NZPhotographer Issue 19, May 2019

HOW TO CAPTURE: BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
Bird Photography Tips with Richard Young
NZ White Capped Albatross, Kaikoura F11, 1/250s, ISO 200
Capturing The Moment:
When photographing birds it is important that they
are sharp and in focus. To achieve this it’s best to use
a tracking focus function with a fast shutter speed. To
gain a fast shutter speed in the forest you may need
a large aperture. It is also important to make sure the
focus points are on the bird, ideally over its eyes.
Being Aware Of The Subject:
Be careful not to scare the bird away. If you walk up
to a bird it will normally fly off, so keep your distance
when observing birds. Generally, if you stay still near
small forest birds like Robins and Fantails they will
come close to you. You could also try to find the birds
food source and wait for them to come and feed.
Lighting For Forest Birds:
If you are photographing birds in the forest, try to find
some nice light breaking through the canopy. This will
allow you to use a faster shutter speed to help freeze
the bird in motion, as small birds move about a lot.
It will also help show the detail of the bird’s feathers
which can be hard to capture in poor lighting.
Previsualise Your Composition:
A messy background can distract from the subject.
Try to position yourself so you can line up the bird with
a pleasing background, this may be something that
offers a contrast in colour or lighting to help define the
bird. You can also use a large aperture to make the
bird stand out against an out of focus background.
IMPROVE YOUR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A 4-DAY WILDLIFE MASTERCLASS WORKSHOP ON THE OTAGO
PENINSULA: 1ST - 4TH NOVEMBER WITH NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS