Bird Photography help
Discussion
Looking to try a bit of bird photography for the first time. I know NOTHING about bird behaviour however, and was looking to set up a garden “bird table” with the camera close by on a tripod & remotely fired.( have telephoto lenses but looking at the easy option to start with)
Questions – Would I need to camouflage the camera in any way and would the birds be put off by the shutter going off and not return?
Questions – Would I need to camouflage the camera in any way and would the birds be put off by the shutter going off and not return?
They'd probably get used to the camera very quickly. Easier if they are expecting food on a bird table.
Potentially the noise might be disturbing. But "the Brick" at 200mm to 400mm distance is no problem for birds at my outlaws. Hell, I can even sit/stand in front of them there (Wye Valley, Herefordshire - permanent bird table five paces from back door!)
Potentially the noise might be disturbing. But "the Brick" at 200mm to 400mm distance is no problem for birds at my outlaws. Hell, I can even sit/stand in front of them there (Wye Valley, Herefordshire - permanent bird table five paces from back door!)
I created a set-up in my garden, specifically to capture garden birds. I wanted to use them as "stock" images, so needed an uncluttered background and an arrangement that would look as natural as possible.
I fixed a bird table to a wall close by a window. The table has a large staple hammered into the edge where I can push a twig "perch". I keep the table stocked with a variety of bird food. When I fancy a bit of photography, I open the window and cover the opening with a piece of material with a hole cut in it. I put the camera on a tripod pointing through the hole at the perch, and wait. Here's a sample shot:
I decided to operate the system "manually", because I needed to wait for shots where I would get good positioning and focus. Some birds are remarkably tolerant of the camera shutter noise (it's only about 4 feet away (with a 70-200mm lens), others are away after the first click.
I fixed a bird table to a wall close by a window. The table has a large staple hammered into the edge where I can push a twig "perch". I keep the table stocked with a variety of bird food. When I fancy a bit of photography, I open the window and cover the opening with a piece of material with a hole cut in it. I put the camera on a tripod pointing through the hole at the perch, and wait. Here's a sample shot:
I decided to operate the system "manually", because I needed to wait for shots where I would get good positioning and focus. Some birds are remarkably tolerant of the camera shutter noise (it's only about 4 feet away (with a 70-200mm lens), others are away after the first click.
14-7 said:
GetCarter said:
I have a zigview - remote movement sensor.
This was taken while I was down the pub!
Does that not take the fun out of it?This was taken while I was down the pub!
I can understand it may just catch 'that' picture but part of the fun for me is actually doing it myself.
You might be interested Covboy, in joining a specialist wildlife forum. There's a new group; the Amateur Wildlife Filmmakers Network (AWFN), that has a forum at www.talkwildlife.com/. It's still getting established, but could develop into a good resource for the type of thing you are hoping to do.
covboy said:
Looking to try a bit of bird photography for the first time. I know NOTHING about bird behaviour however, and was looking to set up a garden “bird table” with the camera close by on a tripod & remotely fired.( have telephoto lenses but looking at the easy option to start with)
Questions – Would I need to camouflage the camera in any way and would the birds be put off by the shutter going off and not return?
I do a lot of bird photography, and agree with others when they say that it would take the fun out of it using a remote release, i also think you will get far better, more natural shots taking them yourself. I suggest "planting" a branch in the ground near the feeder that will allow the birds to perch before/after they feed. This allows you to get a shot that doesent have a feeder in it, and therefore looks much more authentic. If your feeder is close to a window you can shoot out of that without disturbing them, otherwise you may want to invest in a small hide to use.Questions – Would I need to camouflage the camera in any way and would the birds be put off by the shutter going off and not return?
You will need to think about light and background when deciding where to place your branch and feeder, somewhere bright and with something that will give a nice boquet in the background.
Fast shutter speeds help a lot, depending on the bird your shooting you may get away with slightly slower ones (Great tits for example stay still a lot more then other tit species) but for coal tits/long tailed tit and especially goldcrests really you will want a shutter speed of over 1/500th of a second.
Edited by jimmy306 on Tuesday 2nd March 13:51
GetCarter said:
I have a zigview - remote movement sensor. It works well. Camera set up 4 feet from bird table - they soon get used to it.
This was taken while I was down the pub!
That is truly magnificent, Steve. This was taken while I was down the pub!
