Winter in snow country. Here are some photos I took while trying out my new camera, a Nikon D5100. No editing has been done here, not even cropping.
I admit these are the more successful ones. There are lots that I’m not satisfied, with capturing light and focusing. Still figuring out how to use it, especially for birds. If you’re familiar with this camera, do let me know what’s the best settings for flying objects, identified or not.
Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. CLICK HERE to see what others have posted.
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Ripple Effects 
I’m not certain whether I should be proud or dismayed to be able to say that for once we appear to have more snow in the UK than you do in Canada. I love the photo of the bird. What is it?
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Snow sure can draw us closer despite how far we’re apart geographically. I can feel for you, as I learned from the news that airports were shut down due to the heavy snow. That’s a Black-capped Chickadee. We have lots of them in my neck of the woods.
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Beautiful! Enjoy your new camera!!
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Thanks… still learning.
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Wow! These images are beautiful!! Thank you for sharing!
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Alison,
Thanks. The beauty of winter… a lovely consolation, always.
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Lovely photos, especially the bird and squirrel I find photographing birds difficult – you have to be quick. and even quicker to capture a squirrel!
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The squirrel is easier to take I find, esp. when it’s eating. At least it can’t fly away. 😉
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Photography is always a continuing learning experience for me. I review the disc that accompanies the Nikon camera to learn about the different modes settings, f-stops, depth of fields.
You seem to have a good start with your photos.
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edgarone2,
Yes, thanks! I must go and check that out. I never watch the disc that comes with the package. 😉
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Love them all! I’ve never seen a fence with the top rails overlapping like that. Looks really neat!
Here’s My Photo
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Didn’t mean the top rails, I just meant the rails!
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Vicki,
I seldom notice that construction. Guess we see them quite a lot here. Now you have me interested about fences. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment (s). 😉
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Well done to take such lovely pictures, and no cropping. It is all to easy to not compose, because you know you can crop later.
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Ginny,
Welcome and thanks for your comment! As a matter of fact, I’m usually careful to frame my subject instead of waiting for the cropping at the editing stage. But you’re right… we have tools to fix any imperfections. 😉
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I’m taken with the warm light you’ve captured, even in wintry scenes. It’s in the high 70sF today with warm Santa Ana winds blowing gently, feeling not at all wintry 😉
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nikkipolani,
That’s summer for us! No wonder you still have roses and a blooming garden!
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What a charming fence in that first shot. Lovely!
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Thanks for stopping by the pond. 😉
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I’m still learning my camera too. I use the sports setting a lot for when I’m trying to capture birds, and I like using the auto-focus. My husband is more partial to using manual settings, but I don’t feel like I have enough knowledge to do that on the fly. Lovely photos!
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Alyce,
I use the sports mode too, but I’m also experimenting with manual settings. All the best for a wonderful year of Snapshots.
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Such beautiful Winter shots, Arti! I miss the snow in Illinois; it’s around 47 degrees here lately which is not what I call Winter! Anyway, it’s good to enjoy it vicariously, with the squirrel, through your eyes.
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Bellezza,
That’s some nice weather you’re having. But yes, winter can be very beautiful here. Thanks for stopping by the pond. 😉
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You’re getting some nice shots with the new camera. I’m finding that winter looks better when there is a little snow on the ground. We have none here in Chicago and the photos I’ve taken this month are rather drab and colorless. Not that I’m complaining. 🙂
As for settings, regardless of the make/model, the faster the shutter speed the better for birds. That will mean going at least partially manual. The sport setting is also an option if you don’t want to mess with manual yet.
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Leslie,
Yes… I’m trying to play with the diff. combinations of shuttle speed, aperture and ISO, as well as the camera’s own built in Auto settings. I use the sports mode for flying objects. It will take me a while to find the best combinations, maybe semi-auto.
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I use semi-auto most of the time switching to manual only if I have time to compose the shot. Birds just don’t like to wait around for me!
