Photography is a type of art. With the skillful use of the artist's hands, photography can bring out the subject's "personality" and create almost magical moments which might not ordinarily be achieved through other means of self-expression. However, this magic can only be accomplished by those with technical skills, good taste, and a deep sense of appreciation for the object of that artistic expression. Many people eventually harness their skills and knowledge into a role as a professional photographer.
Nature is an important creative part of our lives. Capturing nature's beauty and creatures in the wild is a thrilling experience. Specifically, birds are subjects that have attracted many nature photographers because of their exquisite beauty and graceful "aerial dance."
For photographers, a bird can be an amazing focus of attention due to its incredible flight capabilities. If you are interested in mastering nature photography - birds in particular - below are some techniques to aid in improving and developing your skills to help guide you toward capturing these fascinating creatures.
1. The first step is to determine which types of birds interest you most. Familiarity with your own interests will help steer your direction, motivating you even more to develop expertise in those particular niches. After deciding, try to gather as much information as you can about those birds by soliciting advice from a professional or consulting a bird guide book. These will help you in taking great pictures once you're familiar with the bird's eating habits, behaviors, and even breeding seasons.
2. Always keep the bird's concerns in mind and try to capture it on film only when it is involved in its natural habitat. Temporarily leave the bird alone if you sense it is stressed by your presence, and instead wait until it is relaxed and comfortable. The disturbance might simply be that the bird has laid eggs in the vicinity and is invoking its protective behavior. A good photographer should always give priority to the well-being of his subject above his work.
3. In some areas, birds are accustomed to vehicles coming to and parking in the vicinity; however, few are familiar with a person standing on the top of a vehicle watching its every move while attempting to capture its movements on camera. Instead, take photographs of birds while sitting inside your vehicle. With that in mind, bring to the picture sight a vehicle from which you can easily capture a beautiful, natural shot of a bird. And position the vehicle in a location where birds seem comfortable in your presence. Be patient while waiting for them to adjust to their new "visitor."
4. To capture great bird images, use cameras with fast shutter speeds. We all know that birds zip through the air in a flash and are gone in the blink of an eye. Getting a fast flying bird on film must then be accomplished through a lightening fast shutter speed, preferably one that is 0.002 seconds quick.
A nature photographer should explore his surroundings. A great, simple, and inexpensive way to begin developing early expertise in capturing nature with your camera is to start in your own backyard. You will invariably find some amazing birds right where you live, offering you hours of practice opportunities. The more you practice, the more experience you will develop capturing nature and its wonderful moments.
Great nature photography relies on good natural light above all else. Even a beginner soon learns that for most landscape photos, the best results are usually early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the sun is low, and the light is soft and colourful. This is a terrific rule to follow in most situations, but busy lifestyles do not always allow us to choose the perfect conditions for our nature photography.
Have you ever planned and set aside a day to get out and practice your nature photography, only to wake up to grey, cloudy skies? You are not alone, this happens to us all; professional and beginner alike. And of course when you are traveling, you often only have one chance to take your photos before moving on, so you have to make the best of the situation as you find it.
Photographers, don't despair. There are many situations that suit cloudy skies just fine; in fact, there are some situations when cloudy skies are the best option for a good nature photo. Here are just a few situations that you could explore when cloudy weather threatens to derail your photography outing.
#1. Rainforest Photography. When the sun shines through the trees in the forest, it creates a patchwork of light and shade that makes correct exposure almost impossible. You simply can't manage the contrast in these conditions. Cloudy weather is actually the best way to take good rainforest photos. Some would say the cloudier the better, because if your rainforest is high enough to be in the clouds, you can capture some very atmospheric misty effects in the forest.
I live in South East Queensland, so I am close to both the beach and some fabulous rainforest. My rule is: If it's sunny, go to the beach. If the weather is grey and cloudy, grab your camera and head for the rainforest.
#2. Wildlife Photography (Pets and People Too). Bright sunlight can be a problem when shooting wildlife. In the middle part of the day, the sun can create heavy shadows which make exposure difficult, and rob your photo of essential colour and detail that gives the subject its character. Worst of all, sunlight can create shadows on the face of your subject. As you know, the most important element of a good wildlife photo is the eyes. If the eyes in your photo are lost in shadow, the personal connection with the subject is lost.
Animals do not like looking into the sun any more than you do, so even early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the light is softer, photography can be difficult. More often than not, you will probably find your subject turning away from the light.
If you take your photo on a cloudy day, you can capture your wildlife subject in soft, even light that allows perfect exposure without ugly shadows. There will also be less glare reflecting off shiny surfaces (a snake's skin, a bird's feathers etc.) so your picture can actually appear more colourful.
#3. Sunset Photography. Clouds create a much more interesting sunset photo than clear skies. All you need is for the sun to break through the clouds as they cross the horizon. A good nature photographer learns to read the sky and try to predict what is coming. Often on a grey, cloudy day you will notice that the only patch of clear sky is far away near the horizon. If that is the case, you can go looking for a good location and set up for your sunset photo.
With a bit of luck, there will be several breaks in the clouds before the sun goes down. If so, you could be on the spot to photograph spectacular sunbeams, a truly wonderful effect that every nature photography hopes to capture.
Like all things in nature photography, all the planning in the world means nothing without a bit of luck. You may get your photo all set up, only to see the gap in the clouds close and your chance of a good photo disappear. Persistence wins in the end, so keep trying and from time to time you will end up with some breathtaking sunset photos.
I hope that next time you wake up to cloudy skies, you will not let that stop you from getting out there to take some great nature photos. As your experience grows, you will find it easier to read the light and know what sort of photography suits the conditions. Until then, practice, practice, practice!
Both Ted Burns & Andrew Goodall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.