Overview

Birds are intruiging but difficult photographic subjects. They move around a lot, in fits and starts, while the power of flight makes it trivially easy for them to avoid your company, which they will do on the slightest pretext. It is often easier to get good shots in an urban environment where birds have become accustomed to human presence although the variety of species is not nearly so great as in rural settings.

Practically all species, not just waterfowl, tend to concentrate where water is available so the best place to get started with bird photography is near a pond, marsh, river or even the backyard bird bath. Riparian areas can prove especially fruitful.

While birds are naturally cautious and difficult to approach directly, they number among Mother Nature's most curious creatures. Partially conceal yourself within site of your feathered subjects (however distant), sit perfectly still for awhile and they will inevitably approach in an attempt to figure out what you are up to - and there you are with your camera all ready. This works. Try it. The least effective strategy is that of the hot pursuit enthusiast who, upon spotting a distant bird, cries out "There it is!". He then crashes through the woods with equally noisy companions at his side, cameras and binoculars flapping. They seldom get within proper range of even the longest lens.

Real birders and bird photographers know that birds are most active just during the early morning hours beginning before the sun is up. These enthusiasts are on their way to the woods or marsh by 4:00 AM, take care to conceal themselves and are often solitary. They stoically endure mosquitoes, leeches and other discomforts most of us will not.  Eccentrics, to be sure, but they get what they are after.

The technical information following may prove useful:

Camera: Nikon D300/D7000 for the most part. This units have excellent pixel density and low noise contributing to high quality in extreme enlargements often necessary with photographs of these small (and frequently distant) subjects. Occasionally the D80 is used and yields excellent results although not quite as much enlargement is possible. A small number of photos were taken using the Panasonic FZ30. This camera has excellent optics but the small, noisy sensor limits opportunities in low light. When conditions are suitable, fine results are possible, rivaling what the DSLR's can achieve. With the limitations in mind, this camera or one like it (super-zoom) can prove an impressive performer and has the advantage of great convenience. The pelicans on the gallery home page were taken with the FZ30.

Lenses: Practically all images were taken using either the Nikkor 70 - 300 mm VR telephoto or the Sigma 150 - 500 mm tele. With birds you can never have too much focal length. The Nikkor is very light and exquisitely sharp so it is the sort of lens you don't mind taking on a long walk. The sharp images withstand considerable enlargement, overcoming somewhat the 300 mm maximum focal length limitation. The Sigma is similarly sharp and routinely yields excellent images even at longest focal length. Internal stabilization (as in the Nikkor) means you can usually get by without need for a tripod. It is a very heavy, awkward lens so you don't want to be packing it along unless you have something very specific in mind requiring that sort of reach. For serious bird photography you need focal lengths in this range, at least.

Flash: As with other forms of photography, flash can make all the difference when photographing birds. It will help freeze action, accentuates fine detail and provides the light you need when in the woods. A unit like the Nikon SB800 will provide useful illumination to 100 ft or more and incorporates an excellent focusing assist helpful with slower telephotos like the Sigma. Flash was used when taking many photographs in this gallery.

There is little to fear that flash will frighten or disturb birds and they generally ignore it. The theory is that they are quite accustomed to seeing lightning so take no more than casual notice of your puny equivalent.

Composition

A good many photographs of birds one finds are of the clinical or taxonomic sort, suitable for a bird identification book but, quite frankly, banal. You will find images of that sort right here (the robin leaving his tub of water is a good example but I like it anyway because of the color - so there). It's unavoidable. The problem is that getting a technically good bird shot is so challenging you frequently must take what you can get, hoping it will have some appeal on the grounds of common interest in the subject for its own sake. Pictures of birds fighting, killing prey or pecking gardeners are preferable but obviously much more difficult to come by. Over time I hope to have more of that type to share. The bird photo specialist will excel at this, putting the rest of us to shame, but I am not a specialist and make no pretense of competing in that arena.