[missbirdphotos] Re: My new bird studio
- From: "Judy Howle" <howle@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:17:13 -0500
Thanks for the info Jay. Maybe when my hubby finishes a dozen other projects I
can get him started on that one!
Judy Howle
Southern Exposures
http://southernexposure.zenfolio.com
Digital Photography Class; Resources for Photographers
http://digitalphotographyclass.net
-----Original Message-----
From: missbirdphotos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:missbirdphotos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of J. K. Cliburn
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 2:08 PM
To: missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [missbirdphotos] Re: My new bird studio
Judy,
I tried a few different configurations on the cane before I hit on one that
worked. First I tried just a vertical piece with holes drilled in the side,
but the water streams extended too far and too much splashed out, no matter how
large I drilled the holes. Next, I tried the "tee" configuration with the
holes drilled on the underside, but the stream velocity was too high, resulting
in too much splashing.
Then, I used the tee with holes drilled on top, and it took multiple
incremental enlargements of the holes until they were big enough to avoid mini
geysers and provide the dripping effect you see in the picture.
I also ended up cutting off the stem of the tee a few times on the final
configuration, in order to reduce splashing. BTW, there's a 1/4" rubber hose
inside the stem, and that hose connects to the pump.
Bottom line: The smaller the holes, the more energetic the stream (as you might
expect), given the more or less constant flow rate of the pump.
Jay
On Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 1:15 PM, Judy Howle <howle@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> You have a nice setup! Good luck with photos. I have wanted to do that also
> and maybe one of these days... I like the cane and I know where some cut
> cane is if the trash men haven't picked it up yet. I would like to make a
> dripper or fountain.
>
> Judy Howle
>
> Southern Exposures
> http://southernexposure.zenfolio.com
>
> Digital Photography Class; Resources for Photographers
> http://digitalphotographyclass.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: missbirdphotos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:missbirdphotos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of J. K.
> Cliburn
> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 8:29 AM
> To: missbirdphotos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [missbirdphotos] My new bird studio
>
> So a couple of weeks ago we had a thread here discussing a "bird studio." I
> was intrigued, so I decided to convert my driveway loop into one.
>
> First I had to move my birdbath and a couple of feeders away from the
> front of the house, from where I could conveniently watch birds
> through a big window from the comfort of my kitchen table. Then I
> read somewhere that moving/dripping water was an effective bird
> attractant, so off to the store for a little pump... I got a 60 gph
> submersible pump from Home Depot for $15, but, alas, I had no power in
> the driveway loop. Sigh. I remedied that by boring a 1-inch hole in
> the front of my house, trenching across the driveway, laying 45 feet
> of conduit, stringing 12-2 wire, tying into a circuit in my garage,
> and installing a weatherproof riser box with an outlet and a switch
> out in the loop. Presto: power for the pump. (Have you priced Romex
> recently? Yikes!)
>
> The drippers at the store were too expensive for my tastes -- and they
> weren't suited for a birdbath anyway -- so I went to a nearby canebrake,
> harvested a couple of stalks, and fashioned a dripper out of cane segments.
> Works like a charm.
>
> I wanted a rustic look, so I rejiggered my platform feeder by removing it
> from its 4x4 post in the front yard, removing the roof, mounting it on an old
> pine knot fencepost, and made an insert out of 1x2 and window screen to allow
> water to drain through the seed when it's installed in the platform. I then
> found some elm limbs and mounted one to the feeder for a perch. I sat the
> other one on the ground over a cast iron plant.
>
> Next, I went into the woods and found a deadfall white oak trunk that
> had broken in a few places and used my chainsaw to cut off a couple of
> "stumps." I found a deadfall elm limb with a nice bend in it that I
> used to lean against one of the pine trees. I bored some 1-inch holes
> in it and inserted peanuts, hoping for jays or woodpeckers. (None
> have partaken yet.)
>
> Finally, I erected the Ameristep doghouse blind, which my poor wife finds
> appalling, but I argue we live in the country and don't get many refined
> visitors anyway, so what harm can it be?
>
> Yesterday was my first attempt at photography in the studio. The highlight
> of the day was an early morning, dew-drenched Indigo bunting who surprised me
> sufficiently to cause me miss a shot when he was on the perch. I settled for
> a feeder sidewall shot. I also got a cardinal and a chipping sparrow in the
> evening, but unfortunately they weren't on the perch, either. (BTW, It gets
> HOT inside that blind when the sun shines on it -- even on a cool, windy
> day!) I was pleased to finally get good feather detail using only a 300mm
> lens (without teleconverter, because I wanted to open up to f4). I'm not
> pleased with the Chipping sparrow detail, but he was in harsh light, so that
> probably explains it. The cardinal and bunting were in diffuse light, and
> those seemed to turn out much better.
>
> So, thanks to Missbird photogs, I now have a studio! I'd be happy to receive
> suggestions for improvements and additions.
>
> Jay
>
>
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