Disappointment in Bird Photography

[camo]

Hi Nick

Your post comes as a welcome boost as like most members I have been struggling and have been really disapointed with my Christmas activities.

However I can offer some advice on getting close which will help to improve your opportunities for getting frame fillers. Camoflage is really important especially if you are not using a hide, but the most important item is a face cover. Most people have suitable outer clothing but their face stands out like a beacon. You can get either a cap with a screen that pulls down (Decathlon for about £7) or better still use a camoflage coloured net balacalava (sold for pigeon shooting. The next area is to wear gloves, I would recommend neoprene that allow you to expose your finger and thumb (again sold in Fishing and shooting shops). A third element of clothing is use of quiet clothing and you will find the better quality outer clothing is much softer and will not rustle. when dressing to get close you must also choose warm clothing as this allows you hide for longer. I also always carry in a back pocket (large) a kneeling pad which I generally use to sit on the floor with.

Garden nature do a fantastic pop up hide which I have tried and will buy later. It is being marketed as used by Simon King and comes in either single or double seated and the whole thing sets up complete with seat in a couple of seconds. Using a hide will help however this relies on understanding and possibly targeting a specific bird or type. An example of this is the Gold crest which if you watch will work up a hedge row a bit like Long tailed Tits but lower to the ground. By getting a head of the bird you can position yourself and it will come to you.

I can not offer an advice on use of equipment as I am far from proficient however I have found the advice already given bu others useful.

Roy

[BillyPilgrim]

Its really grim at the moment. It must be 3 weeks since I've seen the sun when I've been out. You can get decent images at this time of the year but in my experience, only if the sun is out. Even then its not that good.

I've deleted every single image from my last 3 outings. That makes around 500 shots! If I had the patience I would abandon December and January altogether and stay indoors

On another subject, is it just me that thinks that the shortest day has moved? I really look forward to December 21st but nowadays it seems to get darker for the next 2 weeks!

[DaiTheDragon]

Just a few tips. Use a monopod if your walking about. Always try and get the sun behind you. Try and go to open spaces like lakes or the coast where there is usually more light. Set your camera to high speed burst, quite often when the bird hears the first shutter button noise it will freeze to assess if there is any danger so your second or third shot may be better.

Dai

[matt_xyz]

Hi Nick,

An interesting thread and I'm sure many can relate to your problems (and your frustrations with the poor light at this time of year). A couple of points that I would emphasise;

(i) as has been mentioned, with a 40D don't feel you need to stop at ISO 400. I regularly use a range of ISO levels between ISO 400 and 800. As long as your shutter speeds are above 1/100 you should be OK to get some sharp shots from perched birds.

(ii) the trick is to establish a feeding site where you can get close to the birds. In poor light you need to be very close to birds to capture feather detail. Don't give up on your garden set-up, perhaps add extra feeders and types of food. Alternatively, try to find a feeding site somewhere else - perhaps at a local nature reserve?

(iii) in previous years I did use flash more often. This can certainly help but I must admit I haven't bothered this year so it's certainly not crucial.

Although I haven't posted many on WAB lately, I have taken quite a few bird shots recently, many in poor light, and have generally been pleased with some of the results. I've created a number of perches at a local feeding site and am able to get v. close to the birds. The light is often poor but this shouldn't be an overwhelming problem. Here's an example, taken just before Christmas;

Tree Sparrow, Canon 40D with 400 f5.6 L lens, at f5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO 500.



good luck!

Matt

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Hi Nick,

An interesting thread and I'm sure many can relate to your problems (and your frustrations with the poor light at this time of year). A couple of points that I would emphasise;

(i) as has been mentioned, with a 40D don't feel you need to stop at ISO 400. I regularly use a range of ISO levels between ISO 400 and 800. As long as your shutter speeds are above 1/100 you should be OK to get some sharp shots from perched birds.

(ii) the trick is to establish a feeding site where you can get close to the birds. In poor light you need to be very close to birds to capture feather detail. Don't give up on your garden set-up, perhaps add extra feeders and types of food. Alternatively, try to find a feeding site somewhere else - perhaps at a local nature reserve?

(iii) in previous years I did use flash more often. This can certainly help but I must admit I haven't bothered this year so it's certainly not crucial.

Although I haven't posted many on WAB lately, I have taken quite a few bird shots recently, many in poor light, and have generally been pleased with some of the results. I've created a number of perches at a local feeding site and am able to get v. close to the birds. The light is often poor but this shouldn't be an overwhelming problem. Here's an example, taken just before Christmas;

Tree Sparrow, Canon 40D with 400 f5.6 L lens, at f5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO 500.



good luck!

Matt

Just how close were you if you don't mind me asking (excellent shot BTW)

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Just how close were you if you don't mind me asking (excellent shot BTW)

Hi Gill,

Thanks, I think I must have been around 13 feet away. The minimum focus distance of my lens is 11 feet and I know I wasn't too far away from that.

Matt

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Hi Gill,

Thanks, I think I must have been around 13 feet away. The minimum focus distance of my lens is 11 feet and I know I wasn't too far away from that.

Matt

was it hand held?

I think that's about as far away as I can get from a bird with my panasonic before the shot goes from average to poor!

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

was it hand held?

I think that's about as far away as I can get from a bird with my panasonic before the shot goes from average to poor!

no, it was resting on the window of my car so was being held fairly steady. I couldn't handhold the 400mm lens at 1/125 I'm afraid (it doesn't have image stabilisation).

Matt

[PMG]

You're not on your own Nick - there's everyone else who has answered here and admitted to acute frustration and I will jump on the end of the line - its been driving me batty trying to find stuff and photograph it - I've had a couple of successes (wateer rail and pink feet geese) but I've ditched 100's of shots whilst trying! And I've been up to 1600 iso too and then into neat image!

The most annoying thing by far is the sun is out here today in Lancs and this morning I had to work and this aft I'm on here while my mechanic services and mot's my car ....... and outside its wall to wall blue and sunshine .....

Whats the betting come my next days off Thurs, Fri and Sat off for my birthday - it will be raining and gales - cos there is a big low coming from America.............

Pauline

[Vectisbirder]

Originally Posted by BillyPilgrim

Its really grim at the moment. It must be 3 weeks since I've seen the sun when I've been out. You can get decent images at this time of the year but in my experience, only if the sun is out. Even then its not that good.

I've deleted every single image from my last 3 outings. That makes around 500 shots! If I had the patience I would abandon December and January altogether and stay indoors

On another subject, is it just me that thinks that the shortest day has moved? I really look forward to December 21st but nowadays it seems to get darker for the next 2 weeks!

Yep, same here re. deleting a sackload of pics. This is my least favourite time of year, due to the gloom and chill. I've also noticed a strange thing about the sun - it does come out now and again but only during the week when I am at work!

As for the shortest day, I have noticed that the evenings are (just) perceptibly drawing out again - but there again I am south of you, even though the difference is only a matter of minutes.