I see people posting images of small birds taken with 200mm lenses with 1.4x (I think it is) or 2x extenders or with 300mm lenses with no extenders, and I would like help in understanding how you get these. I have a 400mm fixed lens and I stopped even trying to get small birds a while back, because I'd have to crop to about 30% of the image to even post them.
I know that a few of you do this from hides or blinds, and I can understand that. But others of you don't mention this, and you don't mention cropping, and I would love to know how you do this. I love being able to get images of large wading birds, but I'd love to be able to get images of small birds, too. How do you get that close?
Barb , I wonder how its done also. I do know in different part of the country that the birds are less fearful of people. Here in New Jersey they are very fearful unless its a park or around feeders because of the hunting preasure. I have been places out west that the birds are more relaxed and approachable.
I have wondered about this too. I use a camo net for some of my shoots (purchased it from the on line store here at NPN for $99.00). Small birds are very tough for me to approach.
Posted by Dennis Plank on June 18, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Barbara:
I think except by luck, you're unlikely to get small birds at close range without feeders or camouflage. Most of mine come from my backyard where we have feeders and a water feature to attract them. That and the fact that I try to be patient help, though even there they are more skittish when I have the camera than when I don't. I have noticed an advantage in getting into unhumanlike positions. Sitting or lying on the ground seem to make us less threatening. You'll also see quite a few small bird images from migration. After flying all night they're too busy resting and feeding to be quite as wary and at the right time and place they can be in high density. The two cardinal points for me are finding a "birdy" place, and lots of patience. If you can sit still for 20 minutes to half an hour they usually take you as part of the scenery-especially if you use camo.
Hope this helps. I'm far from an expert, but this is what has worked for me (even with a longer lens).
By the way-don't be too afraid of a fairly large crop. It might not be suitable for a large print, but if your original is really sharp, you can crop to 20% of the original or even further and have something that's good for posting at 1200 pixels on the long side. I know some people think that's cheating, but I'm not one of them.
Posted by Nick Baldwin on June 18, 2012 at 11:23 AM
I know exactly what your frustration is. I shoot with the 400mm f/2.8 on my D300 + a 2.0 TC. that gives me 1200mm at f/5.6. Even so because of the distances I must be at, here in the Big Bend area, for some of my subjects, yes I am cropping down a great bit.
For birds in flight, that set up-on a Wimberley mount-just doesn't do it. Thus I use a 70-200mm f/2.8 with VR and 2.0 TC on another D300.
Still unless they are within, say 30 yards or so you will still find yourself cropping down.
That said, if you have a blind and or are very patient (or both) you can get fairly large objects in your viewfinder.
But being close is the secret. My eagle nests around here are fairly distant(over 100 yards) and/or we don't want to disrupt them. I know other places in Fl. you can literally walk underneath; not here.
The same applies to Osprey nests with one exception that I am aware of. Of course being right under one of their nests provides you only fly in/out shots. (-:
When I am in St. Marks NWR I take a small camp folding chair/stool and when I notice some small subjects flitting around I park and wait. I need some sun of course that helps but patience is the best thing. When/if they accept you then you stand a chance of getting some fairly good size shots.
AND luck will play a part too, with that patience. I was watching a tree for a YB Sapsucker and this bloke popped in-right in the light and I managed to snag 4-5 exposures before he lit out again. (-:
Barbara,god question. The few that I have gotten have been in my backyard where I have a feeder set up and a blind close enough to the nearest tree. I have found that the birds like to approach and leave the feeder from the nearest tree for their own cover so that turns out to be a great place to set up the blind. Actually all I did was to go to K-Mart and buy a camo blanket that I throw over myself and camera/tripod. I can sit in a lawn chair for hours with this blanket over me watching the birds fly in and out. It is still very difficult to get good shots of the little critters!
There is one more factor that I forgot to mention. My D7000 is a cropped sensor camera, so I am in effect already getting a 1.5 crop of the image automatically. I don't know what your equipment is, but that does make a difference.
Posted by Robert Bunch on June 23, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Hi,
First let me say that although I have been a photographer for over thirty years I have only been seriously photographing birds for less than two years so I'm not an expert on avian photography but I'll put my two cents worth in anyway.
I have found that different birds in different places react in different ways when it comes to allowing a close approach. I do most of my avian photography in a large urban park used by lots of people for jogging, biking, fishing and picnicking. Although it is an urban park it is very large and has a good sized lake and there are plenty of woodlands, wetlands and brushy areas that make ideal habitat for birds and other wildlife. The birds aren't tame but they are used to humans being around so they don't automatically fly off when they see you. If you can find a place like that where there are plenty of birds that are used to humans you have half the battle won.
Of course the longer your lens the better your results will be wherever you shoot. I shoot with a nikkor 200-400 f/4 with a TC 14 on a D300s which has a crop sensor. This gives me about 840mm of lens power and I have had pretty good success with the smalller songbirds. I do almost all of my shooting just walking or standing around or occasionally from a vehicle. You might want to get a teleconverter to go with the 400mm because that extra reach comes in handy when shooting small birds.
