Weekend captures

[Yarrow]

Hey all. I just wanted to show some pics I got this weekend. They are not very good but if I dont show them and gain advice how ever will I learn lol.
I have an olympus e-300 my lens I'm using here is at 150mm,,..and since I'm still learning my camera pretty much everything is set on auto. And my bird feeder is right next to my porch and Im shooting through my front door window LOL.
I have to be creative with a toddler...
Anyway here they are.. I welcome any advice on improving.

This was just this morning...they stopped by finally!!! I've been chasing these guys for weeks




This one..I shot just as I realized I was in my New neighbors backyard and my camera was pointed right at their kitchen window....


Thanks for looking.

[Bevb]

Well firstly having been shot through glass youve done a fairly good job #1 is very good,, i notice you say you are using a 150mm lense and the feeders are on the porch, but 150mm for bird photography is pushing the lense to the limit, and using auto mode, although can give good results, fights sometimes to find the right white balance setting, ie cloudy/shade/sunny etc so try using the camera in AV mode or even manual, i know this takes time to get to grips with but you will be much happier with the results, as you can see in the pictures there is quite a bit of noise showing (grainy look) if you use Aperature priorty mode (AV) setting or manual you can radicate this by setting your own ISO setting high ISO eg 400 and above can produce this effect to your images.

I hope you didnt mind me rambling on.

[Yarrow]

Thanks Bevb...I washed the glass with windex 2 -3 x a day so its so clean, almost as if the glass isnt even there lol.
Thanks for the tips. I will fiddle around and see how I can do.
Also my editing job isnt so great that could have added to the problem.

[Bevb]

Thats a problem that we can all do with editing our pictures, but if you can admit to it, hey! better pictures already!

Sometimes Yarrow it doesnt matter how clean the windows are! its all down to the light being right, so no glarey sun etc, and have the lense right up against the glass (no hood) is another tip, so look forward to seing more of your shots.

I had meant to say that in your image 2, try not to have clutter, ie branches, twigs etc in front of your subject it makes focusing very hard, leaving sharp branches and a blurry bird, you can use manual mode in a situation like this which can be the best mode.

[big baldo]

The 4 Basics
This is some really good reading. I would suggest try to shoot in manual mode. It takes a little getting used to but it will make you a better photographer. Use the lowest ISO that you can get away with. Often with birds a higher shutter speed is desired so this will bump up your ISO. 150mm is kind of short, but with a 2xTC you would have 300mm. Thats not bad at all. Good luck........................BB

[Yarrow]

Again thanks Bevb...some great advice..

BB...Thanks for that link...