With a lucky few heading to our Norfolk Island photo tour, which is known for a collection of rare and beautiful birds, we thought it was a great opportunity for us to hand out some tips to help your bird photographs stand out from the flock.
Whether you are pointing your lens at feathered-friends around your backyard, or you are heading away for a dedicated bird photography holiday, the right camera gear and settings are just some of the things you need to know; bird watching is a field rife with tips and tricks that you can spend a lifetime discovering. Thankfully, we have pieced together everything we know in one place to help you get started.
Bird Photography equipment
Bird Photography involves capturing sharp and detailed images of birds in the wild. If you've ever tried to use your smartphone for impromptu bird shots, you'll know it yields limited results. For the most successful results and least disappointment, a dedicated bird photography kit is required.
Choosing a bird photography camera:
What kind of camera is best for bird photography? Mirrorless cameras are the best options currently on the market, thanks to their reaction speeds, image quality and portability. When looking for a specific model, here are some key details to consider:
Resolution - Modern mirrorless cameras are blessed with high-resolution sensors. Make this a factor in your purchase, due to the ability to print high-quality images, even when you have to crop your image for a better composition.
Autofocus performance - A fast AF system is essential for quickly isolating your subject sharply within your frame. Certain mirrorless models offer AI subject tracking, which can automatically track birds as they move around your frame, for a better chance of a sharp image.
Shooting speed - With a fast continuous shooting, or burst shooting mode, you can snap up multiple images of your subject, selecting the very best for printing or online sharing.
Weather-sealed qualities - Bird Photography often takes you out in the elements. So you can keep shooting confidently without worrying about to odd downpour, opt for weather-sealed camera gear.
Browse these great Bird Photography cameras
Choosing a bird photography lens:
Selecting a lens for bird photography is just as important as selecting a camera for the job. With an inadequate lens for the job, your bird photos will suffer greatly. Telephoto lenses are the undisputed kings of all types of wildlife photography, including bird photography. This is due to their long focal lengths and resulting narrow field of view, offering you a closer view and tighter crop, even if you are keeping your distance from the subject.
What focal length is needed for bird photography? This will depend on your distance from the birds and your position, but generally, you want to head out on your shoot with a lens that is 200mm or longer, with the versatility provided by a zoom option being preferable.
Other bird photography equipment to consider:
Monopod - Keeping your camera still and steady is a surefire way to clear your mind of camera shake. While tripods are fantastic, monopods offer quicker setup times and take up less space.
Binoculars - Good birdwatchers, or twitchers as they are colloquially called, never leave home without a good pair of birdwatching binoculars. So you can spot potential subjects with ease while out in the field, keep a pair of binoculars handy, and then you can frame your discovery with your camera. When choosing binoculars for birdwatching, a minimum magnification of 7x is required, while objective lenses of around 30mm is optimal.
The best camera settings for bird photography
How do you get sharp pictures in bird photography? As well as suitable camera gear, you need the know-how and a grasp of what settings to dial in. Here are the basic bird photography settings to get you started:
What shutter speed is best for bird photography? Depending on what bird you are photographing, you might be faced with quick and unpredictable movements. To overcome this obstacle and come out on top with a sharp image, set your camera to a fast shutter speed, of 1/250th of a second or faster.
What aperture should I use for bird photos? While a fast shutter speed provides a shallow depth of field to make your subject stand out from its background, if your depth of field is too shallow, you risk some of your subject not being in focus. We recommend a moderate aperture of around f5.6-f8 as a good starting point - this will also let in a decent amount of light in dimmer conditions.
What ISO is best for bird photography? The ISO setting of your digital camera adjusts how sensitive your camera is to light, and it has an effect on whether you can use your desired aperture and shutter speed settings. The ISO that you can use depends on the lighting conditions, so we suggest starting with a low setting, such as ISO 100, and raising it if necessary.
Bird watching tips: How to spot feathered friends to photograph
Make sure you dress for the occasion: The right clothes for bird watching are not important for fashion reasons - the birds aren't keeping in touch with the latest trends. What we mean is to dress for your surroundings, both for your comfort, and so you can blend into your surroundings - if you are not spotted, you have a greater chance of capturing great photos.
Plan your bird watching and photography for the best weather: What is the best weather for bird watching? Like you, birds will seek shelter from the rain, so there's no need to brave the storm. If you can, an overcast day makes for great bird photography; this is due to the light cloud cover providing soft, diffused lighting.
Patience is the key: If you expect to set your camera gear up, dial in the right settings and capture multiple high-quality bird photographs within moments, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Bird watching and bird photography both require an abundance of patience.
Familiarise yourself with the locals: Every place has its unique birdlife to enjoy. Knowing what birds frequent your area can help you with identifying and spotting them in the wild. Understanding their climates and habits can also make it easier for you to capture the winning shot.
Spread your wings with your best bird photography
Mastering bird photography takes practice, but with the right gear and settings, you're well on your way to capturing those breathtaking moments. Hopefully, these tips give you a great head start for framing birds in all of their glory, from beak to wing. Want to dive deeper into the world of photography? Then make sure to follow Ted's blog for all the latest advice and tutorials.
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