Akashi Park - Mar. 30

 

 

Iseno Sato, Himeji - Mar. 28

My husband, who teaches Science in junior high school, had some errands to do in Iseno Sato Kankyo Gakushu Center, or an environment study center, so I asked him to take me to the place today.

 

I have been to the place for a few times before.  As far as I know Iseno Sato maintains a natural environment including ponds, biotopes and rice fields so that visitors from young people to seniors can see small insects, butterflies, bees, fireflies, various plants and wild birds there.

 

I was very glad to take pictures of Oshidori or male Mandarin duck.

 

 

 

 

My experiences of taking pictures of another Mandarin duck in another place.

 http://kaypliche.blogspot.jp/2015/02/okuyama-feb-3.html

Oshidiri or Mandarin Duck (left) and Kogamo or Green-winged Teal (right) 

Aigamo (A mixture of wild and domestic duck) 

 Cherry blossoms

It is made from a broken school chair and a long piece of wood put on the seat to make a recycled bench.  There were a total of three school chairs.  A long piece of wood connects them.  I thought that a maximum of 5 people can sit on it.

After work, my husband looked something for taking photos. 

 

Below the wooden stuff, you can see a small bird,

Hoojiro or Siberian Meadow Bunting.

On top of the wooden stuff, there is a tiny yellow bird,

Kisekirei or Grey Wagtail.

Kogamo or male Green Winged Teal

The mixture duck

Hoojiro or Siberian Meadow Bunting

The most happiest thing of my visit was I finally took clear pictures of male Mandarin Duck.

Okuyama - Mar. 26 (with Nikon)

Two days ago, I ordered a Nikon SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera (Model: D3300), TAMRON lens (18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD B008) and other accessories from Amazon Japan.  They were delivered today.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't want to spend my own money as much as possible, but I thought I should buy a SLR camera as my 49th birthday gift to myself.  I turned 49 last March 2.

 

My husband bought SLR cameras in the recent years.  He allowed me to use his first SLR after he had bought his second one.

 

My husband and I like visiting flower parks and other places in the countryside on the weekend.

We both love natural sceneries and enjoy taking photos.     

 

I have been uploading many pictures since I started blogging.  I used my own compact camera, CANON IXY digital in the early entries.

 

 

I borrowed my husband's first SLR camera:

Body: Canon EOS Kiss X6i.

Lens: Canon EFS 55-250mm.

 Taken by my husband on Sept. 28, 2013.

* * * * *
 

My husband with his second Camera 

Body: Canon EOS 7D Mark 2.

Lens: Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO HSM /DC MACRO HSM.

 Taken on Sept. 28, 2013.

 

 They look like the brothers of wild boars!

 

 

He once retired at the age of 60 in March 2013 but he got bored staying at home all day.

He has been working again since November 2013.  

 

His salary is the source of these luxury cameras.   He is away from home 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.

 

On the other hand, I like bird watching and enjoy visiting Akashi Park alone on weekdays.  There are more visitors on weekends, and I guess chances of taking good pictures are better for weekdays.  I always used his first SLR for taking pictures. 

 I was very fortunate when I encountered "Kawasemi" or "Kingfishers" and took their photos.  The "kingfisher" appeared in front of me every time for my last 4 time visits.

 

Taken in the Akashi park on Feb. 6, 2015.

   

My husband got angry with these photos these days.  He has never seen this jewel-like creature all his life in 62 years.  He must have been jealous of this bird or of me?

 

After my visit to the Akashi park on Feb. 6, he told me not to use his camera any more so that my frequent use of his treasure might break it. 

 

That's why I came up the idea of buying my own SLR.  Even with my limited savings, I was so excited to choose the camera, lens, and the accessories from the Amazon might suit my preferences.

 

* * * * *

 

I was so excited to open the package, and set up the SLR.  I charged the battery of camera.  After that I went to Okuyama, my neigborhood, to take photos.

 

Below are the pictures I took with the new camera today.  I was satisfied that the dots in the white places are clearly seen even where I was far away from the board.

 

Mozu or Bull-deaded Shrike  

I liked the grey color - the roof of this small Shinto shrine.

Jobitaki osu or Male Daurian Redstart

Here's the Male Mandarin Duck! 

my best wanted-to-see during my daily routine walking 

Hoojiro or Siberian Meadow Bunting

If the plum tree had been in full bloom, I could have taken better shots.

 

Ooban or Eurasian Coot

Hakusekirei or White Wagtail

Kochidori or the Little Ringed Plover

After the 30-minute walk, I immediately uploaded pictures from the new SLR to my computer.

I checked the shots I took with my own.   

I thought that my choices of the camera and lens were successful!

Ichi-no-Ike park in Takasago city - Mar. 22

My husband took me to Ichi-no-Ike park in Takasago city last March 22.

 

Pic. No. 1 - We walked about 60 minutes in the park.

Pic. No. 2 - Kawarahiwa or Oriental Greenfinch

Pic. No. 3 - Dangerous!  Wild boars often appear in this area. 

Please be careful.

Pic. No. 4

 

Pic. No. 5

 

Pic. No. 6

Pic. No. 7

Pic. No. 8

Pic. No. 9 - Curved Ornamental Owls

Pic. No. 10

I liked the color.  Purple Viora pot hanging in the wall. 

Picture No. 11, I set my camera at a shutter speed of 1 in 160 seconds with a diaphragm value of 11.0, ISO 320 and explosure compensation +1

Picture. No. 11
Priority setting: AV mode or Aperture Value : 11.0
Explosure compensation: - 1
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO speed: 320

Picture No. 12
Priority setting: TV Mode or Shutter Speed Adjustment
Explosure compensation: - 1
Shutter speed: 1/4000
ISO speed: 2000

Picture No. 13
Priority setting: AV mode or Aperture Value : 14.0
Explosure compensation: +1
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO speed: 2000

Picture No. 14
Priority setting: Program Mode
AV or Aperture Value : 4.5
Explosure compensation: + 1
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO speed: 250

Picture No. 15
Priority setting: AV mode or Aperture Value : 14.0
Explosure compensation: + 1
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO speed: 2000

Picture No. 16
Priority setting: AV mode or Aperture Value : 14.0
Explosure compensation: - 1
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO speed: 500