It took a while but I finally got started!

Peter Ericsson has been encouraging me to get started on bird photography, a hobby which is both expensive and time consuming. For a guy like him, who has grown children, life can afford to smile on his attempts to create time for birding, but for me, a guy with three kids under the age of six, birding is not something which comes at regular intervals. -Not to mention, bird photography also requires decent if not specialized equipment, all of which costs good money. I had to decline for a number of years, but recently things have started to change. First, I was able to save up a small sum of money and second I landed a good deal with a medium range telephoto lens which ended up being a good deal after some minor tweaking with the autofocus.

Doubtless, most professionals or even serious amateur bird photographers will frown at my choice of a Sigma 100-300 F4 paired with a Canon 40D, as the range is a little short and the lens lacks stabilization, not to mention it’s a zoom lens, notorious for being “soft” on the wide end.

First off, I’m not planning to go pro right now, so I think starting off with what I have is a good deal.

-And like all things in life, the results are what matter the most.

So, I’d like you to decide what you think about these photos, taken from Lopburi and Nakorn Sawan on my New Years trip last year (2009). Feel free to post your comments and tips in the comments box below!

Doubtless it will take me a long time to catalogue the number of species that Peter has in his website, but as they say, “The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.”

-That was a darn good fortune cookie!