Photographing Small Birds
35mm SLR, 300mm f-2.8
APO lens, 2X teleconverter, Fuji Provia 100, Bogen monopod.
Spot meter, exposure not recorded. Aperture priority and manual focus.
One of my favorite subjects are birds.
Photographing larger birds are easier than smaller ones. Small birds are very active and
very fast. They are harder to approach and difficult to photograph because they are
constantly moving and rarely stay in one place for long. An autofocus camera and a lens
with at least 300mm focal length can make the job much easier. 300mm and 400mm lenses are
best for larger birds, but if you can get close, you can use these focal lengths to
photograph smaller birds as well. Fast lenses come in handy by providing faster shutter
speeds.
Image right: Nikon 300mm f-2.8 Lens in
white finish.
500mm and 600mm f-4 telephotos
are ideal for this type of photography. Since these
lenses are heavy and expensive, you can try a 300mm
f-2.8 with 1.4X and 2X converters
to
shoot small birds. Another option
is the 300mm f-4 telephotos with teleconverters. Zooms
can also be used if they include 300mm or 400mm setting. Sigma's new 50-500mm or
any of
the newer 100-400mm zooms can provide the coverage you need. You can use faster films such
as ISO 200 or set your digital camera to ISO 200 to compensate for the slower f-stop. I use 300mm f-2.8 with 2X teleconverter
when photographing small birds. ISO 100 is my film choice and I push it one stop to ISO
200 if necessary to gain an extra speed. I prefer monopods over tripods. Monopods are more
maneuverable and let me keep up with the bird's movements. Approach is the key to
successful photographs. Any sudden or direct movement will scare away the birds. Once you
spot a bird, move very slowly and cautiously. Avoid direct eye contact with the bird as
they are very aware of eye contact and see it as a threat. Depending on the species, each
bird allows a certain distance between them and others before the fly away. Even at close
distances, it is difficult to fill the frame.
Image Below: Canon EOS EF 500mm f-4 with Image Stabilizer feature.
Click on the image to see description from Amazon.com
500mm and 600mm lenses let you fill the
frame without getting too close. With a 300mm, you must be twice as close as a 600mm lens
to get the same shot. I attach my 2X teleconverter to my 300mm f-2.8 lens and set the lens
on a monopod. The combination along with fast autofocus gives me sharp close shots most of
the time. You need 1/250 sec shutter speed or faster to freeze action. Even f-2.8 and f-4
apertures may not provide fast shutter speeds. Small birds are very fast so even a slight
movement can cause blurred images.
I sometimes carry a flash and set it off camera to
freeze action or solve low light situations. Metering can also be difficult. Spot meters
are great tools but the size of the subject can prevent a good reading if you can't get
too close. Meter something middle tone in the same light as the bird and lock reading
using AE-Lock or shoot in manual mode. Try to focus on the eyes especially at closer
range. Expect blurred images when photographing small birds. They seem to move just as you
press the shutter release. Working from a blind is one option for bird photography. I
never done this simply because of having to carry and set up a blind. I prefer to be able
to move to another location fast if I have to. I find learning about birds and their
behavior is a better approach. You can also set up bird feeders on your back yard to
attract birds. Many will return and they usually bring along a friend.
Photographing Birds in the
Wild: Photographic Hints and Tips
Whether readers are knowledgeable birders who wish to find out more about photography, or whether they have a photographic background but need to know more about field craft and specialist photography techniques, this book clearly explains how to get fine results using basic 35mm cameras and equipment. Above all, it will increase readers' enjoyment of a uniquely rewarding pastime.
As photographic subjects, wild birds present quite a challenge, mainly because their phenomenal eyesight and (in most cases) acutely cautious nature make them so difficult to approach. However, like any good challenge, bird photography can often be tremendously rewarding, and its popularity is ever increasing. As a result, there is a continual improvement in the standard of work being produced. Far from being just a record of species and behavior, the best bird photographs are genuinely artful images.
The books provides the less experienced photographer with a practical guide to photographing many species of wild birds in a variety of situations, ranging from an ordinary back garden to a remote Scottish island. The author uses a 35mm single-lens reflex camera, and most of the illustrations reflect his preference for natural lighting--although basic flash techniques, which are sometimes indispensable, are also covered. For birders, photographers, nature lovers. For beginner and advanced photographers.
Tamron SP AF 200-500mm/F5-6.3 Di LD (IF)
This is a
new zoom lens from Tamron that lets you bring your far away subjects
up close while compressing the distance between the main subject and
the background for professional-looking results. Even while covering
up to a 500mm that enables you to take ultra telephoto shots of
subjects further than the eye can see, its design is extremely
lightweight and compact. When mounted on an APS-C size digital SLR
camera, it provides a focal length equivalent to a 760mm for super
ultra telephoto imaging.
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