I have looked into a ZigView as I can see it could be lots of fun - how did you protect all the kit, just four feet from the bird table? Did you build some sort of camera box/bird feeding station combination?
Looks like a hoot to try! And what a result! Magnificent image.
Hi Don
I didn't really protect the kit, I just made sure it was a sunny day! Having said that, when I did my 24 hour timelapse, I simply wrapped the camera in a plastic bag. It didn't seem to mind (It was a D2X though with proper waterproof seals).
Here are a couple more ziggies. It works well as a motion sensor, but I have to say the instructions are a nightmare. As for using a motion sensor being less fun than sitting still waiting for hours - well that's just down to personal preference I guess.
I didn't really protect the kit, I just made sure it was a sunny day! Having said that, when I did my 24 hour timelapse, I simply wrapped the camera in a plastic bag. It didn't seem to mind (It was a D2X though with proper waterproof seals).
Here are a couple more ziggies. It works well as a motion sensor, but I have to say the instructions are a nightmare. As for using a motion sensor being less fun than sitting still waiting for hours - well that's just down to personal preference I guess.
Wonderful pics!
I take it you just set it up pointing at the feeder on a tripod and then focussed on the right bit and left it taking pics?
That Zigview widget is quite a price (for me) so I might try emulating the idea with a long distance remote, several beers and the kitchen window!
I take it you just set it up pointing at the feeder on a tripod and then focussed on the right bit and left it taking pics?
That Zigview widget is quite a price (for me) so I might try emulating the idea with a long distance remote, several beers and the kitchen window!
GetCarter said:
Hi Don
I didn't really protect the kit, I just made sure it was a sunny day! Having said that, when I did my 24 hour timelapse, I simply wrapped the camera in a plastic bag. It didn't seem to mind (It was a D2X though with proper waterproof seals).
Here are a couple more ziggies. It works well as a motion sensor, but I have to say the instructions are a nightmare. As for using a motion sensor being less fun than sitting still waiting for hours - well that's just down to personal preference I guess.
Super photos!I didn't really protect the kit, I just made sure it was a sunny day! Having said that, when I did my 24 hour timelapse, I simply wrapped the camera in a plastic bag. It didn't seem to mind (It was a D2X though with proper waterproof seals).
Here are a couple more ziggies. It works well as a motion sensor, but I have to say the instructions are a nightmare. As for using a motion sensor being less fun than sitting still waiting for hours - well that's just down to personal preference I guess.
Can I ask what kit you are using for those?
I can't get anywhere near as sharp as that using a telephoto - although I am guessing that it is a fast lens, good light, and maybe a flash too?
Remote photography can be used for some pics but chances are, you'll miss the focus on the subject, like the blue tit on the string above, where the string is in focus but the head of the bird isn't.
It also takes the fun out of it and your garden birds will soon become used to you being sat nearby, if you provide enough food.
As someone already said, put out some more natural perching points; logs, sticks even moss-covered stones to get them to land upon - just makes a much better shot.
I've been taking shots of birds since 2006 (my website: http://petewalkdensbirdphotography.fotopic.net) and love the challenge of it. Most of my shots in the garden have been with my 100-400mm lens, often less than 400mm, so you can get away with a "cheaper" lens for such work.
Problem is, you may then get the bug for it, move out of the confines of your garden and then realise you need more reach, and that I'm afraid is a slippery slope to being in the red!
It also takes the fun out of it and your garden birds will soon become used to you being sat nearby, if you provide enough food.
As someone already said, put out some more natural perching points; logs, sticks even moss-covered stones to get them to land upon - just makes a much better shot.
I've been taking shots of birds since 2006 (my website: http://petewalkdensbirdphotography.fotopic.net) and love the challenge of it. Most of my shots in the garden have been with my 100-400mm lens, often less than 400mm, so you can get away with a "cheaper" lens for such work.
Problem is, you may then get the bug for it, move out of the confines of your garden and then realise you need more reach, and that I'm afraid is a slippery slope to being in the red!
Edited by Duck_Pond on Friday 5th March 13:11
Yeah, and the likes of Nigel Blake achieves awesome shots with wide angle / fish-eye lenses, but for the average person without a lake and field in their garden, you'd achieve better shots holding the camera.
The ideal shots of birds in gardens have a narrow DOF so as to blur out the gnomes etc in the background
The ideal shots of birds in gardens have a narrow DOF so as to blur out the gnomes etc in the background
Edited by Duck_Pond on Friday 5th March 15:43
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