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Help please (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Freako
- Start date
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Sun rises in the east, and goes round via south to west.
So you want a hide that faces west/northwest in the morning, one that faces north at noon, and one that faces east/northeast in the afternoon.
Pretty obvious, really
So you want a hide that faces west/northwest in the morning, one that faces north at noon, and one that faces east/northeast in the afternoon.
Pretty obvious, really
Freako
Well-known member
Sun rises in the east, and goes round via south to west.
So you want a hide that faces west/northwest in the morning, one that faces north at noon, and one that faces east/northeast in the afternoon.
Pretty obvious, really
Thanks for nothing.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Well, it answers your question! What else are you hoping for? If you need more details, some extra information about the situation and what you want from it might help :t:
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Although less sarcasm might have helped, I rather agree with Nutty. What do you want from your hide? How permanent is it to be? What sort of birds are you planning to attract? Will you be putting in a reflection pool (for which you probably don't want backlighting) or trying to take arty shots rather than field-guide side views (in which case backlighting will be a tool for your toolbox)?
In particular I think you will want to ensure that neither the surroundings nor the bulk of the hide itself occlude the golden light to be had at the beginning or end of the day (or both). Mind you, some of this can be covered simply by building it with viewing alternatives at both sides (or all sides, depending on the shape) and a bit of careful landscaping. In respect of which, you may wish to dig the hide in somewhat to get really low angle photography - shooting at the birds' level. Drainage may then be an issue.
Is this for you or for more than one/two people at a time? The bigger it is, the more limited you will be in directions to face. At any time you will need to prevent light going right through, so if its going to be big with people facing both ways you will need curtains down the middle.
You are right to give it a bit of thought in advance of starting. Both progress and results will be interesting, if you care to keep us informed.
John
In particular I think you will want to ensure that neither the surroundings nor the bulk of the hide itself occlude the golden light to be had at the beginning or end of the day (or both). Mind you, some of this can be covered simply by building it with viewing alternatives at both sides (or all sides, depending on the shape) and a bit of careful landscaping. In respect of which, you may wish to dig the hide in somewhat to get really low angle photography - shooting at the birds' level. Drainage may then be an issue.
Is this for you or for more than one/two people at a time? The bigger it is, the more limited you will be in directions to face. At any time you will need to prevent light going right through, so if its going to be big with people facing both ways you will need curtains down the middle.
You are right to give it a bit of thought in advance of starting. Both progress and results will be interesting, if you care to keep us informed.
John
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
I'd have thought that generally, you want the sun behind you, certainly not in front anyway.
A
A
Freako
Well-known member
Thanks for your reply, its a two man purpose build hide and I will be photographing UK woodland birds, as this will not be on a turntable I was hoping for suggestions that would suggest the best way to face it to make the best of the situation. I know where the sun rises and set, I also know that at midday it will be mid point (that might surprise Nuttcracker) I was just asking for advise really what would you guys do bearing in mind its a permanent hide?
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Usually but not always. It depends whether you are trying to make rather ordinary "field guide" pictures or attempting something with a touch of artistry. Many people never move beyond the first (which isn't by any means easy a lot of the time!), but to paint with light you must have an extensive palette.
One of the best wildlife pictures I've ever seen was of a Polar Bear: the bear was entirely black, silhouetted by light from a setting sun beyond it that gave it an intense orange halo of fur in addition to colouring the entire background. White was not present.... it was still instantly evident what species was depicted. I'd have loved to have even thought of that picture, let alone taken it.
Also, if you are going to the trouble of producing a hide and thinking about light at all, you should give consideration to how to make the very most of it. Without the chance of variation in the photos you take you can get bored quite quickly, so although you will want a part of each day with light behind you to show colours of your subjects in the ordinary way, you should position you hide to enable some extremes of lighting as well.
John
I'm no expert but an example of mine that I quite like: Bewick's Swan and Pintail early morning, Marshside.
Attachments
Freako
Well-known member
Thank you John I will consider what you say :t:
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Artyfarty Seagull Larus flatulens 8-P
May be artistic, but it's useless for ID purposes!
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
Hmmm... I'm getting a Ring-billed Gull vibe here B
:t:
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Iceland gull?
Hmmm... I'm getting a Ring-billed Gull vibe here B
Hey Rafael.
I had to put a hat on so I could take it off to you! You are correct. Now, I don't suppose you could tell me it's age and sex, as well, could you...!
Best wishes
Graham
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
o
I can't, but I'm thinking of buying a lottery ticket tomorrow first thing in the morning. Nice shot by the way, I didn't know you're a fan of photography!
PS: 1st winter, female 3
I decided long ago to leave bird photography to other folk, but I do like a bit of 'writing with light' when it comes to landscapes, abstracts, close-ups etc. I even did a fortnight's exhibition once in Cork City (Around the World in Eighty Images). I took the opportunity to browse your gallery and I must say the Red-necked Phalaropes and the Waxwing had me purring. There are SO many bird photographers out there these days taking very very good photos, but few seem to bother to take it to another level, which is to say something that incorporates the bird within the context of its environment rather than just being the sole subject of the shot. Or to utilise side lighting and what have you. Obviously the temptation with most bird photographers is to get as close as possible to the subject with the sun behind them; it's more difficult, I think, but potentially more rewarding, to stand back and lend a bit of atmosphere to the shot. Attached is one of the very last shots I took with my old Tamron 500mm wildlife lens in the days of analog before I gave up carrying anything more than a compact digital with me.
