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10 Quick Tips On Photographing Garden Birds

Here are 10 basic but essential tips on photographing garden birds you can use to capture awesome wildlife images.

13 Jan 2020 12:10AM by Nikita Morris | Animals / Wildlife

Garden bird

Tip 1: Reach For A Long Lens

You'll need a telephoto zoom (300-400mm) for capturing frame-filling shots and a tripod is essential. If you have one, fasten on your ball-head but it's not essential.

Tip 2: Know Where All Your Buttons & Functions Are

Know your equipment well before heading outside as you don't want to be searching for buttons and messing around with settings when you only have seconds to take a shot.

Tip 3: Get Closer To Your Subject

You will need to be quite close to the birds even if you are using a lens with plenty of reach as they are really tiny things and can be easily lost in your background.

Tip 4: Keep Hidden When Possible

Make sure you hide out of sight in either a purpose-built hide or try shooting from your house or from an outbuilding such as a shed.

Tip 5: Feed The Birds

Make sure you have feeders out, particularly at this time of year when food's a little scarce. This will encourage birds to regularly visit your garden for food.

Robin

Tip 6: Think About Feeder Position

Place feeders in areas where branches or even ready-made perches you want them to land on are positioned. That way they'll, hopefully, land on the branch in front of your chosen background before going for the food.

Tip 7: Change Your Props

Change the style of perch you're using to bring a bit of variety to your shots after a while.

Tip 8: Think About Backgrounds

Hedges make great natural looking backgrounds but don't let the scenery overshadow your subject. For those with fences and walls rather than hedgerows try collecting a few sheets of material that can help disguise it.

Tip 9: Focus Is Key

Pay attention to the tips of tail feathers as these can become out of focus.

Tip 10: Be Patient

Don't be too eager to hit the shutter button the second a bird lands as they're nervous creatures and it may take them a while to become comfortable with their surroundings.

Garden bird

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Comments

pingky 3

24 Feb 2017 3:46AM

Like 0

thank you, this is helpful

NeilSchofield Plus

13 1.6k 1

13 Jan 2020 8:47AM

Like 1

For in flight shots try using a prefocus technique and remote shutter cable to capture action as subjects approach feeders or squabble near them

WereBo Plus

4 32

2 Feb 2020 6:44PM

Like 1

Living on a 1st-floor flat with the balcony-rail just 20" from the window, it's awkward to get any decent bird pictures, especially when I only have a main road as a backdrop, along with a couple of trees.

These were taken through my double-glazed windows, so what I lose in quality I get in quantity..... Grin