Posts in Category: OM-1 & 100-400mm
Maine! Eastern Towhee
Eastern Towhee: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farms, Wells, Maine, USA, May 2023 — Again I took advantage of some early sun, or so I thought, to get out for some practice with the new Olympus OM-1 and the 100-400mm zoom. By the time I got down to Laudholm Farms, the clouds had rolled in and the light was already less than ideal. So it goes. I have trouble remembering that this is not the Rufous-sided Towhee, which is the name it had when I as first leaning bird names. I think I may have confused more than one young birder by calling it that. It has been the Eastern Towhee for some time now. 🙂 It was keeping company with a couple of Catbirds and some Robins along the upper trail at Laudholm. Olympus OM-1 with the 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving custom birds modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Maine! Chickadee at nest hole…
Black-capped Chickadee: Roger’s Pond Park, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2023 — We had a few hours of sunshine yesterday early so I took my new Olympus OM-1 and 100-400mm zoom out for some “field” practice. So far most of my photos have been from the back deck door or from my backyard photo blind. I need to know how the camera works in less controlled environment. 🙂 Not much going on at Roger’s Pond. I always hope for the pair of Eagles that is often see there…well, more often not seen there…but sometimes seen there. Not yesterday. And no ducks in the river. I had to make do with chickadees and titmice. This Chickadee was working a nest cavity low on a big maple. Olympus OM-1 and 100-400mm zoom at 1600mm equivalent (with digital tele-converter). Program mode with my evolving custom bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f6.3 @ 1/500th. Minus .7EV.
Maine! Grey Squirrel (I see you!)
Grey Squirrel: Kennebunk Maine, USA, May 2023 — When you live in Maine you practice Animal Auto Focus on any wildlife available…mostly squirrels. 🙂 This squirrel did its “laying out flat on a branch” thing for me, and watched me inside my hide. He very definitely knew exactly where I was and was keeping track of what I was doing. We have two different framings here: 800mm equivalent and, using the digital tele-converter in the OM-1, 1600mm equivalent. In both cases the camera automatically kept focus on the eye. Program mode with my evolving wildlife modifications. (That is what the practice is all about.) Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 800 @ f6.3 @ 1/500th. Minus .7EV.
Maine! Wet birds…
Pine Warbler, Purple Finch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Red-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — We are having several days of cold rain here in a row, but the birds have been very active at the feeders despite the weather. I had fun yesterday afternoon when the light was at its brightest for the day, photographing wet birds through the double-glazed deck door. I can’t say that they look very happy! but they were certainly busy. Olympus OM-1 with the 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 1600-2500 @ f6.3 @ 1/500th. Minus .7EV.
Maine! Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — Still in the experimental stage of setting up my OM-1 for birds and wildlife. Here I was using the cooperative Chipping Sparrow on the feeder to test the built in 2x digital converter. Lots of cameras have them. Some work surprisingly well for those times when you need the extra reach. This shot was taken with the 100-400mm zoom at the equivalent of 1600mm and I think it is just fine! I could have gotten the same image scale by cropping an 800mm shot, but the digital converter maintains, or simulates at least, the full 20mm files. I have the converter programed into a handy button on the camera so I can just click it on and off as needed. Olympus OM-1 with the 100-400mm zoom. Program mode with my evolving birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 800 @ f 6.3 @ 1/500th.
Maine! Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — Another shot from the open door of our deck. Our faithful male bluebird posing nicely on a stick…so, yes, your classic bird-on-a-stick shot. Still learning the Olympus OM-1 and 100-400mm zoom. 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications (under development). Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/500th. Minus .3EV.
Maine! Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — I put out the blind and filled the feeders under the pines yesterday, but the birds have not found the seed yet. I did manage to get my first shot with the new Olympus OM-1 and the 400mm zoom that was not taken through a sheet of double pane glass 🙂 by opening the deck door for a half hour or so late in the day yesterday. I am happy to have it be the Red-breasted Nuthatch, one of my favorite feeder birds. The light was okay…full daylight but no sun so this is also my first shot in “normal ISO” range…normal for the OM-1 and the f6.3 lens. I am happy with the new rig so far. Still tweaking the settings for Point and Shoot nature photography, but I can already tell that I am going to like it. I will try to keep it about the birds and the wildlife and the flowers and landscapes…the wonders of creation! That is my promise to myself. And the Red-breasted Nuthatch is a good place to start. Olympus OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 1000 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
Maine! Hairy Woodpecker female
Female Hairy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, April 2023 — I picked up a new camera yesterday afternoon, the Olympus OM-1 and their 100-400mm zoom, and got the battery charged for some first shots after supper as the light was failing. It will take me some time to get everything set up for the true point and shoot experience with this camera, but first results are promising, and this is truly, once set up, the ultimate point and shoot camera. You can even tell it what you are photographing, and it will even find the bird (or bear, or the motorcycle) in the frame and track focus on it. It is totally amazing to watch as it puts a box around the bird and follows it through the frame, maintaining focus all the way. And all the other bits I preset on my cameras for point and shoot nature photography are all there in the menus…it is just a matter of finding them, and getting the right settings. 🙂 This shot is at ISO 12800 through the double glazed glass deck doors at 7PM. Not bad for a first attempt. Equivalent focal length 552mm. Program mode. f6.3 @ 1/800th.