NZPhotographer Issue 61, November 2022

Toroa / White-capped Albatross
Nikon D500, 80-400mm lens @ F6.3, 1/4000s, ISO800
PUTTING THE GEAR INTO PRACTICE -
ON LOCATION AT ŌTEPOTI, DUNEDIN
Ōtepoti is an absolute hotspot for big charismatic
wildlife, albatrosses, sea lions, and penguins, as well as
being close to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which is a
great place to get close to some more elusive birds. I
am a seabird scientist, so most of my favourite photos
come from boat trips with Monarch Wildlife Cruises,
going out past Taiaroa Head to meet up with the
albatrosses at sea.
Getting good behavioural images is all about your
knowledge of the birds and being able to anticipate
what they’re going to do, as seen with my whitecapped
albatross shot. It comes with time in the field,
and there’s no substitute for it! A variable zoom lens is
perfect for conditions like these where the action can
be distant, but as the birds approach, you may need
to zoom out to get the framing you want.
Sometimes I need the wide end of the 80-400mm!
Having Buller’s albatross an arms-length away made
me wish I’d swapped out for the 12-24mm for a while
– definitely next time. I love the perspective of having
the birds soaring directly overhead, and having the
flexibility to zoom back out to 80mm was perfect for
this.
Meanwhile, Cape petrel are gorgeous little birds and
a constant companion at sea. My goal is to illustrate
birds in their habitats, and on this choppy day, the
waves gave plenty of opportunities for a splash
background. Timing is a mix of reflexes, luck, and
learning to anticipate how the birds will interact with
the wind and waves.
Edin is a seabird scientist and conservation photographer based in Tāmaki Makaurau
/ Auckland. Both her research and photography focuses on pelagic seabirds -
shearwaters and petrels - as well as conservation issues for wildlife.
www.edinz.com twitter.com/edinatw @edinzphoto
@edinzphoto