Guide to Photographing Birds
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About this ebook
A Systematic Guide for Beginner and Intermediate Bird Photographers
The Equipment Section Includes information on:
Camera Bodies, Lenses, Tripod, Flash. Memory Cards
A Suggested Starter Kit
Digiscoping
Remote Photography
Wi-Fi and Tethered Controllers, Photo Traps
The Settings Section covers:
Shutter Speed, Depth of Field, ISO Setting; Mode, Exposure Compensation, Focusing
Long Lens Technique
Faster Shutter Speeds, Use Image Stabilization, When using a tripod, go heavy and solid., Monopod , Activating the Shutter, Shielding from Wind, Shooting Handheld, Panning, Feathering Focus
Fieldcraft has a look at:
Where to Find Birds
Backyard Birds, Captive Birds, Migration, Breeding Birds, Raptors, Shorebirds, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Gulls
Pick the Right Time
Bad Weather is Good
Protection, Rain, Snow, Wind, Frost
Using Recordings and Other Sounds, Using Blinds or Hides, Stationary Blinds, The Mobile Blind, Bean Bag, Window Mount, Tripod
Setups for Photography
Attracting Birds
In Flight
Good Equipment. Fast Shutter Speed, Depth of Field, Continuous AF, Feathering Focus, AF Sensor Selection, Continuous Burst, Lens Limiting, Pre-focus, Handholding, Acquiring Your Target, Tripod, Purposed Blur, Lighting and Flash, Practice Exercises, Panning, Takeoff and Landing, Diving, Flying with Prey
Working Your Subject
Composition looks at:
Don't Centre the Subject, Look into Space, Rule of Thirds, Size of Subject in Frame, Don't Clip Body Parts Even if they are not seen, Break the Guidelines
Causes of Poor Images
1. Poor Focusing Blur, 2. Camera Shake Blur, 3. Subject Motion Blur, 4. Too Much Contrast, 5. Lens Flare, 6. Chromatic Aberration, 7. Noise, 8. Color Correction Needed, 9. Incorrect Exposure, 10. Sensor Dust
Image processing considers:
RAW vs JPG, Workflow, Download, Sort and Cull, Load for Editing, Cleanup, Exposure and Color Correction, Sharpening, Output, Automation, Storage and Backup
Selling Your Images covers:
Display and Basic marketing of Your Work, Blog, Online Gallery, Social Media, Putting it All Together, Where to Sell Images, Magazines and brochures, Selling Prints, Stock Sites, Expanding Your Stock selection
Harold Stiver
Harold Stiver was a partner in a financial services company who lives with his wife Elaine in Paris, Ontario. He has two daughters and three grandchildren who he spoils relentlessly. He has long had a fascination with the natural world and has traveled widely exploring and photographing it. You can see more of his images at https://haroldstiver.smugmug.com/. He is the author of a series of eBook Guides for Photographers and Explorers covering subjects like Waterfalls, Old Mills and Covered Bridges. They are available at Smashwords and other popular distributors.
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Guide to Photographing Birds - Harold Stiver
Guide to
Photographing
Birds
Harold Stiver
Copyright Statement
Guide to Photographing Birds
Published by Harold Stiver at Smashwords
Copyright 2014
Harold Stiver
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author, except by the reviewer who may quote brief passages.
Version 1.0
ISBN #978-1-927835-15-9
Photo Credits
All photographs are the work of the author, Harold Stiver for which he holds the copyright and reserves all rights.
Other Books by Harold Stiver
Unless noted, there are Print and eBook editions available for the following.
