Beyond the Obvious: Explore Your Bird Subject Thoroughly

^{Note: This tip comes from Tobie Schalkwyk’s free eBook - Getting Started in Bird Photography}

Bird photography is enhanced when you can shoot at a location known to attract a certain breed of bird. In this instance, it is a Spoonbill rookery.

Your opportunities may vary as the day progresses with bird behavior and lighting changes.

Tip #1 – Be prepared to cover as many angles and options as possible in one shooting day. This means having a variety of lenses and several pre-scouted shooting spots.

Tip #2—You will also want to change your point of view (POV) from down to level and then upwards. Each angle will reveal a different plumage and body shape.

Tip #3 – In photography, feeding is an essential topic when covering a bird species. Don’t settle for just one shot, as the feeding process can be quite intricate. Try to capture the food exposed.

Tip #4 – You will want to capture at least three framing options: a close-up, a mid-range, and a wide view.

Tip #5 – Stay conscious of your backgrounds. Don’t let them overpower your bird subject, as in the above example.

Tip #6 – As lighting changes, use that to your benefit by changing the mood of your images.

Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)