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04/14/2010 04:34:05 PM · #201 |
I don't want to muscle in on your thread, but I thought a bit of info on Camo gear might help:
Blinds
It is not a requirement to use camo aids while photographing birds or wildlife, but when you plan being in one place for some time, a hide or blind will prove very useful. A shooting blind, cheap at about £20 on eBay will give you great cover when shooting wildfowl or wide field wildlife. These blinds, using new technology, mean you are hidden from your target due to the camo, but have a clear view as they are one way vision hides. It is quite simple to cut a hole in the blind for a lens to poke through. They come in various sizes, both height and length and pack up into a small parcel with very little weight. Of course, when photographing in a situation like this a chair or some kind of collapseable sitting is a must, unless you can live with numb legs, complete with pins and needles. Jack Pyke make the one way vision blind, but there are many other similar makes on the market.
Hides
If you have a favourite place to go and watch birds and wildlife, it may be possible for you to erect a permanent hide, this could be either camo material or a wooden hide as found at wildlife reserves. Not many people are so lucky and have to travel far and wide to see wildlife, this is where the portable hide comes into its own. I favour the pop-up one man hide which comes complete with a chair, although there are two man and three man models available. The one man version packs into a bag and can easily be stored in the back of the car for when it is needed. Assembly is simple and access is gained through the front which unzips, there is room for a tripod and the front can be either half open to cover a wider field of vision or closed with a pocket for the lens to poke through. Average cost for the one man version is about £50-60 in UK.
 
Clothing
This is a matter of choice, some people feel uncomfortable wearing camo gear and self conscious, no need! There are plenty of makes that can be worn over your normal everyday clothing, so drive to your site, then kit up. I use Jack Pyke English Oak as it blends well with our woodlands, but RealTree do very good clothing, more suited to USA, I do have some as it works well in early winter over here. My Jack Pyke gear is micro fleece, 100% water and wind proof and is made of 'Stealth' material so there is no horrible rustling like you get from Nylon and similar.
I don't wear this clothing for effect, I sometimes sit in one place for a few hours and when unable to use a hide, this clothing gives me a cloak of invisibility and keeps chilly winds out. Also when tracking a deer or other animal the last thing you want is a bright red anorak rattling and flashing your presence.
I use gloves most of the time as well as your hands and face really show up when out in the field. It is about covering all angles to give yourself every chance of catching that one special photograph. A full face mesh is also a godsend, it covers that shiny orb and in the late summer and autumn gives protection from those pesky Mozzies.
A cheap pair of camo trousers from eBay, bought for a few pounds/dollars can be cut up to make tripod leg covers and loose fit lens covers. When you think how much a Lenscoat costs - £70+, this is quite a saving.
Ghillie Suit
A piece of clothing used for stalking deer and the like by shooters and gamekeepers. I have already had a comment about it being a bit hardcore for bird and wildlife photography. Yep, I guess it is, but if it enables you to get that shot, is it worth it? It comes in three pieces normally and slips over your normal camo clothing. The intention is to break up your shape and allows you to blend into the background. Maybe a bit extreme, but I carry one just to be on the safe side. Don't be tempted to wear this in the car, you will get arrested. Wear it when on site!!
  
That about sums up my ideas on this topic, but I expect it will raise a few more.
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04/14/2010 10:14:32 PM · #202 |
In reference to  SteveJ's comment about ghillie suits...
You can buy them at military surplus locations for a pretty reasonable price (cheaper than quality camo, from my observations).
Question for JB though;
Say you're trying to get a shot of an osprey catching a fish and you know approximately what time they'll be hunting at. Do you just set up shop and hope they catch one where you're located or do you move around as they're hunting trying to get into position? |
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04/15/2010 12:32:59 AM · #203 |
Bird action from about 100 ft. I saw that there were about a dozen curlew in a pond next to the road while on the way back to work from lunch, so I put on a long lens and backed up, parked and watched the show for a few minutes.
I have used one of the popup blinds for turkey pics, and they work very nicely. They allow you freedom to work with your gear without being detected as long as you keep it quiet. I agree that some kind of stool or seat is very handy. Make sure that it don't make noise when you move around on it.
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04/15/2010 03:06:17 AM · #204 |
Nice post stevej. A lot of excellent info !
