All you birders out there, or wannabe birders who keep seeing all the great wildlife photos, might be wondering how to get those amazing, close-up bird portraits and photos - what crazy lenses must these birders have? ; Well I'm here to give you a quick birding lesson, so you can get out there and start getting those amazing shots too. ; Here's how to do it:
Spot a bird way off in the distance...one you know you want to photograph. ; Some people like to travel to the same place for weeks, getting the birds accustomed to their presence; some like to set up hides and wait silently for hours with 1000mm lenses. ; I find the best method is to casually and loudly march right up to the bird - get within a foot or two of him...wear loud colors, and even travel with a pack of 3 or 4 other people, all talking loudly. ; Once you get right up next to the bird, where you can count his feathers by hand...whip out your 18-55mm kit lens, and take a few snapshots:
Because you're only a foot or two from the bird, you'll get really stunning, closeup photos that other bird photographers will be jealous of. ; They'll start wanting to get into conversations about 500mm lenses, teleconverters, tripods, etc. ; Ignore them - they're wasting their time and money with all their big kit, when you can get stunning closeups with your 18-55mm lens. ; If your DSLR isn't handy...no problem...whip out the iPhone and take a photo of the bird's eye filling the frame - just stick the phone right up to the bird's eye, though be careful not to have him take a chunk out of your finger with that sharp beak.
Here are a few examples of shots you can get with your 18-55mm kit lens, using the above method:
55mm, kit lens, mirrorless camera, from 3-4 feet:
Get out there with your kit lens, P&S, or phone and get those amazing bird closeups, and enjoy! **
**Above method may only work in South Florida, where birds are just slightly more tolerant of human presence. ; Above methods do not guarantee results where you may live. ; No refunds.
Spot a bird way off in the distance...one you know you want to photograph. ; Some people like to travel to the same place for weeks, getting the birds accustomed to their presence; some like to set up hides and wait silently for hours with 1000mm lenses. ; I find the best method is to casually and loudly march right up to the bird - get within a foot or two of him...wear loud colors, and even travel with a pack of 3 or 4 other people, all talking loudly. ; Once you get right up next to the bird, where you can count his feathers by hand...whip out your 18-55mm kit lens, and take a few snapshots:
Because you're only a foot or two from the bird, you'll get really stunning, closeup photos that other bird photographers will be jealous of. ; They'll start wanting to get into conversations about 500mm lenses, teleconverters, tripods, etc. ; Ignore them - they're wasting their time and money with all their big kit, when you can get stunning closeups with your 18-55mm lens. ; If your DSLR isn't handy...no problem...whip out the iPhone and take a photo of the bird's eye filling the frame - just stick the phone right up to the bird's eye, though be careful not to have him take a chunk out of your finger with that sharp beak.
Here are a few examples of shots you can get with your 18-55mm kit lens, using the above method:
55mm, kit lens, mirrorless camera, from 3-4 feet:
Get out there with your kit lens, P&S, or phone and get those amazing bird closeups, and enjoy! **
**Above method may only work in South Florida, where birds are just slightly more tolerant of human presence. ; Above methods do not guarantee results where you may live. ; No refunds.
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