What I've Learned from One Year of Bird Photography

In this video I discuss numerous lessons that I've learned after attempting bird photography for a full year. These are tips that both novice and experienced photographers will appreciate as I run through important tips and tricks to effectively capture stunning photos of birds.
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#birdphotography #wildlifephotography #photographytips #freeroamingphotography

Пікірлер: 42

  • @beltroadfilms
    @beltroadfilmsАй бұрын

    Yesterday, I captured a bluethroat bird using a macro lens. Today, I saw the stunning bird you photographed and learned a lot from it, thanks

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    My pleasure and congrats on an exciting capture!

  • @douglasmccart8963
    @douglasmccart8963Ай бұрын

    At long last a birder who is realistic and speaks the truth

  • @IcedReaver
    @IcedReaverАй бұрын

    Great tips, thanks for sharing! One thing that has worked well for me with my Fuji, is to keep it in Automatic ISO. I set the exposure time for the scene (eg high shutter speed to freeze movement) and choose f-ratio for background blur and/or manage high ISO, so I don't want to think about what my ISO should be on top of everything else so I let my camera choose. One less thing to think about!

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Great tip! I've definitely experimented with manual and auto ISO but never fully adjusted to it. But I'm sure it's a great setting once you're comfortable with it!

  • @junebug1553
    @junebug1553Ай бұрын

    Thanks for all these tips. If I might add, birding photographers would benefit greatly by taking some time to learn the behavior of the subjects. Take a flycatcher for instance. They like to do what's called sallying. This means they perch, look down upon any prey they may see, swoop down and catch the insect, and then watch because they fly right back up to the original perch where you can capture them both in flight and also eating the prey. Kingfishers also do this except with fish. I have found learning the behavior of certain species very helpful as I photograph birds. Thank you for an excellent video.

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    That's great advice! Unfortunately I haven't gotten to know flycatchers as well as I'd like since they're only here for a few months. But now that they're back I'll look for that behavior. Thanks for the great addition!

  • @edwardcrawford4180

    @edwardcrawford4180

    Ай бұрын

    Some flycatchers do not fly back to the same perch and that behavior often is the best identifier. But, you are right, most do fly back to the same perch and so do hummers and dragonflies. Good comment.

  • @m.sabir21
    @m.sabir21Ай бұрын

    Nice video, using the extender will soften the image and reduce the light entering sensors depending on the extender.

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Great point! Thanks for mentioning that!

  • @sarahbatsford4791
    @sarahbatsford4791Ай бұрын

    Glad your video popped up, great inspiring tipd. Thank you.

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    My pleasure!

  • @capturingnaturewithsandip
    @capturingnaturewithsandipАй бұрын

    Truly said. That is way i am not using the extender. Nice video

  • @Norway_Jason
    @Norway_JasonАй бұрын

    Happy trails!

  • @JustOneKnight
    @JustOneKnight19 күн бұрын

    Hi 👋 thanks for a great informative video 👍

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    19 күн бұрын

    Hello and my pleasure!

  • @SLSaini-fs8nt
    @SLSaini-fs8ntАй бұрын

    Very valuable tips shared, thank uou

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    My pleasure!

  • @peterk_hh
    @peterk_hhАй бұрын

    Thanks for the tips! For me it is a problem to have very short exposure times, often there are only clouds and rare sunlight, with aperture of 6.7 the Iso must go to 3600 or higher what my camera don't like, especially if you are far away from a bird and have to crop much. Will practice some more, let's see what will come.

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    That's definitely a trickier situation. With lots of clouds and little sun you'll have to push the ISO up. Keep practicing and you'll find that sweet spot!

  • @garrydelday5816
    @garrydelday5816Ай бұрын

    Great tips, especially the last “get out there and practice” I put up a bird box for the first time this year and we had Great Tits raise a clutch of 8. It was not only satisfying but brilliant practice for getting them in flight with differing light levels over the 3 weeks it took for them to fledge. All 8 managed to fledge which I witnessed and got some great shots of the parents bringing food. Win, win 😉📷🐥

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Fantastic! Way to take advantage of a great opportunity! They probably made you a much better photographer and you didn't even have to use any gas 😅

  • @garrydelday5816

    @garrydelday5816

    Ай бұрын

    @@FreeRoamingPhoto put the box up 15 feet from the living room window so didn’t have to leave the sofa let alone get in the car 😉 certainly has improved my photography and have already put what I have learned into practice out in the field 👍 highly recommend giving it a go

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Couldn't agree more! I put a few different ones out over the winter and had some great practice with some birds in the snow! Had a blast photographing all the migrants and residents.

  • @stephenbeatty139
    @stephenbeatty139Ай бұрын

    very interesting

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @plantman6245
    @plantman6245Ай бұрын

    Hi nice post. Am looking to get a used 500mm f4 for birding. G or D series?

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks! In terms of the lens, I shoot Canon, so I'm not completely qualified to answer, however I am a bit familiar with their system. From what I understand G lenses are a bit newer and designed around DSLRs, whereas the D lenses have more manual control, such as an aperture ring, to have compatibility with older film cameras. You can probably save some money by going with a D lens, but the G will be better suited for a more modern camera.

  • @flightographist

    @flightographist

    18 күн бұрын

    @@FreeRoamingPhoto Go H friend, manual focus is fine for less time sensitive imaging; a D will lead to frustration but on a positive note it will give you lots of time to ponder.

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    18 күн бұрын

    @@flightographist Great tip! Thanks for the clarification!

  • @luzr6613
    @luzr6613Ай бұрын

    Most importantly, congratulations on your birding - you have some lovely images that i enjoyed very much. Good fun, in' it? Lkd&Subd.

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you! It's quite the addictive fun 😄

  • @luzr6613

    @luzr6613

    Ай бұрын

    @@FreeRoamingPhoto Hmmm... i'm not at that (addicted) point, yet - very much a part-timer when it comes to birds. I think that they're not just a different set of techniques, but a different and specific mind-set too. The tech is also a consideration, as is managing the trauma of having so many dud shots!

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    @@luzr6613 Absolutely! The technology has made it much easier, but that certainly doesn't eliminate an excess of failed shots, unfortunately. Regardless, I certainly got bit by the birding bug pretty bad.

  • @bamsemh1
    @bamsemh1Ай бұрын

    Imagine crop cameras, with extender 😬 but all those things kind of doesn't matter anymore, because of denoise apps 😬

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    It is true that denoise apps do a great job, but it's always better to not rely on them. And yes, an extender on a crop sensor would be quite a compromise!

  • @allend6137
    @allend6137Ай бұрын

    Rule #1. You gotta know where da birds at!!! Everything else will fall in place 🤣🤣🤣

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    Can't believe I left that one off! 😅

  • @colintraveller
    @colintravellerАй бұрын

    You must be feeling the cold to be wearimg a hat indoors . Or is it an American thing ??

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    It was still a little chilly outside and I didn't bother to take it off 😅

  • @colintraveller

    @colintraveller

    Ай бұрын

    @@FreeRoamingPhoto Next you'll be wearing shorts out n about known full well it's pishing doon .

  • @FreeRoamingPhoto

    @FreeRoamingPhoto

    Ай бұрын

    @@colintraveller I've been known to do worse!