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04/15/2010 12:15:06 PM · #205 |
Originally posted by SteveJ:
I don't want to muscle in on your thread, but I thought a bit of info on Camo gear might help:
Blinds
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Not muscling in, I'm glad someone covered this topic as I do not have much experience with it. Thanks! |
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04/15/2010 12:25:29 PM · #206 |
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
In reference to SteveJ's comment about ghillie suits...
You can buy them at military surplus locations for a pretty reasonable price (cheaper than quality camo, from my observations).
Question for JB though;
Say you're trying to get a shot of an osprey catching a fish and you know approximately what time they'll be hunting at. Do you just set up shop and hope they catch one where you're located or do you move around as they're hunting trying to get into position? |
A little of both I would say. I normally would go to the area and see if the osprey or eagle is active or at least sitting in the surrounding trees. Then I would set up based on the sun and the wind. Birds almost always want to dive into the wind and of course I don't want ot shoot into the sun if I can help it. So my normal routine would be to make these assessments and then set up and wait.
If they change their position or hunting area then I'd likely move with them but I would do this creating as little activity as possible, moving away from where they are and then reentering the area using trees, bushes and the like to minimize my movements.. These birds will always see you so you can not stalk them. But you can make them more comfortable by moving slow and quiet, use a start and stop pattern to give them time to get used to you.
Hope that helps, there is no easy answer other than building a blind and hanging around for quite some time. Some days it works and some days it does not. |
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04/15/2010 12:28:45 PM · #207 |
Oh and Derek, sometimes you just get lucky like this shot last night. We were sitting out in the neighbors yard drinking a beer when this eagle came by and landed in the tree nest to us. I went to the house, got my camera and then waited for him to take off. Hardly had to put down my beer!
I was miffed a bit that he turned away from the sun right after taking off so his head went into shadow. You can't always win.
Message edited by author 2010-04-15 12:29:47. |
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04/15/2010 04:48:00 PM · #208 |
Hot Spots for Bird and Wildlife Photography
I hope to end this journey into Bird and Wildlife Photography by sharing great spots to find your subjects. I̢۪m by no means an expert nor have I traveled the world to know of every great spot out there. But I have been to some and know about others that I will list. My hope is that you all will contribute so that in the future others can come to this thread and see an extensive list of the great locations around the world to pursue their hobby.
I̢۪ll start it off with a few in the US:
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
I would say that every world class bird photographer has been to the Bosque multiple times. It offers great scenery right from the loop roads including wonderful sunsets and sunrises, tens of thousands of birds and wetlands. Bring all your lenses as there are many opportunities for wide angle and telephoto shots with the large flocks of snow geese, sandhill cranes and dozens of other species of birds and ducks. Bosque Del Apache is mainly a winter and migratory site. The closest place to stay is the small town of Socorro, New Mexico, about 20 miles or so north.
Florida
Florida has so many opportunities. The Venice Rookery in south Venice for nesting egrets and great blue herons, November thru March; Little Estero Lagoon at Fort Myers Beach is good all year for shorebirds; Sanibel Island̢۪s Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is another that every professional photographer visits to photograph large wading birds in winter; the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades National Park will not only give you many bird opportunities but alligators as well, best winter and spring; and many more throughout Florida.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Right in New York (Queens to be exact)! Although I have never shot there I have flown in and out of JFK and seen the area from above many times. It is said to be a great migratory bird spot between July and October.
Cape May
Cape May in New Jersey is the epicenter of the Eastern Flyway. It sits on Delaware Bay and hosts one of the largest migrations of shorebirds in the east. There is a phenomenon there that I have not experienced but is said to be worth the trip. In spring, normally May, a million shorebirds gather to feed on horseshoe crab eggs in Delaware Bay. The crabs come by the tens of thousands and lay billions of eggs in the mud once a year.
A few I have read about in Canada.
Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee is located in Leamington, Ontario and in spring has large concentrations of smaller colorful birds; warblers, vireos, tanagers, orioles, sparrows and the like. Small birds are very hard to photograph as they are always moving. Apparently as they cross the expanse of Lake Erie they stop to rest and feed on the tip of Point Pelee which is fairly open terrain as the low trees and brush are still mostly bare.
Churchill
Churchill, Manitoba is said to be the Polar Bear Capital of the World. On the shore of Hudson Bay in October and November you will find tourists galore there to photograph the bears. But many bird photographers know the area more for early summer and its abundance of nesting birds and varied habitats; tundra, lakes and marshes, rocky shorelines of Hudson Bay and boreal forest. The bad news is that the weather and bugs can be bad, very bad. You have to be a determined photographer to keep at it.