I have found that many birds will let you get close enough for good shots if you take your time and approach them very gradually or just hang around till they accept you. Approach them then stop and shoot for a while till they get used to you then get a little closer. Also be patient and persistant and don't give up and get discouraged. I have tried to get photos of certain birds unsuccessfully and then one day I find one that seems to not mind being photographed at all. Birds are all individuals and they don't respond the same way all the time so you can just never tell what they might do.
Some people attract small birds with food, water, calls and set ups. Many of the close up shots of small birds are done this way, sometimes from blinds, sometimes not. Personally I prefer to get the photo without manipulating or influencing the birds. It is definitely harder that way but to me it is much more satisfying.
Good luck getting some good photos of the songbirds.
Go to West or South Texas, or Arizona and hang out around a waterhole. The variety of birds is amazing and they are desperate for water so they have to come to you. Also, if you get up with the early birds, they seem to be hungry and may not be paying as much attention to you.
Discussion
9 repliesI know that a few of you do this from hides or blinds, and I can understand that. But others of you don't mention this, and you don't mention cropping, and I would love to know how you do this. I love being able to get images of large wading birds, but I'd love to be able to get images of small birds, too. How do you get that close?
Thanks.
I think except by luck, you're unlikely to get small birds at close range without feeders or camouflage. Most of mine come from my backyard where we have feeders and a water feature to attract them. That and the fact that I try to be patient help, though even there they are more skittish when I have the camera than when I don't. I have noticed an advantage in getting into unhumanlike positions. Sitting or lying on the ground seem to make us less threatening. You'll also see quite a few small bird images from migration. After flying all night they're too busy resting and feeding to be quite as wary and at the right time and place they can be in high density. The two cardinal points for me are finding a "birdy" place, and lots of patience. If you can sit still for 20 minutes to half an hour they usually take you as part of the scenery-especially if you use camo.
Hope this helps. I'm far from an expert, but this is what has worked for me (even with a longer lens).
By the way-don't be too afraid of a fairly large crop. It might not be suitable for a large print, but if your original is really sharp, you can crop to 20% of the original or even further and have something that's good for posting at 1200 pixels on the long side. I know some people think that's cheating, but I'm not one of them.
For birds in flight, that set up-on a Wimberley mount-just doesn't do it. Thus I use a 70-200mm f/2.8 with VR and 2.0 TC on another D300.
Still unless they are within, say 30 yards or so you will still find yourself cropping down.
That said, if you have a blind and or are very patient (or both) you can get fairly large objects in your viewfinder.
But being close is the secret. My eagle nests around here are fairly distant(over 100 yards) and/or we don't want to disrupt them. I know other places in Fl. you can literally walk underneath; not here.
The same applies to Osprey nests with one exception that I am aware of. Of course being right under one of their nests provides you only fly in/out shots. (-:
When I am in St. Marks NWR I take a small camp folding chair/stool and when I notice some small subjects flitting around I park and wait. I need some sun of course that helps but patience is the best thing. When/if they accept you then you stand a chance of getting some fairly good size shots.
AND luck will play a part too, with that patience. I was watching a tree for a YB Sapsucker and this bloke popped in-right in the light and I managed to snag 4-5 exposures before he lit out again. (-:
First let me say that although I have been a photographer for over thirty years I have only been seriously photographing birds for less than two years so I'm not an expert on avian photography but I'll put my two cents worth in anyway.
I have found that different birds in different places react in different ways when it comes to allowing a close approach. I do most of my avian photography in a large urban park used by lots of people for jogging, biking, fishing and picnicking. Although it is an urban park it is very large and has a good sized lake and there are plenty of woodlands, wetlands and brushy areas that make ideal habitat for birds and other wildlife. The birds aren't tame but they are used to humans being around so they don't automatically fly off when they see you. If you can find a place like that where there are plenty of birds that are used to humans you have half the battle won.
Of course the longer your lens the better your results will be wherever you shoot. I shoot with a nikkor 200-400 f/4 with a TC 14 on a D300s which has a crop sensor. This gives me about 840mm of lens power and I have had pretty good success with the smalller songbirds. I do almost all of my shooting just walking or standing around or occasionally from a vehicle. You might want to get a teleconverter to go with the 400mm because that extra reach comes in handy when shooting small birds.
I have found that many birds will let you get close enough for good shots if you take your time and approach them very gradually or just hang around till they accept you. Approach them then stop and shoot for a while till they get used to you then get a little closer. Also be patient and persistant and don't give up and get discouraged. I have tried to get photos of certain birds unsuccessfully and then one day I find one that seems to not mind being photographed at all. Birds are all individuals and they don't respond the same way all the time so you can just never tell what they might do.
Some people attract small birds with food, water, calls and set ups. Many of the close up shots of small birds are done this way, sometimes from blinds, sometimes not. Personally I prefer to get the photo without manipulating or influencing the birds. It is definitely harder that way but to me it is much more satisfying.
Good luck getting some good photos of the songbirds.
Robert Bunch
www.robertbunchphotography.com
Go to West or South Texas, or Arizona and hang out around a waterhole. The variety of birds is amazing and they are desperate for water so they have to come to you. Also, if you get up with the early birds, they seem to be hungry and may not be paying as much attention to you.