Bird photography is one of the most popular genres of nature photography. This should come as no surprise since birding is one of the world’s most popular pastimes!

Birds, by their nature, live in the moment and many have spent a lifetime of moments enjoying them for what they are; harbingers of song and flight, beauty and grace. For many, photographing birds is an extension of a life-long admiration for these beautiful creatures that always entertain with their behaviors and delight with their songs.

Bird photography is also a very challenging endeavor, requiring specialized skills and equipment – one does not simply pick up the camera used for family vacation photos and capture compelling avian images. On the same token, having the best possible photographic gear for the task does not ensure success either. It seems the most successful bird photographers are not only skilled photographic technicians, but also have a thorough understanding of avian behavior and habitat. Most importantly, they all have a deep love and appreciation for their subjects.

Photography in its purest sense is an artistic medium. Bird photography in many respects is no different, with the largest percentage of bird photographers interested in taking photographs that express their artistic talents and the beauty of the avian form. But for those who take images for the birding market, a somewhat different style is often used. This style often requires the bird to be the main aspect of the image; that is, a profile shot of a bird, in an open setting, with very few other compositional elements. It is in this market where the “bird on a stick” style of photography shines (Retrieved from:  http://www.naturephotographers.net/birdphotography.html).

Getting Started.  The modern technology present in most camera systems today has automated functions such as aperture, shutter speed, focus and light metering. But automatic modes are seldom best for photographing birds, as we want to be able to control certain aspects depending on the given situation. So before beginning to seriously undertake bird photography, it would be wise to gain an understanding of the fundamentals. Two things affect exposure: shutter speed, meaning the amount of time the film is exposed, and aperture, which determines the lens opening size. The camera meter determines correct exposure. Aperture and shutter speed combine as the exposure setting. Fast shutter speeds are needed to freeze wing motion or other movement.  An increase in shutter speed requires opening up the lens a proportionate amount.  Several combinations of shutter speed and aperture can be used to take a single photograph. You have to decide which is best for each image.  Depth of field (DOF) is the area of the image in focus.  Large apertures reduce DOF, and serve to isolate the subject. Learning how exposure works to affect an image is imperative. Practicing by taking photos in varied conditions is the best way to learn.  Believe it or not, more images are ruined by camera shake than any other cause. So a steady hand, brace, or better yet, tripod will eliminate unwanted blurring. We'll elaborate more on tripods later.  Reading books on photography technique is another way to learn. A plethora of information is available through libraries, book stores, and the Internet. If reading books doesn't hold your interest, a local camera club might be the answer. They can help with hands-on training, and you can measure your individual progress against that of the group. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The more knowledge you can acquire prior to going afield, the better your chances will be of creating images you'll be proud of.  The learning process never stops.  I still read everything I can get my hands on about bird photography. And let's not forget about the other half of this equation: birds. Again, read about and study the birds where you live. It doesn't matter whether you occasionally want to photograph Cardinals at the feeder or pursue bird photography as a serious hobby.  Once the fundamentals are learned, then you can experiment with the various automatic modes which work wonderfully well under ideal conditions.  Armed with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of photography, you'll be better prepared when it comes time to lay out the bucks for equipment (Retrieved from:  http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/BirdPhotoBasics.htm).

I hope you had fun in photographing your bird and submitting their photo to the Alaska Bird Club Photo Contest 2006.  See you at the meeting on Tuesday, August 1st, when the category prize winners are announced! 

Gregory D. Wilkie