BACKYARD BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

One of the pleasures of backyard bird photography is it is a lot easier than slogging through the bush chasing birds that don’t want to be photographed. Garden birds come to you and given time get used to the camera which makes it a lot easier to get interesting shots that would be very difficult to take out in the bush.

If you observe the behaviour of the birds that come to your garden you will notice that even though there will be a variety of species they are all in tune with each other in terms of what is going on around them. If you can attract one species inevitably after a while others will come to see what’s going on and eventually you have a variety of birds visiting.

Of course a garden that is bird friendly makes it more appealing. A bird bath with fresh water always attracts birds especially when it is hot. Flowering shrubs and bushes that are endemic to the region where you live also attract birds. Then of course, there is the option of bird feeders with wild bird seed suited to the type of species you are attracting.

SETTING UP A BACKYARD STUDIO

Once you have the birds visiting you can start to think how to photograph them. This does not have to be complicated. Keeping it simple is more productive as you can change the setup quickly and easily to suit different birds or the look you want.

The first step is to set up the feeder or birdbath in an exposed location that enables you to photograph the birds as they approach or fly off. A firm branch or stick that provides a perch positioned just above and behind the feeder or birdbath allows the birds to land before hopping down. It also separates the feeder  or bath from the perch giving you the option of photographing the birds in flight as they approach the perch or while on the perch. An old stick or nice branch with flowers or leaves can be used to add artistic appeal to the photo.

The next thing is the background. Ideally you want to try and have the cleanest background possible so as not to detract from the bird, which is of course the centre of attraction. Hanging a canvas sheet about a meter or so (more is better) behind the perch will remove messy distractions from the background. These can be sourced in a variety of colours from any fabric shop. The heavier the grade of fabric, the better it hangs. In small backyards a canvas fixed to the backyard fence is perfect.

Once you have set up, allow a few days for the birds to get used to the setup. It also allows you to observe their flight habits and make adjustments to the setup so when you actually start photographing you are ready to go.

UP CLOSE WIDE ANGLE

The simplest photography is to sit back away from the feeder in a chair and photograph the birds as they come and go. Setting the camera up on a tripod with a hand or remote trigger allows for more creativity. Remote triggers which are easily sourced over the internet at a reasonable price allow the camera to be positioned and angled anywhere including right close up to the feeder.

Positioning the camera with a wide angle lens right up close to the birds changes the dynamic significantly. Like the photo above shows, wings and perspectives are accentuated. It just brings the photos alive.