Challenge May 12-14: Photographing Birds
May 11, 2016 23:56:15 #
Photographing Birds
Everyone loves photographing birds. That is understandable because they are beautiful. In addition they are challenging. They are shy, skittish, fast, elusive, and usually far away. We all love a challenge - verified by the name of our thread.
A few tips that have helped me:
1. You donât have to have a lens that requires 4 musclemen to carry. It is good to show the bird in its environment. I generally use a Canon 100-400 mm lens, but have gotten pleasing images with a 70-300 Tamron lens (about $200 now). I occasionally try a teleconverter, but at times I loose too much light with it. Shoot RAW so that you can crop if necessary. The last website listed below is very helpful with getting distance with your lens.
2. There are so many bird photos that you need to look for something to make your more interesting. If you can capture them in action. Displaying is very popular, preening, nest building or caring for their young are a few of their activities.
3. It is not necessary to leave your own yard. I have taken many beautiful birds in my own yard. If you use feeders, place them so that there is a natural branch near by for the waiting birds to light on while they wait their turn. This allows you to capture the image without the feeder and looks more natural. For humming bird feeders, place a flower next to the spout on the feeder so that in your photo it looks like the hummer is hovering in front of the flower. Watch for the birds. They are there, you just have to see them.
4. Wait for the shot. It takes a lot of time and patience.
5. If the birds do not come to you, you must go where they are. Find a rookery that is natural looking and pick out the bird you want to photograph without detracting other bird parts in the frame.
I can't post links because I got a message that they block links. I'll keep trying
Everyone loves photographing birds. That is understandable because they are beautiful. In addition they are challenging. They are shy, skittish, fast, elusive, and usually far away. We all love a challenge - verified by the name of our thread.
A few tips that have helped me:
1. You donât have to have a lens that requires 4 musclemen to carry. It is good to show the bird in its environment. I generally use a Canon 100-400 mm lens, but have gotten pleasing images with a 70-300 Tamron lens (about $200 now). I occasionally try a teleconverter, but at times I loose too much light with it. Shoot RAW so that you can crop if necessary. The last website listed below is very helpful with getting distance with your lens.
2. There are so many bird photos that you need to look for something to make your more interesting. If you can capture them in action. Displaying is very popular, preening, nest building or caring for their young are a few of their activities.
3. It is not necessary to leave your own yard. I have taken many beautiful birds in my own yard. If you use feeders, place them so that there is a natural branch near by for the waiting birds to light on while they wait their turn. This allows you to capture the image without the feeder and looks more natural. For humming bird feeders, place a flower next to the spout on the feeder so that in your photo it looks like the hummer is hovering in front of the flower. Watch for the birds. They are there, you just have to see them.
4. Wait for the shot. It takes a lot of time and patience.
5. If the birds do not come to you, you must go where they are. Find a rookery that is natural looking and pick out the bird you want to photograph without detracting other bird parts in the frame.
I can't post links because I got a message that they block links. I'll keep trying
May 12, 2016 00:58:20 #
A great photograph and excellent advice. I did manage to capture a hummer a while back. Gosh, are they fast!
May 12, 2016 02:12:28 #
I don't photograph birds E Mang but have a couple of shots from over the years which I will hunt down tonight
May 12, 2016 02:13:44 #
Jakebrake wrote:
A great photograph and excellent advice. I did manage to capture a hummer a while back. Gosh, are they fast!
Good one Jakebrake
May 12, 2016 03:31:25 #
Hastings being an old fishing town this is about the only bird we get to see, the good old Seagull
May 12, 2016 05:09:16 #
Good advice. Here are some examples. Don't forget to match the food to the birds you are after.
Also, a good flash with high guide number and a Better Beamer improves the images substantially in most conditions.
Also, a good flash with high guide number and a Better Beamer improves the images substantially in most conditions.
May 12, 2016 06:23:37 #
I love the challenge of bird photography. Your tips are great! I was blessed to see a pair of painted Buntings passing through our area. They came for a week or so, and now are gone. And we have water birds nesting in this area of the country. Beautiful images so far in this challenge.
May 12, 2016 06:39:27 #
Finding a Rookery can be a gold mine and these were taken at the Jefferson Island, La Rookery. I used a 300 2.8g VRII with the TC1.4eIII converter.
May 12, 2016 06:54:23 #
Oops need to get back into how to reply! These are glorious shots.
RedArrow wrote:
Finding a Rookery can be a gold mine and these were taken at the Jefferson Island, La Rookery. I used a 300 2.8g VRII with the TC1.4eIII converter.
May 12, 2016 06:54:48 #
May 12, 2016 06:59:35 #
Birds are definitely a challenge. In my opinion this is one facet of photography where skill, patience, equipment, and luck all play a role in getting consistently interesting, good quality photographs. Here are few (out of thousands) that I have taken.
Hooded Oriole
(Download)
Cuban Tody
(Download)
Phaenopepla
(Download)
Bee Hummingbird (smallest bird in the world)
(Download)
Yucatan Jay
(Download)
May 12, 2016 06:59:46 #
RedArrow wrote:
Finding a Rookery can be a gold mine and these were taken at the Jefferson Island, La Rookery. I used a 300 2.8g VRII with the TC1.4eIII converter.
Beautiful.
May 12, 2016 07:01:17 #
bajadreamer wrote:
Birds are definitely a challenge. In my opinion this is one facet of photography where skill, patience, equipment, and luck all play a role in getting consistently interesting, good quality photographs. Here are few (out of thousands) that I have taken.
Amazing, I love your first one. And that tiny hummingbird!
May 12, 2016 07:02:28 #
Beautiful pictures. My favorites are the Snowy Egrets. These are difficult for me because of the huge dynamic range of light.
May 12, 2016 07:03:13 #
Lovely to see birds from other parts of the world.
We have had so much rain recently and my camera has been in 'hospital' so I took this with my point and shoot.
We all need wet weather feet at the moment!
We have had so much rain recently and my camera has been in 'hospital' so I took this with my point and shoot.
We all need wet weather feet at the moment!
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