How to Photograph Wild Birds

Birds are all around us in our daily lives. Whether it be waders on a windswept estuary or tame ducks in a city park, photographing wild birds is an art that has to be learnt.  This course will reveal the secrets to capturing that perfect shot as practiced by one of the worlds leading bird photographers.

Good technique is important and will be covered in detail from lighting to creating eye catching compositions. We will explore how different focal length lenses, your positioning and angle of view all change the feel of a picture. We look at the best ways of supporting a long lens and how to use a short lens even a compact camera for taking eye catching results.

Often the difference between capturing a great shot as opposed to something that is acceptable, but no more, is having the knowledge of how shutter speed and aperture selection can influence the end result. Where in the frame should the bird go, should I shoot in portrait or landscape format? Bird photography however, requires more than just good technique, it needs field-craft.

You will learn to spot certain signals a bird gives off before take off, how to approach a wary species, positioning of hides, attracting birds to the garden and tips on likely locations that you can try visiting in your neighbourhood for a successful shot.

These and many more questions will be answered as we delve down into how to photograph three different groups of birds. We finish with a master-class on capturing birds in flight, and the ability to put some of what you have learnt in the previous lessons to good use.

Learning Outcome

On completion of this 4 week course you will have learnt good basic fieldcraft, along with the ability to consistently capture well exposed and creative images of birds. You will also have the knowledge to successfully shoot birds in flight.

Lesson One : Garden Birds

We first discuss the ideal all round equipment for photographing birds and take a brief look at the basics of exposure and choosing both appropriate shutter speeds and depth of field.

We then look at attracting birds to a garden or indeed woodland feeding station. The best way of siting a bird table for light and backgrounds, concealment, hides or using a garden shed or your home as a hide and the props you need to make natural looking images. We examine how to encourage a bird on to a particular perch and then how to frame your subject. Finally we look at manipulating the light and techniques for making striking images that go beyond simple portraits.

Lesson Two : Wildfowl

Wildfowl the collective name for ducks, geese and swans are one of the most accessible and dynamic subjects on offer to the bird photographer. They generally inhabit open environments, are often very approachable or gather together outside the breeding season in spectacular flocks.

This lesson will look at reading the signs these birds give off whether they are about to take flight or exhibit some other form of behaviour. We will look at how your angle of view can dramatically influence the feel of an image, and delve into how perspective can change depending on the focal length of lens used. Flocks can offer all sorts of creative opportunities from freezing action to experimenting with motion blur.

Guidance will be given on seeking out great places to photograph wildfowl and being creative when your subject is tame.

Lesson Three : Waders

Many species of waders or shorebirds as they are commonly referred to in the US travel vast distances, migrating across oceans and continents to and from their breeding and wintering grounds. Some species can be approached by careful stalking, others require more planning with the provision of a hide.

Various techniques for photographing waders will be discussed including tips on stalking and the pros and cons of wearing camouflage gear when doing so. Roosting flocks such as Knot can offer exciting opportunities and we look at using the landscape around our subject as a key feature of the composition.

Finally we investigate how some images of waders can work best when converted to black and white.

Lesson Four : Birds in flight

Successful flight photography other than when an opportune moment presents itself, usually means being in the right place at the right time. Our final lesson examines how forward planning and anticipating an opportunity will reap rewards. We look at how depth of field and shutter speeds are crucial to securing a well executed image.

Tips are given on which species offer the best flight opportunities, and we look at how birds can be manipulated to fly in front of the camera. This final lesson will also draw on much we have learnt in the previous three sessions that when used together help secure images of birds in flight, the most challenging aspect of bird photography.

This course will involve some travel to different locations, so before you book it, please make sure you have allowed enough time in your diary.  Each week you will be asked to submit 3 images of different types of birds. Week one is the easiest for most people as it covers garden birds. Week 2,3 and 4 will involve travel to various locations to photograph the different bird varieties.  For wild fowl and waders you you will need to find a suitable pond, river, mudflats or  estuary to photograph and failing that, a zoo or farm, where you can photograph captive birds.

Required

DSLR or Compact Camera with large zoom lens

Tripod

Zoom lens from 200-600mm

Optional Extra

1.4x converter

2x converter

Gimbal Tripod Head

Shutter Release Cable

Polarizing filter

Camo Net

Portable Bird Hide

Bean Bag lens support