Aurel Loc: Niagara Falls Ontario

I use a zoom lens set at wide angle to minimize camera shake Set your camera on action shot, get close (at a feeding area) and pan with the action and with practice you'll capture 1 in a hundred real keepers! Thats the key to getting good close ups of birds in flight!

If there is no key light in the eye I use Photo shop and pop one in there for good measure! It makes motion blur look better!


Try to shoot in bright light and use a flash to stop the action and expose the subject!

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Thanks for the tip on using flash up close. Personally, I have rarely used flash but know af a few other bird photographers who do. They all use what is known as a"Better Beamer" which is a fresnel lens that mounts in front of the flash head and focuses the light in a narrow beam that matches the view angle of the longer lenses. You then get a lot more range in daylight with the flash.

I agree with you about the need for a catch light in the birds eye. I have often rejected some otherwise good photos because of the lack of one. I really don't like the "Dead Eye" effect. Since I submit my photos to the Audubon Society and to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, I do not add catchlights.