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I have finally found my photo album (at last!). I've since been a busy chappie scanning and playing and here are the best of the rest.(These pages are graphically heavy so please be patient. Click on any thumbnail for a larger image. If it overflows your window - sorry!!!)
Most of these piccies were taken at the 'Hawk Conservancy', Weyhill, Near Andover, Hampshire and the 'Hawk Centre' in Gloucestershire. Two very excellent, highly recommended, must see places to visit. It's best to go on a day when it's not too hot and sunny, the birds aren't so keen to fly if it's too hot and you are sitting in the sun with no shade for quite a while. The displays are usually too engrossing to notice your neck charring :o) The staff at both sites are extremely friendly and informative and deeply care for the birds in their charge. the Hawk Conservancy has a very good web site, full of info, bird gossip and beautifully laid out. I haven't checked recently whether the Hawk Centre has a site yet, but if they have and it's as good as the rest of the Centre then it must also be a winner.
(If you order ANY books from 'amazon.com' via
the Hawk Conservancy Web Site, Amazon will pay a commision to the Hawk
Conservancy Hospital Appeal Fund {for sick birds})
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I use a Praktica BX20 usually with a 55-200mm zoom lens but sometimes a 35-50mm zoom. I prefer to load with Kodak Gold 200 or 400 if I have to, I don't trust the British Weather enough to warrant a 100 speed. (I think Kodak booby trap their film cartons. When I open one, the weather clouds over - has anyone else noticed that??? perhaps someone could write a thesis about it!)
Anyway, I always keep a polarising filter on the front of whatever lens is stuck on, (I sometimes remember to twiddle it as well :o) I rarely use a tripod 'cos the birds are too *@#%! quick. As it is, I've ricked my neck a couple of times trying to follow a Peregrine Falcon at the bottom of a full stoop (160 MPH+ is FAST, believe me!!!)
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It can be rather tricky trying to photograph through
wire fencing especially with Autofocus. Fortunately, the Praktica
is mostly manual settings so it's usually inspired guesswork as to what
settings to use. (I've tried bracketing the shots but by the time
they've been processed and compensated for by the d&p labs, I can't
tell the difference!!!)
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Mind you, the fencing can add an unexpected backdrop
in certain cases, as below!!!
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