If you're like me you probably seldom, if ever, use the small pop-up flash that is on your camera. I've had my Nikon 1 V3 for a couple of months now and it has become my dedicated birding and nature camera. My wife and I were recently on a very...
Post Archive By Thomas Stirr - Page 4
When People Downsize Their Camera Gear
This short article summarizes some of the feedback that I have received from seniors who have downsized their gear, or are thinking about doing so. The desire to downsize camera gear is not restricted to seniors! Some of the actions that seniors are taking may make sense for other photographers...
Birding Kit in a Holster Bag
Over the past few months I've been getting more and more emails from people doing some investigation of smaller sensor, mirrorless camera systems like Micro 4/3 and Nikon 1. Quite a few of them are like me in that they are seniors, or soon-to-be seniors, with an interest in bird photography. Most are...
Hand-held Close-Up Photography
Many photographers enjoy exploring the world around them with macro and close-up photography. The basic difference between these similar genres of photography is the amount of magnification achieved, with a 1:1 magnification generally accepted as an example of macro photography. Images at this level of magnification also have more details...
Three Challenges We Share
There's an old saying that "time flies when you're having fun". That must be true since the past three years for me here at Photography Life have gone by at supersonic speeds. Unlike many photography blogs on the internet Photography Life has carved out a unique place for itself with its...
Senior Perspectives on Photography
It has been a few years now that I’ve qualified for a senior’s discount at various retailers. Of course the rules for such discounts do vary by store. Some start offering them at 55. Others at 60. And, at many they don’t kick in until that magic age of 65. (more…)
Photographing Birds Using Slower Shutter Speeds
Making a change to one's camera kit is always a good reason to go out to get some practice using it outside and indoors. I went out to Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls Ontario a few days ago with my Nikon 1 V3 and CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens to practice my...
Photographing Water Birds in Winter
I recently made a couple of changes to my photography gear which resulted in me adding a Nikon 1 V3 to my kit and selling my J4 with WP-N3 waterproof housing. I wanted to put my new acquisition to the test and decided to photograph some water birds. So, I headed...
Every Road Tells a Story
If you're like me the ending of one year and the beginning of another is a special time of transition. We have the opportunity to leave the past behind and move forward in new directions to discover what the future holds for us. Every life - like every road - tells a...
Shooting in the Moment
This article will very likely be my last one for 2016 here at Photography Life due to an enormous workload I'm under right now preparing images and writing text for five photography related e-books I have planned for 2017. I'd like to extend a special 'thank you' to Photography Life reader,...