My camera, a Pentax K5 when fitted with a Sigma 300mm lens, can focus down to 8 feet and I was just about that distance when I took these images this afternoon.  I am very fortunate to have this bird in my garden at the moment and I have encouraged her to stay (she is a female), by having some nice soft apple pieces for her to feast on. She will return to the apple every half an hour or so. So it's a simple matter of sitting in the hide and waiting, well wrapped up against the cold chill, for her to pop back in to view which she did today like clockwork.  If you are presented with that kind of photographic opportunity regularly throughout the day, then it would be pathetic given the amount I have spent on lenses and cameras, If I didn't manage a few half decent shots.  As usual with photography, it is the prior preparation that gives the results.  In fact, that is a maxim that was drilled in to me as a young man , and not so young when I served (my life) in the Royal Marines. The worlds premier fighting force pretty much uses the phrase ……PPPPPP…….. which translates to Prior Preparation Prevents P…. Poor Performance! The 6 P's. If you use this for all aspects of your life, you don't go far wrong!

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