ISO rules in wildlife photography.

Wildlife photography is not easy and the more help your camera can give you the better. I rate high ISO performance as the most important element when selecting a camera for this type of work. For over 30 years I used the old Kodachrome slide films of ASA (ISO) 64 and 25. I was lucky to get 1/30th second exposures and learnt to hold a long lens verrrrry steadily and the exposure latitude was pants, about 2.5 stops.. Nowadays I can use ISO 1000 as standard and get excellent results even with cluttered backgrounds. Here's a couple of pics of a Nuthatch to prove the point. The first is taken at ISO 6400!! The second at ISO 800. How things have come on these last few years. Full frame sensors rule for me.

Goosander gathering

49, yes, 49 Goosander on the Lower Lake yesterday. Never seen so many. The Nuthatch and Treecreeper are in abundance as well.

Laid up

I've been laid up with a damaged foot for ages. Put my foot down a rabbit hole while carrying 50lb of photo gear and trashed ligaments big style so no carrying photo gear for a long while. Never mind, I can always get the sketchbook out!

Vole time

This bank vole was one of a pair feeding under Rhododendron bushes. He was very friendly and became addicted to sunflower seeds, often taking 4 into his mouth at a time and scuttling off to hide them. Hard to get good photos of them as the light was very poor.

Crazy Canadas

The sculpture park lakes are alive with Canada Geese arguing, fighting, chasing and getting generally upset. They expend huge amounts of energy setting up and defending a territory.

Happy Herons

The Grey Herons are well into their breeding season with both island nests occupied. The males are getting very excited.

Elusive Treecreeper

Getting a good photo of these little beauties has been a winter project of mine. Many hours have been spent in the park tracking down these birds. Worth it in the end.

Just look at the length of that hind claw!!

Signs of Spring

The sculptures have been scrubbed clean with a man with a bucket and brush and the Lower lake is looking well after being frozen for so many weeks. White Butterbur is flowering and the Snowdrops are making a fine show.

At last the signs are here for all to see. The blue tits are really laying into one another as they set up terrritories.

Flying Free

Really cold days now. Down to -4C last night. Everything covered in snow. Nice to keep the food going for the birds. They really seem to appreciate it.

My winter project of bird flight shots is coming together at last. Anticipation and quick reflexes are needed, as well as copious supplies of peanut butter.

Some of the birds are getting very agressive, especially the Robins and Nuthatches.

Let There be Flight

Had a little time experimenting with flight shots down at the Sculpture Park now the sun has decided to honour us with its presence. The speed at which the birds fly makes it very difficult to freeze the motion of their wings but I tried.

For the photographers amongst you I had to use 1/3200th of a second exposure at f6.3 with a Nikon D3 and 600mm f4 lens to capture the movement of this Nuthatch and Coal Tit. The ISO was also at 3200 in order to get these high shutter speeds . I'm looking forward to the sun rising higher in the sky as spring heads our way, giving me higher light levels to play with.

I have a passion for flight shots as they are so hard to acheive and show the bird in its true element. Static poses are OK but do not capture the true nature of the bird.

Nellie the Elephant

It's amazing what a little bit of snow will do to enhance tha natural sculptures in the park. This beech had an amazing elephant's head growing out of it.

I'm so Pretty

Such a handsome bird and he knows it. This Great Spotted Woodpecker coudn't resist the peanuts pushed into an old rotting branch. He certainly knew how to pose. Any other bird coming within pecking range was sent packing with that lethal weapon on his.

Lots of birds have been coming to food left out for them. Competion in the cold weather led to some strange antics.

Tried to get some photos of the birds in flight. Not easy as the light was always dismal as the sun is still very weak at this time of year and the birds are so fast!

Double Trouble

The Grey Squirrels are once again rampant in the park. 4 today eating everything in sight and not a bit bothered by human presence. They are sooooo short-sighted. It's a shame there are no Red Squirrels in the park. I wonder of YSP would support a captive breeding programme as other areas of the UK have done. Perhaps there are not enough conifers to support the reds as their digestion cannot cope with the tannins in acorns and such foods as well as the greys can.

The pair of adult swans that raised 5 young last year have succeeded in evicting two of their brood. The male is constantly chasing the youngsters who don't seem to understand why dad is always after them. He is using a huge amount of energy up.

The Goosander are becoming more confiding as the winter wears on. The robins are loving the suet pieces and peanut butter left out for them.

In the Bleak

Brrrrr! Everything frozen.... again. At least the sun came out for once.

Plants in the freezer

This Dunnock lives life in the shadows, always picking up little titbits dropped by other birds. From a distance it looks a drab grey/brown, but up close and personal, it's amazing what details the plumage holds.

This cold weather has given me many opportunities for photography. This Burdock seed head looked great in the macro lens. Nature really does make the best sculptures!

A pair of very excitable Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been filling up at the feeding station. This scruffy male can eat for England. The upper lake in mostly frozen now and Siskin are beginning to use the feeders now the weather is so cold.

Eyes Bigger than Tummy

The local Nuthatches are stocking up for the hard times ahead. A pair were storing peanuts for over an hour today!

A Windy Day

Ran the gauntlet of the Oak trees in the park today. I need a hard hat to protect me from the huge number of acorns coming down. It's a time of plenty for the birds and animals at the moment with sweet chestnuts and beech mast in abundance.

The adult male swan has begun chasing off the cygnets already and the resident Cormorant seems to be finding plenty of fish in the upper lake.

There were 11 Goosander on the lakes today, with only one juvenile male. They were very flighty and I could not get near enough for a picture. Perhaps when they have settled into their winter quarters.

Lord of the Trees

The noble Nuthatch, noisily proclaiming his kingdom, looks the part in his superb plumage. This one stood to have his portrait 'painted' by my lens. Stunning bird, just look at the feather details!