Show Off# Places to photograph. 1.Merritt Island out of Titusville Florida. Specifically Black Point Wildlife Drive. This is an approximately 8 mile drive through the wetlands that has about 300 species of birds available at different times. This is a very enjoyable and user friendly place. It’s Ok to pull off to the side of this one- way road and photograph (East Coast) 2-Anahinga trail at the South entrance to the Everglades—Just out of Homestead Florida at the end of the Turnpike and entrance to the Florida Keys. Nice walk through wetlands on raised boardwalk, also Gumbo Limbo trail to see native plants and trees. 3-Shark Valley on Highway 41 or Tamiami trail. This is a great area! There is a 15 mile paved loop where you can either hike, ride a bicycle or take a tram. Lots of Birds and Alligators. Birds don’t seem afraid and so your potential is great for shots. 4-Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge-Located on Sanibel Island. There is a four-mile Wildlife drive. You can walk-ride bicycles or Drive. Similar to Merritt Island. Incidentally you can fish and put in Kayaks at Ding Darling. This park is loaded with Birds hence potential keeper shots. Gulf Coast.) 5-Venice rookery-Venice Florida-this is a small island with lots of birds and potential for incredible shots-Just off US 1. (Gulf Coast) 6-Pelican Island-just south of Sebastian Inlet on A1A (south of Melbourne Florida. This is a very nice park with hiking trails and lots of Birds.(East coast) 7-StAugustine Alligator farm, St Augustine Florida north of Daytona (East coast) Heron Talk When-in my opinion and Since I live in Florida I would say Jan-Feb-March and April for three good reasons. 1-Breeding season and thus great shot potential. This time of the year the birds have absolutely beautiful plumage in order to attract mates. Plus you have a chance at shooting the little guys 2-NO Mosquitoes!!! Do not go into Everglades in the summer-unless you like to suffer. If you do take lots of spray or lotion. 3-Cooler weather. It’s hard to lug around cameras and big lenses when its 100 degrees out. Now-you can obviously shoot Birds any time of the year-but I find the first 4 months of the year the most fruitful. Natures Beauty Some general Techniques and Information Since there are a zillion books on techniques-I’m going to cover just what I have found works for me! These are in no certain order. 1-Be glad when it’s overcast- It is so much easier to get shots of White Birds and not blow out the reflected areas. If it is sunny out and the sun is hitting on a White heron or Egret-get ready to meter the subject and underexpose and/or compensate. *I would rather lose some detail in the dark areas than Blow out the Highlights. 2-Use a Tripod!!!!! In most cases you will be using at least 200 to300mm lenses and due to the weight you will need a Sturdy tripod. In my opinion, you cannot handhold a heavy camera with a large lens and get a sharp image. *In my opinion most shots by beginning photographers lack clarity/sharpness. *Focus on the Birds eye—especially with long lenses. *The best pictures of solo birds should give an idea of the birds personality! 3-Use a shutter release cable and always bring a backup. If you’re lens is locked on a bird and you’re waiting for it to stretch out or whatever-it’s nice to just click the release and get the shot. Sometimes the window to do this happens very fast! (on the backup-I lost/misplaced a cable at Ding Darling and there was no camera shop within 20 miles to get a replacement) Reddish Egret 4.Understand your exposure meter (either handheld or TTL) I find that practice really helps-I have spent lots of time in my own backyard and out in forest areas to see what different settings produce. Try Aperture priority. When in doubt I use a spot meter and set my camera at what I want the metered are to look like. There are lots of books on this-so learn about zones and then manually set your camera. PS-if you are shooting birds and the light is pretty much the same-find the exposure that works then set it manually and stick with it. Be careful though because if the light changes, your exposure will need to be adjusted for more or less light. Dennis Handa-March 22, 2004 www.dhphotoart.com