I don't have the patience for that sort of thing, I'm more of a run-and-gun style photographer, though I cut my teeth on (superslow) kodachrome with a polarizer and a tripod -- really good for developing an eye for composition, because so laborious.

Thanks. :)

It's near where I grew up - was out for a walk along the canal last week, which is fortunately devoid of Lycra-clad nuts, only the occasional dog walkers and casual cyclists.

Part of me wants to learn a bit about bird behaviour and habitats to take better pictures, but at the same time I'm kinda happy just wandering along and seeing what I find.

I wouldn't say I'm particularly patient - I just walk along listening to the songs and look when something sounds close.

Insects can require a lot more patience, harder to get sharp and composed, but at least when they're disturbed they'll land nearby and/or return a few moments later.

It's a belting photo.

I find it hard to be sure sometimes - two sides of going to a camera club is seeing top quality work which can be inspiring, but can also make it hard to measure against.

Well then my assumptions about how you took that image, shivering in a blind etc., were all wrong.

Took me a while to figure out what "shivering in a blind" meant. In English English we call them hides. :)

Y'all talk funny.

My dad called them machans

Tiger killer?