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The light in the second shot is beautifully captures. Love the pics of the little creatures in the snow too. Such a lovely change from our recent record breaking 45C degree day in Sydney!!
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Brona,
I can’t imagine going out at 45C! We sure live in very different worlds! Of course, you’re having summer now. I wonder where do the birds go in so hot weather?
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The images look very serene. Thanks for sharing. Here’s Mine
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Paulita,
Yes it’s very quiet and serene in the woods. Thanks for leaving us the link to your photos.
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Great pictures-they take me back to my time in Canada. I particularly love the squirrel photo, but then I particularly love squirrels…
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Louise,
Which part of Canada did you use to stay? Here in Southern Alberta, squirrels are very common, even in the cold. They love the pine cones and eat very fast. The Black-capped Chickadees I see a lot too in my neck of the woods.
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Lovely shots of nature♫ Happy week-end♥ It has turned very cold here! Here’s my Sat Snap: http://lore-eleven.blogspot.com/2013/01/frosty-etchings.html
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I just came back in from taking a walk in the woods, but didn’t see any birds. Maybe too cold for them… -14C.
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These are wonderful, Arti. I suspect my aversion to snow might not equal yours to cats, but it’s on the road! But oh, how I love to look at really beautiful snowy photos — just so long as I don’t have to be in them! These are lovely. The lighting on that photo is especially lovely! And nice work with bird and beast, as Lizzie might call the squirrel, her arch-nemesis! Beth at moredoors.blogspot.com is periodically doing a bit on asking people to share their camera questions with her. I’m not sure what she uses, but if it’s the same may have ideas. Happy weekend!
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Jeanie,
I just come back from a little walk out in the woods to look for birds. Guess it was a bit too cold for them, at -14C. I don’t mind winter as long as it’ sunny. And yes, glad you understand why I’ve not been around your blog these few days. But, hey, it’s Downton Abbey tonight, so I just might post something tomorrow. Let’s all gather around the pond here for some ripples. 😉
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Also, thanks for the info about Beth’s blog. I’ll def. check that out.
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So different from what I am experiencing today in Southern California!
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For sure… and for 70F you’re having, you could have camped outside! 😉
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There are a couple of professional photographers whose blogs might be helpful to you. Steve, at Portraits of Wildflowers, has some tips on equipment and techniques in his sidebar. Beyond that, he often shares information on settings, shooting position and so on in his daily posts. I’ve learned so much.
Another is Phil Lanoue, who was a sports photographer and now presents primarily birds. He also offers the occasional tip, and if you want inspiration to keep getting better, this is the place to do it!
Both of these guys post daily, and I make it a habit to stop by every day, to admire and learn.
My favorite of this set is the fence, just because it’s so well composed and so unusual. I’ve never seen a fence like that, either. It’s very, very attractive. And yes, of course – I have snow envy!
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Thanks for the info of these two sites, Linda. I’ll definitely check them out. As for the fence, I’m so surprised that it’s a novelty. 😉 Now you’ve motivated me to take more pictures of them, in various locations. hmm… they could be an interesting photography subject.
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I like all these shots, Arti. You’ve got great color and the squirrel looks like it posed for you.
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With food in her hands, don’t think she minds my intrusion. Thanks for stopping by!
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Great shots – so pretty. I have the Nikon D3100 and really like it, but there is still plenty I don’t know I am sure.
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Diane,
Oh yes, the D5100 is just the newer version, which is now outdated by the D5200 that just comes out in Jan. Now we can exchange notes on one more thing we share. 😉
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A charming little squirrlie! We saw one next to my parents’ house the other day, and mother was so furious she tried to chase it away – but the little beastie continued to approach her. When it became extremely clear that she had no hand outs, it continued digging at the base of its home tree for whatever forgotten treats lay buried there.
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Love the squirrel, so sweet! We have snow too, and I am sick to death of it and just want it all to melt now! Roll on spring!
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