Hawks, Owls, Vultures, Teenagers!!

Friday was fantastic! I took two young ladies out for a day's tuition at the Hawk Conservancy Trust by Andover and we had an absolute ball! Holly and Charlotte are both starting their 'A' level Photography next year, but wanted a bit of a heads up on some of the technical aspects plus tips on composition and how to get their cameras off auto and get manual.



We started off with a bit of a chat over a cold drink when we got there; got their cameras set up for manual shooting, a few pointers and we were away! The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a great place for a day out as it is, but as a place to learn the basics, the skills and the fun of photography, it is an immense place for a day out!! Holly and Charlotte started off the day photographing birds in the aviaries, getting used to aperture, shutter speed, ISO and composition. We then moved on to the trickier stuff and went for the flying displays to capture birds on the wing.

The girls did an absolutely amazing job! Their confidence grew visibly hour by hour... brows unfurrowed, smiles broadened, the number of shots taken significantly decreased and the number of 'keepers' significantly increased! To add to the day, (after a rather delicious barbecue lunch), we were extremely fortunate to be included in a small group allowed in to the field to get up close and personal to a few of the birds.


image copyright Holly Card

Including Dave, the Secretary bird. What a character... what a name!


image copyright Holly Card

Isn't 'Dave' just a great name for a bird!!! Made us laugh anyway! Another highlight was the falconery on horseback display. What a sight!


image copyright Holly Card

The commentary was so interesting too... can't actually remember any of it (I'm getting on a bit now... I can tell you what I was doing in 1977, but not what I did yesterday!!!) however, we did say "ooh, I never knew that" several times! Anyway, it really was a great day out, and Holly and Charlotte were such good company and very easy, eager students.

We finished the day with a trip to Ludgershall Castle on the way back.



Landscape photography is so completely different to wildlife photography,



so combining the two disciplines in the one day was good experience and a useful way of experiencing how knowledge of aperture and shutter speed, combined with ISO can make so much difference to your final images.



A massive well done and thank you to Holly and Charlotte, and the best of luck with your 'A' levels!

Rebecca, x

www.rtphotographics.co.uk
rebecca@rtphotographics.co.uk