Birding Guide to Orkney
Ontario's Old Mills
Ontario's Waterfalls
Connecticut Covered Bridges (eBook)
Delaware's Covered Bridges (eBook)
Indiana Covered Bridges
Maine Covered Bridges (eBook)
Maryland's Covered Bridges (eBook)
Massachusetts Covered Bridges (eBook)
Michigan Covered Bridges (eBook)
New England Covered Bridges
New Hampshire Covered Bridges
New York Covered Bridges
Ohio's Covered Bridges
The Covered Bridges of Kentucky (eBook)
The Covered Bridges of Kentucky and Tennessee
The Covered Bridges of the Mid-Atlantic
The Covered Bridges of Tennessee (eBook)
Vermont's Covered Bridges
The Covered Bridges of Virginia (eBook)
The Covered Bridges of Virginia and West Virginia
The Covered Bridges of West Virginia (eBook)
Index
Copyright Statement
Photo Credits
Other Books by Harold Stiver
Introduction
Equipment to Use
Camera Bodies, Lenses, Tripod, Flash. Memory Cards
A Starter Kit
Digiscoping
Camera settings
Shutter Speed, Depth of Field, ISO Setting; Mode, Exposure Compensation, Focusing
Long Lens Technique
Faster Shutter Speeds, Use Image Stabilization, When using a tripod, go heavy and solid., Monopod , Activating the Shutter, Shielding from Wind, Shooting Handheld, Panning, Feathering Focus
Where to Find Birds
Backyard Birds, Captive Birds, Migration, Breeding Birds, Raptors, Shorebirds, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Gulls
Pick the Right Time
Bad Weather is Good
Protection, Rain, Snow, Wind, Frost
Fieldcraft
Using Recordings and Other Sounds, Using Blinds or Hides, Stationary Blinds, The Mobile Blind, Bean Bag, Window Mount, Tripod
Setups for Photography
Attracting Birds
Remote Photography
Wi-Fi and Tethered Controllers, Photo Traps
In Flight
Good Equipment. Fast Shutter Speed, Depth of Field, Continuous AF, Feathering Focus, AF Sensor Selection, Continuous Burst, Lens Limiting, Pre-focus, Handholding, Acquiring Your Target, Tripod, Purposed Blur, Lighting and Flash, Practice Exercises, Panning, Takeoff and Landing, Diving, Flying with Prey
Working Your Subject
Composition
Don't Centre the Subject, Look into Space, Rule of Thirds, Size of Subject in Frame, Don't Clip Body Parts Even if they are not seen, Break the Guidelines
Causes of Poor Images
1. Poor Focusing Blur, 2. Camera Shake Blur, 3. Subject Motion Blur, 4. Too Much Contrast, 5. Lens Flare, 6. Chromatic Aberration, 7. Noise, 8. Color Correction Needed, 9. Incorrect Exposure, 10. Sensor Dust
Image Processing
RAW vs JPG, Workflow, Download, Sort and Cull, Load for Editing, Cleanup, Exposure and Color Correction, Sharpening, Output, Automation, Storage and Backup
Selling Your Images
Display and Basic marketing of Your Work, Blog, Online Gallery, Social Media, Putting it All Together, Where to Sell Images, Magazines and brochures, Selling Prints, Stock Sites, Expanding Your Stock selection
Video
Camera Shake, Cropping, Exposure, Editing Software
Ethics
Resources
Glossary
Introduction
Some of the most beautiful and interesting nature images are of birds and it is no surprise that photographers want to explore that area. However, they are often disappointed with their initial results. The subjects look small in the image, poorly lit and a bit boring. I want the information in this book to get you past that to the beautiful images you will be proud of.
Birds can be the most frustrating of targets. When they are seen, they are often very wary and not easy to get close to. Even after getting an image, the results may be unsatisfying. Don't give up!! This book will give you the tips and techniques that will let you get close to these elusive subjects.
However before we get to that, we will talk about camera equipment and settings.
And before we finish we will pass on some ideas about processing your images to bring out their best.
So lets get started!!
Equipment to use
The first thing to understand about equipment is that you don't need to have the latest and most expensive gear there is to obtain good bird images. Of course, better equipment will make it easier for you but a lot of excellent images have been made using methods like digiscoping where a Point and Shoot digital camera is used in connection with a spotting scope. More about this later.
Most photographers are going to use DSLR cameras which involve separate camera bodies and lens.
Camera Bodies
Even the lowest line of current camera bodies will provide photographers with an excellent tool at a reasonable price. The Canon Rebel T3 is less than $500. Other popular brands like Nikon have similar equipment with excellent value. From there you will arrange all the way up to professional camera bodies like the Canon 1D or the Nixon D3x at over $6,000. The higher quality body will do things like take 10 frames per second as opposed to 3, do a better evaluation of the correct exposure better, and have a faster and more accurate focusing systems. It also will shoot HD video which can be very useful.
A large number of bird photographers use either Canon or Nikon equipment. As of 2013 the following prices applied to DSLR Camera Bodies:
Economy
Canon Rebel T3 $500
Nikon D5100 $600
Professional
Canon 1D $6,800
Nikon D3x $6,700