Where do I start?

[leefhall]

Hi all, as a beginner to this new idea of a hobby I’d like to know where to start? I really fancy having ago at doing research into my chosen subject, planning, grabbing my cameras, kit and executing the task. Getting up early, staying out all night, waiting hours for the one picture that makes it all worth while.

Where do I start? I don’t want to just go out and take some pictures of common birds, or to the other extreme trying to catch badgers at play. It’s like reading the first chapter in a book if it’s good I’ll read it all, if it’s boring I tend not to bother with it.

Can anyone advise me on a subject that takes some effort to photograph but not to hard I’ll get fed up. Knowing my own personality I only have to do this once then I’ll be hooked.

Your help and suggestions in my dilemma are appreciated. Thank you Lee

[NJP87]

If your new to wildlife photography i would suggest you start with the common birds/animals, even they take some effort to photograph well.

What kit are you using?

[mtraylen81]

I would have to agree with NJP87, best to start with a common animal. I would recommend somthing like dear or fox, as both can be very shy, but offer great photos if you put in the time.
Good luck.

[Ollie]

No disrespect meant at all Lee, but as others have said it's no easy task taking photographs of any animal or bird be they common or otherwise.

It all depends on what sort of quality photographs you are aiming for. If it's just a quick record shot you are after then it may be easy, but reading your post I get the idea that it's top quality photographs you are are after.

If I am right then researching your chosen subject thoroughly will pay dividends in the results you get. It would also help if you could tell us what kit you are using and what birds animals you are hoping to photograph.

I've been photographing common birds and insects etc for several years and still only regard myself as a novice always looking to improve on the results I am getting, and I still find it a great challenge to get photographs that I am happy with. I certainly never get fed up with it.

My advice would be to start with easy subjects such as Robins for birds that are pretty approachable and see how it goes from there. Once you are confident in taking photos of the easier subjects and are happy with the results you are getting then move on to more difficult ones.

I may have misinterpreted your post and you may have more experience than I'm giving you credit for. If so my apologies. A warm welcome to WAB as well.

[ChasCreek]

I agree with Ollie, if you are starting from a beginner basis.

Taking good photographs of even the common isn't as easy as it might seem and if you don't have the experience of doing this then that 'harder' subject will prove a dissapointment.

Out in the field you need to have learnt how to maximise results from your camera as a second nature, the natural world doesn't stay still long enough for you to be fiddling with settings on the camera. Also longer / long lenses don't actually reach that far, you still have to get reasonably close to your subjects which means you have to learn how to approach with out disturbing.

I feel, and I am presuming as Ollie was 'a beginners stance'. Then in my opinion going after a harder subject would most likely end up in no photographs at all. That more elusive subject may not even come into view, and if it does it may be too far away or not having learnt how to best set your camera on the fly for different nature situations then pictures may be dissapointing which would probably put you off in the long term.

If again I have presumed too low a level of nature photography experience then I appologise.

Also I look at it as just what is 'common'. Once Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammer were ten to a penny, now you feel lucky to have seen a Tree Sparrow. What might be common today may not be in 5 years time.

[ron1863]

Start in your local park, as the birds and squirrels there will be used to humans and will let you get a lot closer to them than "wild" ones.

[Ian Gray]

welcome to WAB Lee. I agree with all the above comments, but would just like to add, we are now heading into the insect season. Macro (close-up) photography can be very rewarding, and the field craft can be a little easier to learn than birds and mammals, but you would need a specialised macro lens and a flash unit.

Ian

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Ian Gray

welcome to WAB Lee. I agree with all the above comments, but would just like to add, we are now heading into the insect season. Macro (close-up) photography can be very rewarding, and the field craft can be a little easier to learn than birds and mammals, but you would need a specialised macro lens and a flash unit.

Ian

I agree with all the above, but add, Spiders.

[leefhall]

Yes I agree with you all. I do however feel a little silly for trying to run before I can walk . Last night I could not even get a very good shot of a pigeon and it sat there posing lol. A couple of ducks on our local river i took pictures of them easy, no worries, but the results were deleted they were rubbish . I am fasinated with whats around me and feel awful for not really noticing before. The good news is I can only improve. I will try the following to see how I get on. 1. Learn to use Camera, and anticipate settings. 2. start with easy subjects (if there is such a thing) 3. Try and enjoys failures and treat them as learning experiances. So thank you all for your advice guess what i'm doing this weekend.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by leefhall

Yes I agree with you all. I do however feel a little silly for trying to run before I can walk . Last night I could not even get a very good shot of a pigeon and it sat there posing lol. A couple of ducks on our local river i took pictures of them easy, no worries, but the results were deleted they were rubbish . I am fasinated with whats around me and feel awful for not really noticing before. The good news is I can only improve. I will try the following to see how I get on. 1. Learn to use Camera, and anticipate settings. 2. start with easy subjects (if there is such a thing) 3. Try and enjoys failures and treat them as learning experiances. So thank you all for your advice guess what i'm doing this weekend.

No need to feel silly Lee. It's a learning curve that all would be photographers go through and you will come out the other end eventually.

If you need any help with camera settings and equipment just post on here and there will alwys be someone who can advise. Best of luck and I look forward to seeing some of your results on here.