How to Photograph Birds Using a Telephoto Lens

Achieve a dynamic composition by placing subjects to the right or left sides of the picture.

Part of being a successful nature photographer is being at the right place at the right time and using your photography skills to capture a special moment. Even though nature has a plethora of fascinating and beautiful subjects, they occur in an uncontrolled environment, making them difficult to capture. While you have no control over the subjects and the environment, you can better your chances of capturing a rare moment by having the proper equipment and the knowledge of how to use it to obtain the results you want.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera
• 500 mm telephoto lens
• Tripod

Instructions

1. Attach the camera to the tripod. Open up your aperture to its maximum opening. Depending on the type of lens you use, it can vary (F/5.6, F/4 or F/2.8).

2. Take a picture and see what it looks like. At this point, your picture will be overexposed or underexposed. If it is overexposed, increase your shutter speed, until you take a well exposed picture. If it is underexposed, decrease the shutter speed until you reach the correct exposure.

3. Aim the telephoto lens at the bird, look through the viewfinder and compose your shot. Bring your subject into focus by adjusting the focus ring on the lens or let the camera do it automatically by pressing the shutter release button half way. To make your composition more dynamic, avoid placing the subject in the center. If you place the subject in the center of the picture, it tends to be mundane.

Tips & Warnings

• By increasing the shutter speed, you are controlling the speed of the exposure. The faster the shutter speed the quicker the exposure, thus stopping the action and preventing motion blur. By decreasing the shutter speed, you are increasing the amount of time it takes to make that exposure.

• The use of a tripod is essential to capturing high quality pictures of birds. This is because any slight movement of the camera especially when using a telephoto lens can affect the clarity of the pictures.

• If you do not have access to a tripod, you can also use a monopod.

• Make sure the sun is behind you and facing the subject of the picture. A backlit subject produces prominent shading on the subject, which will affect the overall color and quality of the photographs.

• Take pictures during the morning or late afternoon. The natural sunlight during these particular times of day is less harsh and it provides a warm undertone that is very flattering to the subject.

• Do the best you can to prevent from placing the horizon in the center of the photograph. This unintentionally divides the picture in half and interferes with the aesthetic quality of the picture. Instead, take photographs with the horizon at the top or bottom third of your picture.

References

• Photo.net: General Bird Photography FAQ
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds: Developing an Artist's Eye