KIMBERLEY BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
After almost a decade of photographing the Kimberley's incredible landscapes, I bought my first 'birding lens' in 2021 and it has opened up a whole new world of photography for me. Moving to mirrorless at the start of 2024 has also been a game-changer, making it easier to nail the focus on fast moving subjects.
Here’s a few top tips for anyone interested in getting started/or improving your bird photography…..
Spinifex Pigeons | Canon EOS R5 | Sigma 150-600mm @ 435mm | f/9 | 1/500sec | ISO 400
Top Tips
1. BETTER BACKGROUNDS & FOREGROUNDS
Think about the background and foreground of your image as much as the subject itself. We want an image that focuses our attention on the bird without too many distractions - so watch out for twigs and branches that appear to be sticking out of the bird’s head or backgrounds that are especially messy and distracting.
Like most photography, we are trying to find a simplicity in what can be a messy natural environment. Simply moving left or right, getting higher or lower, can turn an ok photo into a great photo. A small shift left or right - even a few inches - can change the background behind a bird completely when using a big zoom lens.
Watch the background and foreground as much as the bird itself!
Red-winged Parrot | Canon EOS R5 | Sigma 150-600mm @ 435mm | f/9 | 1/500sec | ISO 400
2. BEAUTIFUL LIGHT
Like most photography, photographing birds when the light is interesting can transform your images from good to great. Usually the first couple of hours of the day, and a couple of hours before sunset is best. Harsh midday sun is rarely flattering. Beautiful light makes for beautiful bird photos.
Pelicans | Canon EOS R5 | Sigma 150-600mm @ 283mm | f/9 | 1/800sec | ISO 400
3. PHOTOGRAPGH AT EYE LEVEL
Like most wildlife photography, try to position yourself so that you are at the bird’s eye level. This can be tricky but it's always worth the extra effort. Lying flat on your belly in the grass or the dirt, which throws the foreground out of focus, can make a big difference.
Similarly, climbing up on something to get a better angle can also be useful. It’s not always possible but it’s worth keeping in mind. Rarely does photographing a bird high up in a tree against a bright sky, and looking up at its belly, create an engaging image. Always position yourself close to the bird's eye-level if possible.
Pheasant Coucal | Canon EOS R5 | Sigma 150-600mm @ 562mm | f/7.1 | 1/160sec | ISO 2500
4. GETTING FOCUSED
Often the biggest challenge with bird photography is getting pin-sharp focus on the bird’s eye. So whether you’re using spot-focus or eye tracking, the goal is to make sure the eye is always perfectly sharp.
Bird photography is definitely a good test of your camera gear. Spending a little extra on a higher resolution sensor (so you can crop in for smaller birds) or a longer zoom lens is usually money well spent.
Brown Falcon | Canon EOS R5 | Sigma 150-600mm @ 484mm | f/9 | 1/2500sec | ISO 2000
5. BE PATIENT. BUT ALSO BE OPPORTUNISTIC.
Rarely does just wandering around in the woods get the best results. Yep, there are exceptions, but paying attention to bird behaviour, getting yourself in position and waiting patiently can make a big difference. Get in position, sit still and wait for the birds to do their thing.
At the other end of the spectrum, sometimes you get lucky, so have your camera gear ready and be quick to respond. When I drive around the Kimberley, I make sure my camera is on the front passenger seat with my wildlife lens and the right settings dialled in and ready to go. Sometimes you’ve only got seconds before the bird is gone.
Blue-winged Kookaburra | Canon EOS 5D Mk IV | Sigma 150-600mm @ 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/250sec | ISO 800
There’s always exceptions to the rule, but keeping these tips in mind has definitely helped improve my bird photography. And when you get that shot, after all the hard work, it makes for a fun game!
