[texbirds] Re: Of class and cameras - my last words on this subject
- From: Clay Taylor <Clay.Taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx" <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 23:21:03 -0400
All -
There are very few of us that do NOT have a camera in their cell phone, and it
need not be a smart phone. Virtually ALL of the camera phones that I have
messed with at bird festivals on the past 10 years will give a serviceable ID
photo when held up to a spotting scope eyepiece, and even a binocular.
If you have a bird that needs recording, snap a cell phone shot through you
birding optics. Will ithe resulting image make the cover of Audubon Magazine?
Unless that bird is an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, heck no! Will it help the
TBRC decide to accept your out-of-range or out-of-season bird record? Yes, if
you knew how to operate the system, it probably will.
I got into birding AS a photographer, and in the 1970s virtually NO birders
carried a camera. In an era when you were "supposed to" take notes and make
drawings, about 1% of my birding associates did. I was the >1% that carried a
camera. Not so anymore.
No excuses for not at least TRYING to get an image of that IBWO flying across
the road in E TX.
Clay Taylor
Calallen (Corpus Christi) TX
Clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent from my iPad
> On Mar 19, 2014, at 7:55 PM, "Brush Freeman" <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Well, I gotta give that round to Cameron...If you got the money to chase
> birds all over Texas you can swing for a decent camera...Matter of
> priorities, or if you are like me , or you are a crappy photographer that
> just hates taking photos of anything that will not sit still ...IE simple
> stuff like sunsets, rocks, flowers, toenails etc.
> **********************************************************************
> Brush Freeman
> 503-551-5150 Cell
> 120 N. Red Bud Trail. Elgin, Tx. 78621
> http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/
> Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 8:08 PM, Cameron Carver <c.o.carver@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>> This is not entirely meant for the general audience, but since I know
>> Anthony and he thought it a good idea to share his sob story with us all I
>> thought I would offer solutions to his problems.
>>
>> Anthony, you are prone to report impressive numbers and species in
>> locations on a first visit to a new place. This raises suspicion especially
>> when others visit the location and the same birds are not there. So, your
>> reports go largely unsubstantiated. A camera would be a wise investment.
>>
>> Let's talk about investments. If people question your sightings on a
>> regular basis and all you can provide are written details, I think it might
>> be time to get a camera - especially if you are tired of other's
>> complaints. If you want a $250-$500 camera but cannot afford it, perhaps
>> consider less county listing games. A full jaunt around a county or two
>> could cost about $50 in gas and maintenance. If you do that twice a month,
>> think of the money you will save if you cut back. Of course that is
>> sacrificing something you enjoy. But if your goal is to document bird
>> species in those counties, you are doing no one any service by not having a
>> way to document unusual/rare birds. I won't force you to buy a camera
>> though.
>>
>> As for Audubon and TOS. You say that if you were not a regional
>> representative then TOS would not have one. That is not true. I know of
>> several that would step in and not spend a dying Audubon society's money.
>> And the reason it is dying has absolutely nothing to do with you...
>>
>> Birders come in all shapes and sizes and ages and classes. Each person
>> enjoys birds differently. But if you expect to report rare birds you better
>> have something better than your word. Experience helps, but even the best
>> get it wrong. I blew an ID the other day. Eric Carpenter corrected me and I
>> learned from it. Had that been in the field instead of from a photo no one
>> would have caught it.
>>
>> Cameron
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Mar 19, 2014, at 19:18, Anthony Hewetson <terrverts@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> Greetings All:
>>> A lot of birders don't seem to realize it but there is a class element
>> in all of this talk of photo-documentation as well.
>>>
>>>
>>> There is a chance that this might be considered off topic and moderated
>> but I would like all texbirds, particularly those who are board members of
>> TOS, to read this.
>>>
>>>
>>> There are proficient, even more than proficient, birders out there who
>> can barely afford relevance in this activity. If relevance comes to
>> include photo-documentation of every bird of interest, they are out! That
>> is why this is relevant to texbirds. If we condescend to beginners or the
>> experienced but impoverished we are not reaching out.
