Bird Photography

A snapshot of nature in your own backyard

If you read birding magazines, you're probably impressed with the majority of the pictures that grace the pages. You may even think that you could do better. While simply watching birds can be hobby enough for some people, others want to take it to the next level and actually capture the image of a flying or preening bird on film. Whether you're serious about breaking into birding magazines or simply want to add to your own photo collection, it's important to know a bit about photographing birds.

To photograph birds, the first thing you should consider is their habitat and feeding, breeding and foraging habits. It won't be a very fruitful experience if you can't find the bird you want to photograph. Depending on the bird, you may be trekking out to capture them at all times of the day and night. Serious birders suggest that the best times to find birds to photograph are in the early morning or twilight. Birds are often more active when they wake up and just before they go to sleep, foraging for food. Not only that, the light is often better for photographs, as the harsh daylight won't create unwanted shadows and wash out feather colors.

If you are going to photograph birds, you will need:

• A decent camera, whether it's digital or 35 mm film. A point-and-shoot digital or film camera will rarely give you a publishable picture, but if you're looking to take pictures of birds for your own pleasure, then you can try a point-and-shoot with a good zoom lens.
• A blind. Blinds are hiding places for bird photographers to crouch while waiting for that perfect picture. Now, don't go thinking that you'll have to buy all this expensive equipment - a blind can be as simple as your house or car. In fact, you may often find that taking photos from familiar human objects will afford you better results, since birds are already used to seeing these in everyday life.
• A good lens. Lenses attached to even mediocre cameras can help you take that perfect picture. If you spend a little more on a relatively good lens and follow the rules for setting up a good birding photo, you may surprise yourself!
• Lots of patience. There are days when you will go out into the field or sit for hours with your camera poised and come home empty-handed. Keep at it and take lots of photos. One of the best photography rules to remember is to keep shooting, but only show your best shots.

Pay attention to the light and composition of your shot. Remember, static images don't exactly thrill anyone. If you're going to take a picture of a bird, try to get it actually doing something - flying, eating, foraging, feeding its young, etc. If you just want a picture that will show off a beautiful bird against a breathtaking backdrop, then make sure you take it at an interesting angle or at an interesting time of day. A picture is worth a thousand words - and a good birding picture is sure to impress your friends and family.

If you have an amazing photo of your feathered friends visiting your backyard feeder or playing in your yard, don't hesitate to e-mail it to us at editor@birdfeedersdirect.com. We would love to share your great photos with your fellow birders and other users of the site. Please send high-resolution JPEG images.