How low can you go?

I’d like you to have a look at two of my photographs, taken a minute or two apart. They are of a Ringed Plover on Westray from July. Here’s the first:

Ringed Plover - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Wonderful birds, aren’t they? Here are my adventures with this couple:

Here’s the second photograph:

Ringed Plover - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

What’s the difference? Apart from one facing left and the other facing right?

There are two differences. For the second one I’m lying down to take it. That makes the visible background further away and more blurred. In the second one I also opened up the opening, the aperture, in the lens to the largest circle possible, which means light gets blurred to the biggest circle possible on the camera’s sensor.

It’s two simple changes which turn a ‘record shot’ into what I like to call art. It also turns a dry sweatshirt into one with very, very soggy elbows. I think it was worth it.

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