Bird photography is addictive. Who agree

It certainly can consume you.... I am always watching the bushes and trees, and keep a tripod mounted rig in the kitchen doorway just in case something of interest lands in the nearby tree while I am making coffee in the morning..... I used to have a life doing many things but now when not shootng I spend every spare moment processing and posting and yukking it up with you characters.... It is a good life, and it is an addiction that gives instead of takes, other than money for gear, lost wages (for calling in sick every other day to go shooting), and neglecting everyone around you .....

I cannot get enough, its very challenging

Alex Paul wrote in post #2830346
It certainly can consume you.... I am always watching the bushes and trees, and keep a tripod mounted rig in the kitchen doorway just in case something of interest lands in the nearby tree while I am making coffee in the morning..... I used to have a life doing many things but now when not shootng I spend every spare moment processing and posting and yukking it up with you characters.... It is a good life, and it is an addiction that gives instead of takes, other than money for gear, lost wages (for calling in sick every other day to go shooting), and neglecting everyone around you .....

Alex i think you have said it well. Neglecting people and lost wages etc.....

Over 20K images in less than a year with the 30D (ofcourse they are all keepers!)
My wife thinks that I only work in my spare time - I told her I have no spare time!
Bob

I have about run off the road in my car scanning the roadside fields and trees for hawks..and I CAN'T STOP!!! Need serious intervention and perhaps rehab.
Karen

Reyno wrote in post #2830183
It's not addictive, it just turns you into an Lcoholic.

Beats substance abuse - you can get a good portion of your money back! That's what I tell people who think I'm crazy

My problem is I always see the best birding opportunities while driving, so I miss the shot

Last weekend I was out looking for white herons and harriers (the bigger birds around here this time of year) and couldn't find any in the state parks. I saw tons on the side of the road where there is nowhere to pull off for miles

StarDog wrote in post #2830422
Over 20K images in less than a year with the 30D (ofcourse they are all keepers!)
My wife thinks that I only work in my spare time - I told her I have no spare time!
Bob

Bob:

Sorry to be off subject, but I was wondering. . . I am right handed-left eyed and I am having problems with the Bushhawk in this respect. Are you left handed or are right handed and trained your right eye to be dominant?

ON SUBJECT: Add long lens addiction to a fair amount of money being CONTINUALLY spent on feeding set-ups and feed and id books! Now if I can finaly frame a flying bird with that small FOV!

I'm not addicted. I can quit any time I want. I just like to spend time with the birds. It's my way of relaxing. I don't spend ALL my money on lenses. Neglecting the other parts of my life??? What life??? I have no life. I need another shot.

I'm quickly becoming addicted to bird photography, but for a rather bizarre reason. I'm intrigued by the technical proficiency required to get a really good shot of a bird...and am becoming convinced that the best photographers are the bird photographers All the variables that present themselves (lighting, visual obstructions, fast moving unpredictable subjects, hard to get close enough etc etc) make great exposures difficult, so its a real challenge, which is what appeals to me. Waiting to pull the trigger on a 400 f5.6......

Funny, just last night i put my truck in the ditch, looking "up" at what i thought was an eagle over head. I jumped out and looked everywhere, i had 1/2 mile of open field on all four sides of me, and never saw a bird. I think this forum is causing me to see things.

My wife claims i would sleep with my camera. (shhhh i would if i could) i just told her the Lens cost to much to bend if i rolled over on it. But i am surely addicted. Like many people here i drive 40+ miles to work one way. I see more poles and nest than ever. Sure glad the truck knows it's way home. Now if i could find an Owl i will be one happy camper.

I'm not addicted, I just have nothing better to do with my time.

It sure is addictive and expensive, but maybe that's not such a bad thing? One can spend time and money in so many ways that to me seem silly, but 'different strokes for different folks'----

I promised my wife that when I finally buy the 400 f/5.6 that I won't spend another dime The challange is the most addicting aspect IMHO. as mentioned you can have a shot of a bird that you are happy with, then one day youu look at this forum and someone stepped it up a notch or three on you. Grab the camera and out you go to find that little bird again. I take my camera with me 99.9% of the time...but the good shots happen that .1% of the time..stupid Murphy and his laws.... good thread !

I agree it's addicting.

Beginning of last year I had a 20D and a couple of so so lenses - then I discovered wildlife photography and in particular wild bird photography. Just over a year later and take a look at my gear list...yeah you can say it's addictive all right

Broke but happy!