by
Chuck_S » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:59 am
Michel, thanks. This was truly a 'grab' shot, with no intention to take a photo at all.
I returned from work to my hotel room around 5 pm and was soaking up the beautiful California weather in the hotel's garden when this little bird made his appearance. I'm not sure I had ever seen a Black Phoebe before but I confirmed its identity in the field guide I nearly always carry on trips. Then, since he decided he liked the garden as much as I and kept returning to the lichen-covered rock in full sun, I grabbed my camera, dialed up a custom setting that provides maximum digital zoom at a lower than maximum picture size, and started shooting. I believe I got to within 10 meters of him; my movement caused him to fly off, but like most flycatchers, he quickly returned to the same spot.
It pushed the lens and my ability to hand-hold to the limit; it's not a particularly sharp photo and is only suitable for web use. It's the first time I've ever used digital zoom on any camera, but I figured I'd use it as an experiment. Sure wished I had my DSLR, but then I probably would have spent so much time assembling the body and lens that the sun would have gone done and the bird would have flown off!
