Beginning bird photography, I’ve found the need to master a few essential skills. 1. Patience Birds are unpredictable. They don’t always show up when you expect them to; when they do, they might not stay long. Patience allows you to wait for the perfect moment. I have...
Bird photography is a pursuit that rewards patience, timing, and an understanding of the natural world. While having the right gear and skills is crucial, knowing when to head out to photograph birds is equally important. The time of day can dramatically affect the...
Introduction When I started taking pictures of birds, my main objective was to get a (hopefully good) picture. I wasn’t paying close attention to my surroundings, the behavior of the birds, or whether or not birds were sensitive to my presence. The closer I got to the...
How It Began - Leading Up To My Interest In Bird Photography Growing up in Rochester, NY, the headquarters of Eastman Kodak Co. (unfortunately, a shell of its former self), with a dad who worked at Kodak, I always had an interest in photography. I learned how to...
Starting bird photography, I always worked to frame birds in the center of the picture. This made sense due to the camera's autofocus feature, which placed the focus markings in the middle of the viewfinder, making centering the bird easy. After taking many pictures...
After spending time with other birders, I’ve found that finding a rare or “uncommon” bird is a major driver of most people's interest in the hobby. Spotting birds via binoculars and keeping an eBird or lifetime birding list is satisfying, especially during migration...
During last fall’s bird migration in Westchester County, NY, I discovered the obvious “secret" of “find the food, find the bird.” Certainly, this applies the rest of the year, too, but I’ve found that in mid-to-late fall and over the winter, locating food sources,...
One of the great features of most new cameras is the relative sophistication of their auto-exposure feature. Starting, I used “all auto, all the time” because you need to be quick to photograph birds, and changing shutter speed, aperture, and the sensor's sensitivity...
