5 February 2015

Bird photography is not really my thing. I don’t have the long lenses to get in close or the patience to sit a wait. Then, when a feathered friend takes flight, spray and pray as the camera fires up at nine frames per sec. Some photographers accumulate well over a 1000 shots in one session, then spending all the time in the evening sorting out the shots.

However where I stay in Hong Kong is next door to some wet lands and a favourite bird  photographers spot, attracting people from China and Hong Kong. Here are a few photos taken with my puny 200mm lens -compared to the NZ$14,000, 600mm f4 which is the de rigueur for serious birdies. Oops I forgot the 1.5x extender as well!)

Also I have included photos from my good friend James Fung who also lives in Sallys village and drove us around various sites in Hong Kong on our last visit. James is a passionate photographer and a very good bird photographer. He is a good example of what can be done with Sony cameras and old Minolta lenses. James’s photos are in the Guest section.

1.    29 December 2013    Ho Sheung Heung    Nikon D3s    iso200    200mm    f4.0    1/750sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4

2.    29 December 2013    Ho Sheung Heung    Nikon D3s    iso200    200mm    f4.0    1/1000sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4

3.    22 March 2013    Ho Sheung Heung    Nikon D3s    iso800    200mm    f4.0    1/500sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4

4.    29 December 2013    Nikon D3s    iso 200    190mm    f4.0    1/750sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4.0

5.    5 January 2014    Tsing Yi nature trail    Nikon D3s    iso 1600    200mm    f5.6    1/500sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4

6.    29 December 2013    Ho Sheung Heung    iso 200    200mm    f5.6    1/500sec    Nikon 70-200mmf4

7.    29 December 2013    Ho Sheung Heung    Nikon D3s    iso 200    14mm    f11    1/250sec    Nikon 14-24mm f2.8  

14 July 2014

Next stop Tokyo, Japan.  Rumour has it that the Meiji Shrine had traditional  wedding ceremonies every weekend.

So off I go onto the Yamanote line getting off at Harujuku Station. The park containing the Meiji Shrine is immediately adjacent to the station. It is interesting how the two extremes of Japanese fashion, Harujuku girls and kimino clad girls are right next door to each other.

And the rumour was correct. There appeared to be a wedding party every 30 -40 minutes. All lining up like ducks in a row.

With the variety of different coloured kimonos it was more like a tray of sushi. My camera couldn’t stop clicking…..

1.  28 March  2013    Nikon D3s    iso 200   24mm   f13    1/350    Nikon 24-70mm f2.8

2.    30 Mar 2013    Nikon D3s    iso 400    200mm    f16    1/90sec    nikon 70-200mm f4

3.   30 March 2013   Nikon D3s   iso 800   200mm   f4.0   1/180sec   Nikon 70-200mm  f4

4.    30 March 2013    Nikon D3s   iso 800    200mm    f6.7    1/180    Nikon 70-200mm f4

5.    30 March 2013    Nikon D3s    iso800    110mm    f4.0    1/125sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4

6.    Koishikawa Korakuen    1 April 2013    Nikon D3s    iso 200    200mm    f6.7    1/250sec    Nikon 70-200mm f4