The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds: Essential Techniques for Hobbyists and Bird Lovers

by Rosl Rössner

Overview

Everything you need to know to get started in bird photography!

Whether you’re a dedicated and serious birder, a hobbyist bird watcher, or simply a lover of nature, getting great photos of birds is at the top of the list for bird lovers of all kinds. In this book, professional photographer Rosl Rössner teaches you all of her techniques, tips, and tricks for capturing fantastic bird photographs.

Starting with the gear you’ll need, Rössner discusses cameras, tripods, lenses, and more. She then moves on to finding the birds you want to photograph. While this includes locations out in the wild, she also covers zoos, parks, sanctuaries, and other easily accessible spots—which are especially great for beginning bird photographers. Rössner then thoroughly covers the camera and shooting techniques you need to know, including key lessons on exposure, composition, focus, and sharpness. Regardless of the quality of the light (front light, side light, etc.) or the season you’re shooting in (rain, snow, fog), Rössner’s got you covered.

In the final part of the book, Rössner takes you behind the scenes of 25 unique bird photographs, telling you how the image came about, plus any specific tips and tricks that were used to create the image. Featuring birds from around the world, The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Birds is a beautiful, helpful, and accessible guide for anyone getting started in bird photography. 

Table of Contents

1: What Makes a Great Bird Photograph?

2: The Necessary Gear

3: Finding Birds to Photograph

4: Shooting Techniques and Composition Tips

5: The Making of 25 Photographs

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681989358
Publisher:	Rocky Nook
Publication date:	11/15/2022
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 9.75(h) x (d)

About the Author

Rosl Rössner is an enthusiastic bird photographer and falconer who has been teaching and sharing her knowledge in photography workshops for many years. Her pictures stand out because they are not only technically perfect, but always aim to show the bird as a personality and an individual. Stirring emotions is the goal of her photographic work. See more of her work at her website www.birdpictures.de.

Table of Contents

1 What Makes a Great Bird Photograph? 1

2 The Necessary Gear 5

2.1 The Camera 7

Shooting Modes 7

File Formats 8

Continuous Shooting 10

Autofocusing Points 10

Focus Tracking 11

2.2 The Lens 12

Wide-Angle Lenses 12

Standard Lenses 13

Telephoto Lenses 13

2.3 Converter 15

2.4 The Tripod 16

2.5 The Tripod Head 16

2.6 Other Equipment 17

Bean bag 17

Memory cards 17

The Right Clothing 17

3 Finding Birds to Photograph 19

3.1 Wildlife 20

3.2 Photographing in Zoos 23

3.3 Visiting a Bird Park 26

3.4 A Day at the Falconry 27

3.5 At the Feeding Station 29

3.6 Workshops and Trips 30

4 Shooting Techniques and Composition Tips 33

4.1 Image Composition, Framing, and Leading the Eye 34

Put Yourself at Eye Level 34

Pay Attention to the Background 36

Shaping the Foreground 39

Blending the Foreground and Background 40

Avoid Distracting Elements 41

Motifs for Horizontal Images 42

Motifs for Vertical Images 43

Motifs for Square Images 45

Panoramic Photos 46

Go Off-Center! 46

Negative Space 48

Getting the Crop Right 49

Rule of the Gaze 51

Left and Right 52

Catchlight 53

Getting the Proportions Right 54

Creating Variety 55

Beautiful Bokeh 56

Framing 58

Pay Attention to the Lines 59

Diagonal Lines 60

Horizontal Lines 62

Vertical Lines 63

Curved Lines 64

Symmetry and Asymmetry 65

Reflections 66

Two Birds in One Picture 68

Three Birds 70

Groups of Birds 71

A Whole Flock 74

4.2 Sharp and Blurry Images 75

Sharp Images 75

Exposure Time 78

The Aperture 80

Intentional Blurring 81

4.3 Light and Exposure 84

Correct Exposure 84

Brighter Than Average Images 87

Darker Than Average Images 88

Tricky Motifs 89

Front Light 90

Cloudy Skies 92

Side Light 93

Backlight 95

Capturing Silhouettes 96

Morning Light 97

White Balance 98

Not Enough Light 99

Rainy Day Pictures 102

Foggy Day 103

Photographing in the Snow 104

Starburst Effect 106

4.4 Colors in Images 108

Photographing in Black and White 108

Capturing Colors 110

Tone on Tone 113

Background Colors 114

4.5 Achieving Success with Bird-in-Flight Photography 115

Perfect Focus 115

The Sky in Bird-in-Flight Shots 121

Birds During Landing 122

4.6 Birds in Their Habitat 125

Approaching the Subject 127

Portraits 128

Detail Shots 130

Birds on the Beach 132

Bathing Birds 133

Preening 136

Well Camouflaged 139

The Bird is Sleeping 140

Photographing Singing Birds 141

At the Cave 143

During Courtship 144

Mating 146

Nesting and Raising Chicks 148

Squabbles 150

Birds at the Feeding Station 153

Predators and Prey 154

Big Birds Feeding on Carrion 156

4.7 The Changing of the Seasons 158

Spring Mood 158

Summer Pictures 161

Fall Impressions 162

Winter Feeling 165

4.8 Evoking Emotions 166

5 The Making of 25 Successful Photographs 169

5.1 A Delicate Beauty 170

5.2 Floral Splendor 173

5.3 Snow Flurries? 174

5.4 Picking a Leaf 177

5.5 Shadow Bird 178

5.6 In Lofty Heights 181

5.7 Green, Green, Green 182

5.8 Food Transfer 185

5.9 Tongue Acrobatics 186

5.10 Like a Chinese Painting 189

5.11 Interesting Prey 190

5.12 Black-Tailed Godwit in the Moonlight 193

5.13 Portrait of a Thick-Billed Lark 194

5.14 Winter Scene 197

5.15 Burrowing Owl with Delicate Flowers 198

5.16 The Exotic Fisher 201

5.17 A Big Catch 202

5.18 Rainy Day View 205

5.19 The "V" 206

5.20 Eye Contact 209

5.21 Black Background 210

5.22 The Punk 213

5.23 Mirror Image 214

5.24 Seek and You Shall Find 217

5.25 Splendid Colors 218

Thank You 221

Index 223