First shots with Tamron lens, various subjects

If nothing else I have my enthusiasm mojo back at last

Here we go, been practising with my new Tamron lens a bit - think big kid with new toy

While the shots so far a long way off being the quality I`m hoping to capture in the future I`m really pleased at the potential improvement I think I might be able to achieve with it, and the learning curve feels nowhere near as steep for me this time around, [ given that the capabilities of the lens are way higher than I was using before and need to get to know it much better in combo with the D40 all over again as it were ], but, having had such great advice and examples to follow here since I first joined, trying out this lens has been far less daunting than I expected

Apologies in advance for posting so many in this and another thread [ doing agility shots separately ], but I`m excited again and want to show a variety of subjects and experiments which I hope will be a reference point for improvement as time goes on, so without further waffling here are the first shots over the first few days with the new lens

[ Comments / critiques welcome as always as they are what help me to improve - just don`t laugh too hard at any which I like through rose tinted excitement but which are probably totally rubbish shots in reality ]


**Excuses overview - some need further pp especially noise on a couple of them but I forgot to do them before uploading, all shots taken hand held, have`nt got a tripod or monopod yet, some were taken at stupid o'clock in the morning when light was dull and yucky but could`nt wait to get out there and start snapping and some were taken when it was very windy so are much softer than they should be but I give myself marks for trying to hold breath and keep camera steady to take shots timed as best I could at the moments of subjects` least wind movement

one

Miniature Rose



two

Water drops on gazebo pole



three

Cherries [ I think ]



four

Aphid army



five

Bug of some sort



six

More cherries [ taken in high wind ]



seven

Dandelions that look like more like yellow daisys
[ also in high wind ]



eight

Orchid [ also high wind hence missed a bit of lower petal, blimmin` thing moved a bit more than I expected, but quite like this one anyway ]



nine

another Orchid, still windy



ten

Rosebud, also in high wind, lighting where it was gave me problems due to my inexperience but will get there eventually



eleven

First bird shot that does`nt look like just a blob, no grass where bird was so not the colour definition I would have liked but could`nt persuade the bird to reposition for me



twelve

First bird in flight - not good I know, was a point and hope shot really and was long distance, on examination realised it was a Woodpecker - chuffed at least that pic was just ok enough to make out what sort of bird it was



thirteen

then on a different day got the little so and so keeping still but still long distance - keeping an eye out for his return in the hope of getting much closer



fourteen

and finally an obligatory shot of my Fluke cos I adore him

Now c'mon, there's only so much praise a man can give in a night and you have had enough in another thread... Good stuff.

Have now identified the bug in shot five, it`s a young ladybird, had no idea that`s what they look like before they become what we recognise as adult ladybirds

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/lbird.htm

Now I know why it was next to the aphid army

BC - give me your other cheek so they don`t get unevenly worn out

Nice work Patch!

Nice work Patch in most of these shots. Be care not to overexpose on subjects with large areas of white. Work on your composition a bit. The shot of the bird on top of the pole could be cropped/composed better. You're doing great so keep shooting and posting.

Some good advice from Bob - and some good shots from you - I especially like the aphid army - colours are fab! Well done!

xx