Birding Photography Basics
Friday, August 6th, 2010There are many people out in the world today who have always had a passion for photography. These people are the ones who know the skill required to not just take a snapshot, but make it come alive. The game changes a bit and becomes much more challenging when there are moving elements such as automobiles, wildlife, and people, requiring more experience to pull off a good picture. Bird photography is known to be one of the most demanding forms of photography known to artists, and takes a tremendous amount of skill. This essay will teach you a few tips and tricks to help you get started with photographing birds, and soon you will be shooting masterpieces yourself.
One of the first things you need to do to photograph birds is to know when and where to expect them. A field guide for your area can be extremely helpful for this purpose, as it will tell you the birds to expect in your area in given seasons. another common research tactic would be to study some well taken bird photos, and observe subtle details about the photograph. Notice details like the height at which the photo was taken in relation to the bird, the lighting, the focus of the bird and the background, wing position, and the background colors. All of these can be used to play a part in giving the picture emotion and intimacy.
Personal preference is the main factor in what camera you should use, although high quality brands like Nikon or Canon are highly recommended. As with binoculars, there is an astounding difference between some $50 cheapo binoculars and some amazing quality $1000 Nikon sport optic binoculars. More expensive does not always mean better, but high quality cameras, lenses, and accessories will definitely cost at least an arm. 100-400mm lenses are a favorite amongst bird photographers, but those who get into it may use a 500mm f/4 telephoto lens. Again, it is all personal preference.
One of the most crucial things to take into account in any photo session is the lighting. Mornings and evenings will give more favorable lighting conditions and will compliment how energetic the birds are, as opposed to the over used noon time sun. Keep the leaves on the trees in mind also; the more leaves there are, the less light there will be, and less leaves means more light. Another way to increase photo quality is to get closer to the birds you are trying to photograph. Always stay low or crouched and move very slowly, as this is a less hostile stance, and will provide a very intimate picture of birds on the ground.
You should be prepared even before you take the photograph, and always be aware of the background. Affix the correct lens and filter to your camera before you approach birds because the sudden movement or light reflection may frighten them. If the background is cluttered, it will take away from the bird in the snapshot, so try and keep the background very distant or soft. Remember, there is a good chance that you will have to wait hours to get a decent photo opportunity, or you might not get any at all. Just plan ahead, come prepared, and be patient, and the rest will come over time.