Exotic Other Places
I̢۪ve had two international spots on my list for years. The first, Costa Rica, I was lucky enough to visit this year. It is a wonderful place full of jungle, beaches, monkeys and colorful birds! Even if you are not a birder you will be enthralled by the sites and sounds you will experience in the jungles and rivers of Costa Rica. I plan to go back.
Next on my list is Africa for obvious reason. Seems to me that if you are a wildlife and bird photographer you have not lived unless you visit Africa at least once, maybe multiple times. I̢۪ll be going.
In Closing
You don̢۪t have to travel to exotic places to have fun shooting. I love to get out in the fields, forests and mountains around where I live whenever I can. You will discover places close by that in some cases rival the big names. I̢۪m lucky to live in Washington State that offers such varied habitat and many choices. I̢۪m close to British Columbia, Canada and have driven up a number of times just, as I like to say, to see what I can see.
So get out there and discover what is around you, go see what you can see.
If any of you travel to Washington and want to know spots to shoot, or a partner to shoot with, drop me a line and I'd be happy to advise you or tag along.
Feel free to list other renowned spots you may know of that people may want to travel to.
Message edited by author 2010-04-15 16:49:01. |
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04/15/2010 05:26:16 PM · #209 |
The Lake Merritt Bird Sanctuary is the oldest designated wildlife refuge in North America. The birds are free to come and go in an enhanced natural environment right in the heart of downtown Oakland, but they are pretty used to the crowds and so don't flush easily unless you force them to. The Black Crowned Night Herons are particularly patient posers ...
   
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04/17/2010 11:06:15 AM · #210 |
My favorite local spot: Huntley Meadows in Alexandria, VA. I have never gone out there and not found something worth photographing, no matter the time of year or the weather. Mostly birds, often plants or bugs, snapping and Red-eared Slider turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs, fish, sometimes mammals (including Beavers), and/or just the scenery. There's a boardwalk through part of the wetlands, paths around the water and though the woods and fields. Something for everyone, pretty much, except it's virtually flat so no hiking of hills. Many people see that as a plus ;-)
I have seen countless wading birds (Great Blue and Green Herons, Cattle and Snowy Egrets, Kingfishers), hawks and eagles, a huge variety of ducks (I'm waiting for this season's ducklings to appear; the Mergansers are usually first to hatch ... unfortunately that means few of them make it to adulthood), geese, Redwing Blackbirds, Crows, Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, woodpeckers (Northern Flickers, Downies, Hairys, Redbellied, and the somewhat elusive Pileateds), Hummingbirds, assorted Sparrows and other small songbirds. It's my personal paradise ;-) Except when it's invaded by small, noisy schoolchildren, but even then I know places off the beaten path where I can get away from them and enjoy nature-watching.
Here are a few from yesterday -
Not spectacular but I love the detail on the feet :-) 
A heron in flight: 
And a blackbird:  ... |
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04/17/2010 11:18:25 AM · #211 |
Originally posted by jbsmithana:
Hot Spots for Bird and Wildlife Photography
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
I would say that every world class bird photographer has been to the Bosque multiple times. It offers great scenery right from the loop roads including wonderful sunsets and sunrises, tens of thousands of birds and wetlands. Bring all your lenses as there are many opportunities for wide angle and telephoto shots with the large flocks of snow geese, sandhill cranes and dozens of other species of birds and ducks. Bosque Del Apache is mainly a winter and migratory site. The closest place to stay is the small town of Socorro, New Mexico, about 20 miles or so north.
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If you're ever in the Socorro Area, (anyone), do drop me a line, if I'm not in Florida, we could probably meet up. And that's always fun!!! |
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04/17/2010 11:18:42 AM · #212 |
Originally posted by jbsmithana:
As I̢۪m approaching I take a shot or two at each pause. This not only assures I get a shot but lets the subject get used to the small sounds my camera gear will make when shooting.
Even after getting close you may find that the subject does not fill the frame the way you want. The next step could be to increase the focal length of your lens. A small increase in focal length gives you a large increase in image size. If you go from a 400mm to a 500mm lens you do not get a 25% increase in image size as you might expect. You would instead get over a 50% increase in image size. Without going into the math this result is because image size is a function of the square of the focal length. In addition, something I have not done as yet but want to eventually try is to use extension tubes. Even when using them to take photographs beyond your minimum focus distance extension tubes offer a significant increase in image size. |
I didn't even consciously realize I was doing it, but I do that approach/snap/approach thing, too. I was doing it mostly to make sure I got some sort of shot (if I'm lucky I get to discard the earlier ones in favor of closer shots) but I hadn't thought about it habituating the subject to the noise. Good point. Sometimes it gets them to look at you briefly which can make for some cool eye-contact shots if you shoot fast enough.
