Birds Progress report on my first year!

[brockgs]

Hello all. I’m new to photography since a little over a year ago. I’ve dabbled here and there, but honestly never ever moved the dial off of auto.

The journey has been incredible so far. Ups and Downs for sure. I am grateful that I’ve been able to acquire some amazing gear along the way. Gear doesn’t make the photographer, but it definitely can enhance one, of that I am sure.

I started off my Sony journey with an a6000 and the stock telephoto it came with. I’ve moved along the product line, acquiring an a6400, then an A7RIV, then an a1, then an RX10. I’ve run the gamut of lenses, but now carefully baby my absolute favourites: Sony ƒ1.8 135mm, Sony ƒ2.8 90mm macro, Sony ƒ2.8 70-200mm, Sony ƒ5.6-6.3 200-600mm, and the 2x Teleconverter. I have the ƒ4 600mm on order along with the 1.4x Teleconverter. I have many more lenses but these (aside from the yet to be received 600mm) are what go with me EVERYWHERE NOW!

I’ve thrown myself into the deep end because right from the start, I found photography and the challenge of birding to be calming for me, but also something that I was able to concentrate and focus myself on to help push back stress and anxiety that otherwise was overwhelming. I’m on the verge of it becoming an obsession…which I don’t want, but so far I’m on the right side of that.

I wanted to share a few recent photos to hopefully inspire some other absolutely brand new people coming into this. Also, I want to share them because I am honestly very proud of them. They might not be “perfect” pictures, but they are perfect for me at this time and place because it has helped me tremendously in my trauma recovery.

I hope you like them. I haven’t been on here in many many many months, not because I don’t love this forum, but because I’ve been OUTSIDE, and working hard to learn and experiment, and heal. I might not be even very active going forward, but this community was important enough to me for helping give me to confidence to get started that I wanted to come back and share how that support and confidence has helped encourage me forward.

Thank you everyone!
Brock

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Some great shots there!

 

[Boojum]

Great shots. Remember that we all started at the same place. And so long as the pictures please you then you are successful. Not everyone will love what you photograph just like we cannot all love the same woman.

With that collection of gear over a year, are you sure this is not an obsession? LOL If you are having fun and not breaking any laws you are alright. Especially around here. ;o)

 

[Jeff A]

Well, I'm impressed and embarrassed. I have had my camera for 10 months and I haven't shot so much as a caged Canary. Very nice shots.

 

[Tim Mayo]

Awesome shots Brock! Thanks for sharing your journey with us, it certainly sounds like you have come a long way and learnt a lot in the process. I'm glad to hear that photography has also helped you with stress and anxiety. I bet you can't wait for the 600 F4 to arrive!

 

[TerryL]

Hello all. I’m new to photography since a little over a year ago. I’ve dabbled here and there, but honestly never ever moved the dial off of auto.

The journey has been incredible so far. Ups and Downs for sure. I am grateful that I’ve been able to acquire some amazing gear along the way. Gear doesn’t make the photographer, but it definitely can enhance one, of that I am sure.

I started off my Sony journey with an a6000 and the stock telephoto it came with. I’ve moved along the product line, acquiring an a6400, then an A7RIV, then an a1, then an RX10. I’ve run the gamut of lenses, but now carefully baby my absolute favourites: Sony ƒ1.8 135mm, Sony ƒ2.8 90mm macro, Sony ƒ2.8 70-200mm, Sony ƒ5.6-6.3 200-600mm, and the 2x Teleconverter. I have the ƒ4 600mm on order along with the 1.4x Teleconverter. I have many more lenses but these (aside from the yet to be received 600mm) are what go with me EVERYWHERE NOW!

I’ve thrown myself into the deep end because right from the start, I found photography and the challenge of birding to be calming for me, but also something that I was able to concentrate and focus myself on to help push back stress and anxiety that otherwise was overwhelming. I’m on the verge of it becoming an obsession…which I don’t want, but so far I’m on the right side of that.

I wanted to share a few recent photos to hopefully inspire some other absolutely brand new people coming into this. Also, I want to share them because I am honestly very proud of them. They might not be “perfect” pictures, but they are perfect for me at this time and place because it has helped me tremendously in my trauma recovery.

I hope you like them. I haven’t been on here in many many many months, not because I don’t love this forum, but because I’ve been OUTSIDE, and working hard to learn and experiment, and heal. I might not be even very active going forward, but this community was important enough to me for helping give me to confidence to get started that I wanted to come back and share how that support and confidence has helped encourage me forward.

Thank you everyone!
Brock

Wow, what a nice story, and amazing pictures.

 

[Clix Pix]

You are doing really, really well! Wow! Before I looked at the photos, was just reading the text and came to the part about ordering a 600mm, I thought, "what the heck does a beginner think he'll do with the very expensive 600mm?" And then I looked at your photos and I think you will do just fine with it!!! You have a knack for capturing birds at just the right times, catching those interesting moments.... Happy shooting with the 600mm!!!!