readiness ...

I'm finding that one of the hardest things to do well in my photo exploits and sojourns is to "be ready" to capture what I see. When I think back over the many unique things I've observed in nature, I have to cringe a little bit. So many of the times that a good photo opportunity "knocked", I simply was not ready to take advantage of it. Either I did not have my camera with me, or it was not "set" properly, or the subject discovered was just moving too rapidly for me. I'm beginning to learn a thing or two (I think :-). Now when wandering around in a likely location for a good shot, I try to keep my camera on a fast shutter setting (at least 1/1250th of a second) and set the ISO up to 400 (comparable to film speed - but digital). At least it lets me "be ready" for that shot that just "won't wait around". Such was the case recently when this mallard flew by me (not more than 15 feet away). The background was not that great (hence I selectively isolated his image on a new background - a painstaking task), but the end result prompts great memories ... and the sound of his rushing wings against the wind.