved with the activity.

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Why I Prefer Practicing With Gulls

This article discusses why I prefer practicing with gulls, and shares an extensive selection of new images recently captured at 40 Mile Creek in Grimsby.

Some photographers seem to view gulls as nothing more than a nuisance… and they don’t bother trying to photograph them at all. From my perspective, of all of the bird species I could choose to photograph in-flight, it is difficult for me to identify better practice birds than gulls.

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Half Of The Story

Sometimes only getting half of the story can still produce some very interesting, action-oriented photographs. In the springtime birds are vying for mates, or protecting the partner that they already have. This can lead to some dramatic action, especially if large birds like geese or swans are involved.

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Osprey at a Distance

During a couple of recent visits to Hendrie Valley I’ve had the chance to photograph an osprey at a distance, flying around the pond area.

These were ideal, real-life opportunities to see how the M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS zoom would perform capturing a medium sized bird in flight at distances of at least 50 metres (~164 feet) from my shooting position.

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Goose Aggression with 150-600

Goose aggression is quite common during most times of the year and can be heightened during the mating season. Last week I was out getting in some practice with my M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS at Forty Mile Creek, when an unexpected burst of goose aggression occurred.

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Practicing BIF with Mallards

During the past few days I’ve been practicing my BIF handheld technique with mallards at Forty Mile Creek in Grimsby. The spring birding season is fast approaching, so getting in some practice sessions in advance is absolutely critical.

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