Extension tubes? I thought a teleconverter was more useful for birding, because in my experience I can't zoom freely and maintain focus with an extension tube. I'll have to play with that some more.
Thanks for this thread; I've learned things :-) |
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04/17/2010 11:23:48 AM · #213 |
| Thanks Mary! Looks like a great local spot. |
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04/17/2010 11:29:40 AM · #214 |
Originally posted by coryboehne:
If you're ever in the Socorro Area, (anyone), do drop me a line, if I'm not in Florida, we could probably meet up. And that's always fun!!! |
Thanks Cory, I may just do that next time I'm down that way. |
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04/20/2010 01:53:32 AM · #215 |
   
I might suggest that not every bird shot has to be tack sharp to be effective. Sometimes we get carried away with the technical aspects of our shooting and forget that sometimes it's ok to shoot something for composition and the artistic value of it.
These were shot over the weekend with the $15 manual Vivitar zoom. The Man O War is about 5 ft tip to tip. He was behind the boat picking off small fish that we were tossing back into the water. All are with manual settings and focus. The second one is not edited, the others basic edited.
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04/20/2010 02:07:02 AM · #216 |
I agree 100% with MelonMusketeer. You don't need to buy that expensive 300mm f/2.8 lens. For example, my $26 zoom from the '70s works great, and even though the glass ain't perfect and it's got a maximum aperture of a very slow f/4.5 and I suck at focusing manually, I still get some nice images (in my opinion):
^I was shooting squirrels all day. I'm gonna estimate that only about 10-20% of the shots were actually sharp (in focus and without any unintended motion).
^Not quite nature, but it shows that even with a lens from the 70s zoomed all the way in and with less-than-perfect glass, you can still get nice contrast and sharpness.
Message edited by author 2010-04-20 02:12:37. |
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04/23/2010 11:19:28 PM · #217 |
to remain on topic, I'm going to put a few photos I took in my front yard today. But can anyone ID this specie of Owl and how would I tell the male from the female? There is a pair nesting near here, and they visit my yard several evenings a week. Very easily spooked, but tonight I got a few shots of one of them.
  
Matt |
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04/23/2010 11:48:13 PM · #218 |
I believe you have a family of Barred Owls in your yard Matt. It always impresses me when they twist their head all the way around to see behind them.
They are pretty common here. We have one or two that come by our place once in a while at night. I found this one sleeping one day a while back when I was on a camping trip to the Glades.
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04/24/2010 12:02:52 AM · #219 |
Thanks Waddy, do you happen to know how to tell the male from the female? These two are both really big and beautiful birds, but if one is going to have babies, I'd like to see if I can track when they might have had them so I can search out the nest.
Matt |
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04/24/2010 06:07:32 AM · #220 |
Matt
You have a lovely Barred Owl family. The females tend to be slightly bigger than the males.
You can tell them at night by their call ""hoo, hoo, too-HOO; hoo, hoo, too-HOO, ooo" which sounds a lot "Who, cooks, for-you? Who, cooks, for-you, all?"
We have some in our neighborhood and they are fun to watch in action. |
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04/26/2010 03:20:08 PM · #221 |
Some recent bird captures...
The vultures of Canyon Lake:
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The speed demons of Death Valley:
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The last picture was taken hand-held and hand-focused at 365mm and 1/500th shutter while panning. |
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04/26/2010 04:00:42 PM · #222 |
Some great captures! Love the photo of the 3 speed demons!
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05/03/2010 03:37:25 PM · #223 |
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05/03/2010 08:04:23 PM · #224 |
Hey, just noticed this thread is still alive! Hope it can serve as a resource for a time, maybe be referred back to when someone has a question.
In the meantime I've been busy putting together a show for ou local Audubon grouip on both bird and hiking photographs I've taken. When I'm done I'll hopefully have some new stuff to post here. |
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05/03/2010 08:21:55 PM · #225 |
| JB...looking forward to all of your posts. I find threads like yours full of inspiration along with valuable information. Thanks for putting it all together! |
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