Improve Your Photos With Practical Birding Basics – Plus Free Ebook
Anyone with a camera can take bird photos, but if you want to take excellent bird photography, there are some basic things you need to know. This article will discuss some of the basics of bird photography and how to get started with birding. We’ll also give a link to a freebie ebook with more information on finding and identifying birds in your area.
What is bird photography, and how do you get started
The great thing about birding and bird photography is that you can find birds anywhere. But we all know that some places are better for bird photography than others. Parks, nature preserves, and wetlands are all great places to find birds as they create an environment where birds can find food, water, and shelter. So visiting your local park can offer plenty of opportunities for taking photos of different species in their natural habitat.
You don’t have to be an expert birder to discover where birds hang out. As you become more adept at birding, you can study the specific needs of the bird you are looking for. However, when starting out, you just need to know that birds tend to stay in places where they can easily find food, water, and shelter. So look for open fields next to trees or shrubbery, bird feeders, or the edge of a pond or lake – these locations provide the basics many species of birds are looking for.
How to photograph birds in their natural habitat
When photographing birds in their natural habitat, try to get close without disturbing them. Be patient and wait for the bird to get used to you. It may take a few tries, but you can find ways to work with the birds with practice.
To get started, find an area where you know birds are likely to be found, such as a park, nature preserve, or wetlands. Try to locate an open space near trees or shrubbery, bird feeders, or the edge of a pond or lake – these locations provide the basics many species of birds are looking for.
Be patient and wait for the bird to become used to your presence. Once you’ve located a bird, take your time getting into position and framing your shot. If possible, try to get close without disturbing the bird. If the bird is too far away, consider using a telephoto lens to get closer.
If you’re having trouble getting close enough, try using a blind or hide to conceal yourself from the bird, or stay in your car and roll the window down just enough to point your camera at the subject. This will allow you to get closer without scaring it away. Remember always to respect the bird’s natural habitat and never disturb or harass them.
How to photograph birds in flight
When photographing birds in flight, it’s important to have a fast shutter speed to capture the bird’s motion. You’ll also need a good telephoto lens to get close to the bird. Your goal in bird photography is to get the head and eyes focused and well-lit.
When taking photos of birds in flight, it’s important to have a fast shutter speed to capture the bird’s motion. A good starting point is 1/1000th of a second, but you can use even faster shutter speeds to eliminate motion blur. With most modern digital cameras, you can set the mode to shutter priority (S), and then the camera will automatically adjust the ISO and aperture to accommodate the fast shutter speed.
Always keep the bird in the center of your frame when tracking a bird in flight. This will help keep the focus on the bird and not the background. If you lose track of the bird, wait for it to come back into your field of view and then resume tracking.
When capturing bird photos, always try to have the sun behind you. Doing this will ensure the side of the bird facing you will be illuminated. You can also try to capture the bird with the sun behind it, creating a silhouette
Pay attention to the background
The background can make or break your bird images. A cluttered or bright background will create poor results.
If there are a lot of trees or brush in the background, try setting the lens’ aperture very wide (f/4.5 or wider) so that background has a soft focus. The most eye-catching bird photos will have colorful blurred backgrounds.
What equipment do you need for bird photography
You’ll need a camera that can zoom in close to get started in bird photography. Since birds are very “flighty”, anytime you get near them, they will take flight and give you a good chance to get a lot of bird butt images.
A telephoto lens is best for getting close to birds without disturbing them. Using a 200mm or 300mm lens is a good starting point, but a longer lens will give you even more reach if you can afford it.
You can read my Wildlife Photography Lens guide to look at telephoto options.
If you can’t use a telephoto lens or don’t have the extra cash needed for that investment, look at the many small compact digital cameras with excellent zoom capabilities. These are great options to use when getting started.
In addition to a telephoto lens, you’ll also need a tripod or monopod to keep your camera steady when zooming in. These are great for birds perched in trees or in a fairly static location.
When capturing images of birds in flight, you can opt for a telephoto camera strap (aka sling). These allow more flexibility and range of motion while using your body as the stabilizing element. A strap will never offer the same stability as a tripod, but it allows you to react quickly to a bird’s motion.
Other “Good To Have” birding equipment
Binoculars
Some other things I find quite handy in the field are a pair of binoculars and a good bird reference guide. Look for a lightweight pair that you can easily keep in your coat pocket, so it doesn’t tangle with your camera gear.
I like to use binoculars to locate and identify birds. If you don’t have binoculars, you can use your camera and telephoto lens, but I find it much more flexible to break out the binos when I’m trying to locate birds in the field.
I use the Nikon Trailblazer because they are compact, light, and powerful enough to spot birds far away.
Field guides
A birding guide is very helpful when you are getting started and trying to learn which birds you are photographing. You don’t always need to bring it into the field with you, but make sure to use it when you get home and want to identify the birds you photographed.
When choosing a field guide, start with one specific to your area. We’ve used the “Birds of Michigan” field guide for years. This book uses a handy color system to locate and identify the species in your area quickly. Use this link to find one for your state or region.
Birding apps
Personally, in addition to using a field guidebook, I love using the Merlin app on my phone. I can load up the image I captured, and the app quickly identifies matches for the birds in the photo. You can also use it to capture the birdsongs around you and show what birds are there.
5 Tips for getting great bird photos
As a wrap-up, there are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to take great bird photos. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Use a fast shutter speed to capture the bird’s motion.
- Always try to have the sun behind you.
- Pay attention to the background and ensure it is not too cluttered or busy.
- Use a telephoto lens for close-ups, and if you can’t use one, try using a camera with good zoom capability.
- When capturing bird images in flight, use a telephoto camera strap for more flexibility.
As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lot of fun learning how to photograph birds. I find it a great opportunity to get out and enjoy nature, learn about birds and their habits, and keep improving my photography skills.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave a message below.
If you want to see more guides, check out the Guides section of my site.
Finally, the Birding E-book
One of the basic skills of becoming a good bird photographer is to have a solid foundation in bird watching (or birding) skills. I’m a long-time admirer of the skills of a fellow photographer (and techie) Chuq Von Rospach. He’s put together an excellent basic birding skills ebook called “Hints and Tips for the New Birder“. Chuq is an excellent writer and photographer, and I encourage you to head to his site and check out his other Ebooks and photos.
