I sure agree, background is very important. But the birds tend to move so fast, my main concern is to keep the bird in frame and in focus. In post, I can be selective and choose the shots with the best background. To make that decision while shooting is difficult.

I am so new into photographing that I am just stressed to have the shot. Thus I can't always think of backgrounds. This serves me a good reminder! Stop stressing and just "camera and chill" and you'll be fine.

As a m4/3 shooter myself, I think choosing the background for the shot is vital and when you get it correctly it looks superb. I totally agree with what you said Emille and enjoy Florida.

Hi Emilie. Yes getting a suitable background is nice but I do not often have the choice. Been trying to get a shark to swim past me at the correct distance in front of an appropriate background for years ha ha !! Never mind the Bonelli’s Eagle to do several take off shots from a good perch !! But more important to me is getting out with the cameras, shooting photos and video and having fun 😊😊

St Augustine Bird Fest is always a great time.

Don't forget. Emerald Pool Memorial Day weekend, c'est magnifique!

As you’re probably aware, that great background is tough to get at the Alligator Farm, even though the birds themselves are magnificent. It was great meeting you. See you on the road, maybe next month. 😊

Over the last month or two, I've been trying to focus more on the background behind the bird/animal I'm taking a photo of. One of the problems I've run into, and perhaps a good follow up video, is what a photographer can do to facilitate getting a better background. I know that getting low to the ground for animals at ground level helps eliminate the ground as a background. But if there's a bird in a tree with sticks around, do you just have to try to move until it's clearer? Wait for the bird to move and just not get the shot if it's not good? Set up in situations where you have the most good backgrounds?

❤love the video good idea to watch the background

I hope you are enjoying St. Augustine. It is one of my favorite places to visit. Have you visited the Alligator Farm yet?

If you want a great background, just play around 600 mm F4 with fullframe. But jokes aside, MFT is not for great background, but to use problems of weight. If you plan to move around, then M43 is great choice. If you don't have 300 mm f4 or 150-400 f4.5 don't even think about good backgrounds in M43. It's even hard on 600 mm f6.3 on fullframe, so... answer to yourself.