PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS
I keep getting asked how I manage to get so many bird shots. Suggestions in the forum
include my using super glue, paying them modelling fees and hiring a bird trainer well
I don't have any special tricks and I don't use a hide, I can only describe my garden setup
and my own approach to photographing birds.
I have a multi feeder station sited approx 10 feet from my garden shed doorway.
The feeder has a small open tray and 4 hanging containers with various contents.
There are also 2 other small tables attached to the fence also within 10 feet of the doorway.
A bird bath completes the setup in this area.
Branches from my neighbours plum tree are only a couple of feet above the feeder station
and give the birds a secure and safe place from which launch onto the feeders. Around the garden
are various other single feeders all of which are easily focused on from my position.
I set the tripod with 2 legs outside the doorway and 1 leg inside and make myself comfortable.
I use a Canon 100-400mm IS L lens mounted on the Canon 40D for most of my bird photography.
I set up for continious shooting so that I can take 3/4 shots at a time and use aperture priority or manual.
ISO setting is dependant upon the weather as is white balance though this is set to auto most of the time.
For insects I have the Canon 60mm macro and for 'IN Flight' I use the Sigma 18-200mm.
Having sat many hours in this position I have of course learnt something about their feeding habits.
Great-tits and Coal-tits for instance don't hang about on the feeder. They drop down, fill their beaks and
return to the tree to eat. Blue-tits will cling quite happily to a feeder for several minutes at a time.
The Robins never seems to fly onto the feeder, they pops up unexpected from the other side of the fence.
They sit on the fence for a while then hop onto a table, eat their fill and then go off. Very often they will forage
on the ground and experience has taught me not to bother photographing them unless they hop up onto a shrub.
The Long Tailed Tits always arrive in bunches, stay for 3/4 minutes then fly off again together.
They all have there own little ways and if you want a good 'keep' percentage it's well worth spending
some time on observation. I think my being in the same position also helps. I am in full view of them
at all times and I'm quite sure that they accept my being there and that I mean them no harm. I have had
Doves and Robins come within inches of my hand and am convinced that they now know me.
In short:
Be comfortable....Be observant ... Be patient ... and
don't be put off at binning 199 photographs out of every 200
The more times you get out in the garden the better it gets
Home
I have a multi feeder station sited approx 10 feet from my garden shed doorway.
The feeder has a small open tray and 4 hanging containers with various contents.
There are also 2 other small tables attached to the fence also within 10 feet of the doorway.
A bird bath completes the setup in this area.
Branches from my neighbours plum tree are only a couple of feet above the feeder station
and give the birds a secure and safe place from which launch onto the feeders. Around the garden
are various other single feeders all of which are easily focused on from my position.
I set the tripod with 2 legs outside the doorway and 1 leg inside and make myself comfortable.
I use a Canon 100-400mm IS L lens mounted on the Canon 40D for most of my bird photography.
I set up for continious shooting so that I can take 3/4 shots at a time and use aperture priority or manual.
ISO setting is dependant upon the weather as is white balance though this is set to auto most of the time.
For insects I have the Canon 60mm macro and for 'IN Flight' I use the Sigma 18-200mm.
Having sat many hours in this position I have of course learnt something about their feeding habits.
Great-tits and Coal-tits for instance don't hang about on the feeder. They drop down, fill their beaks and
return to the tree to eat. Blue-tits will cling quite happily to a feeder for several minutes at a time.
The Robins never seems to fly onto the feeder, they pops up unexpected from the other side of the fence.
They sit on the fence for a while then hop onto a table, eat their fill and then go off. Very often they will forage
on the ground and experience has taught me not to bother photographing them unless they hop up onto a shrub.
The Long Tailed Tits always arrive in bunches, stay for 3/4 minutes then fly off again together.
They all have there own little ways and if you want a good 'keep' percentage it's well worth spending
some time on observation. I think my being in the same position also helps. I am in full view of them
at all times and I'm quite sure that they accept my being there and that I mean them no harm. I have had
Doves and Robins come within inches of my hand and am convinced that they now know me.
In short:
Be comfortable....Be observant ... Be patient ... and
don't be put off at binning 199 photographs out of every 200
The more times you get out in the garden the better it gets
Home