>>>
>>>
>>> Guess what Mr. Carver; a lot of people can't afford cameras of
>> sufficient quality to document birds at any distance. The comment that
>> everybody has a smartphone is a) boloney and b) disingenuous. If 60% of
>> people have smartphones and the vast majority of those are young folk -
>> then well over 50% of birders are not so equipped. And, ss somebody already
>> pointed out, smartphone or not, you need a camera, and a good one, to
>> document birds at any distance. My $500 camera (which put me in debt) did
>> not convince anybody that the swan in Lubbock might be a Trumpeter but
>> somebody's multi-thousand dollar camera got their attention.
>>>
>>>
>>> I am, possibly, a reasonably proficient birder and I can't afford a
>> better camera. Mine is adequate for documenting butterflies and I have now
>> documented over 1500 records for BAMONA - it is not unwillingness; it is
>> relative poverty! I have to prioritize certain things in my life
>> (mortgage, a thoroughly disgusting amount of medical expenses due to an
>> as-yet-undiagnosed illness that will undoubtedly keep my bank balance near
>> zero until they run out of tests or I die, and various financial
>> obligations that I have acquired through previous personal connections
>> which I will not shirk because my mamma taught me better than that). Four
>> months ago, my bank balance at the end of the month was $43.57 - and I have
>> no family who will bail me out. I'm one bad event from taking a second job
>> - at which point my contribution to Texas birding will be over.
>>>
>>>
>>> If I was not subsidized by my local Audubon chapter, I would not be able
>> to attend (as a Regional Director) TOS meetings and we would have another
>> region in Texas without a regional director. I feel like a complete rube
>> when I stay in those hotels. The hotels I usually stay in usually cost
>> less than cabins at State Parks and provide a wealth of wildlife viewing
>> opportunities:)
>>>
>>>
>>> Many, many times I have been made to feel as though I should not be
>> participating in this activity and that, in absence of a good camera -
>> better binoculars - a serious spotting scope - a pda with serious apps, my
>> participation does not merit consideration. There is no ill intention on
>> anybody's part but, if you look at the statistics, birders tend to be well
>> off and it is very easy for somebody like me, standing next to a person
>> burdened down with thousands of dollars worth of optics and benefited by
>> years' worth of world travel, to be made to feel like a complete Joe Dirt
>> by a casual comment dropped about my 'crappy' optics.
>>>
>>>
>>> Heck, I was once told that, if I wanted to teach Master Naturalist
>> classes, I should acquire Master Naturalist 'certification'. I guess the
>> $60,000 I spent on a Master's Degree in Zoology doesn't count to the mostly
>> well-entitled folk who can drop a few thousand for 'certification'. You
>> can bet I provided a little bit of wisdom to that particular person and,
>> yes, I provided that wisdom Joe Pesci style.
>>>
>>>
>>> Well - check this before you wreck this: I am a relatively impoverished
>> birdwatcher and I'm proud of the skills I've managed to attain despite not
>> having the financial wherewithal and/or familial assistance that would
>> allow me to have better quality tools. I do my best to contribute
>> regionally and at the state level and, given my low class status, I feel I
>> do a pretty good job.
>>>
>>>
>>> If somebody wants to buy me a nice camera, well bring it! I'm not so
>> proud that I'll turn down a free camera - if that's what it takes to count!
>>>
>>>
>>> Until then, bear in mind that the poorly-equipped birder next to you
>> already feels inadequate enough and take some time to evaluate their skills
>> before you judge them on the basis of the 'rig' that they are sporting.
>> They probably did not choose to get by with $300 pair of binoculars, a
>> hand-me-down scope and tripod, or a $500 camera.
>>>
>>>
>>> Anthony 'Fat Tony' Hewetson; Lubbock
>>>
>>> P.S. No offense to the guys who very generously provided me with the
>> elements I needed to have a working spotting scope and tripod. I love all
>> three of you guys and really appreciate the upgrade from my previous
>> Bushmaster on a stick lifestyle:) It has been absolutely fantastic on
>> field trips that I have led to be able to set that bad boy up and put my
>> participants on birds.
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