I do much the same thing when it comes to lighting conditions. Invariably I tend to spot birds into
the sun. When I stop to scutinize the path behind me, where the sunlight falls in my favour, I often
see nothing at all. For instance, in a walk between the north and south Amos ponds I know I will have
better opportunity if I enter from the east side in the morning and proceed westward, thus keeping
the early sunlight behind me. Correspondingly I should do the reverse if exploring the area in the late
afternoon. That's the plan. Do I follow the plan? Of course not and I miss shots because of this transcretion,
every time. As en outre example, I know that when I settle on a spot I should choose the best perches
within the influence of my lens and get ready for a bird to visit it. If there is only one such choice spot
then I should prefocus on that spot and be vigilant while also scanning the prevailing neighbourhood
for movement. Do I follow this protocol? Of course not. I see something moving, or approaching and
then I redirect my lens and follow it, hoping the subject comes closer. This is generally a mistake.
I recently missed a close shot of a Palm warbler on a log (best perch) because I studied the movements
of a BT Blue warbler that was much too far away. When I took my eye off the viewfinder I discovered,
to my absolute fury, a Palm warbler at point blank range on the select fallen log. By the time I moved
my lens it was gone. Had I just held my camera at the ready, not looking through the viewfinder at
something that was in no way a suitable subject I would have immediately seen the Palm warbler and
had time to capture it with almost as much detail as your shot of same. I will never learn to do what I
KNOW I should be doing. That's the difference between a pro and a dumbat.
