Yesterday I went out to photograph some birds in the woods, but when I got to the spot where the birds were, they all flew away. So I sat there, hoping they would come back, no chance. So, anyone that reguarly photographs birds what is your secret!! I cant seem to ever get close enough without scaring them off.
Yup, it's not as easy as point and shoot. Get up really early in the morning, when the birds are out feeding. Be very quiet. Be patient. Put out bird seed if you wish.
QZG Dan wrote: Yesterday I went out to photograph some birds in the woods, but when I got to the spot where the birds were, they all flew away. So I sat there, hoping they would come back, no chance. So, anyone that reguarly photographs birds what is your secret!! I cant seem to ever get close enough without scaring them off.
Man you cracking me up:lol:
Sorry couldn`t help it!!
You need at least a 300mm lens,you have to sneak up on the birds out of their sight,try and get some shots as you aproach even if not ideal.Use the trees as shield to get close.That`s the easy part,camera setup is important,I uses this ......
Aperture Priority because you know what you want,no program mode..
ISO 400 @F8...EV compensation...minus ev to prevent blowing out the 'whites',plus ev to open the shadows but be careful of using the 'plus ev' in sunshine on dark birds.
F8 can be bigger depending on the light and whether the bird is flying.
Continious Focus is a must because even if the bird is still,a slight movement can throw off the focus when you are focusing on the eye,look for the catchlights to appear and blast away.
In difficult lighting use 'bracketing' and shoot in Raw.
Hope this helps.
Rigby wrote: Yup, it's not as easy as point and shoot. Get up really early in the morning, when the birds are out feeding. Be very quiet. Be patient. Put out bird seed if you wish.
You too giving the man JOKES!!Not very nice:rofl:
I started mine before you!
I set my camera on the tripod and pre-focus on a feeder using aperture priority. I then use a radio remote release (ZapShot for Canon in my case) and move well away from the feeder (even inside). After a few clicks, the birds get used to the shutter noise. I have used the kit lens, my 50 prime and my 70-300 (for more "modest" birds). I have finches, chickadees, juncos, wrens, hummingbirds and more.
Baydream wrote: I set my camera on the tripod and pre-focus on a feeder using aperture priority. I then use a radio remote release (ZapShot for Canon in my case) and move well away from the feeder (even inside). After a few clicks, the birds get used to the shutter noise. I have used the kit lens, my 50 prime and my 70-300 (for more "modest" birds). I have finches, chickadees, juncos, wrens, hummingbirds and more.
Love it, did you set some bird feed on your camera?
Baydream wrote: I set my camera on the tripod and pre-focus on a feeder using aperture priority. I then use a radio remote release (ZapShot for Canon in my case) and move well away from the feeder (even inside). After a few clicks, the birds get used to the shutter noise. I have used the kit lens, my 50 prime and my 70-300 (for more "modest" birds). I have finches, chickadees, juncos, wrens, hummingbirds and more.
Love it, did you set some bird feed on your camera?
I love shots like these. The coolest one was from National Geographic, I think. The bird was standing on the lens hood, looking down into the lens.
Great capture, Baydream...
Sure, practice makes perfect but, unless you learn from your mistakes, you are only perfecting your ability to fail.
Vahrenkamp wrote: The bird looking down the lens would be a fun photo to see if you have it
I can't find the image I'm thinking of. I saw it many years ago so it may have been in a magazine and hasn't made it to the net. I did find a similar one though, but it's not as good as the one I remember:
Baydream wrote: I set my camera on the tripod and pre-focus on a feeder using aperture priority. I then use a radio remote release (ZapShot for Canon in my case) and move well away from the feeder (even inside). After a few clicks, the birds get used to the shutter noise. I have used the kit lens, my 50 prime and my 70-300 (for more "modest" birds). I have finches, chickadees, juncos, wrens, hummingbirds and more.
Love it, did you set some bird feed on your camera?
No. The Chickadees just used the camera and tripod as a perch to watch the feeders.
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Get up really early in the morning, when the birds are out feeding. Be very quiet. Be patient. Put out bird seed if you wish. 
especially to get them sharp! Cool capture 
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