Shutterbugs

Thanks to the digital age, bird photography is no longer an exclusive realm of the serious or professional photographers. Anyone with the right (not necessarily the most expensive) equipment can capture decent images that can be shared with friends and all, illuminating the minds of even the most non-outdoorsy person to the beauty of nature and birds.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Equipment

With the advent of digital cameras, the cost of taking photographs has been greatly reduced. No longer do we need to process films to produce prints and slides to enjoy the images. We can now just store them electronically, call them up on our PCs, project them or print them, if we choose, or even post them online to share with others.

There are two main practices for photographing birds, i.e., digital SLR (single-lens reflex) photography and "digiscoping". Each has its pros and cons, whether it be price, quality, portability, magnification/zoom, but both can provide very good results if the appropriate equipment is used and handled correctly.

​

   Digiscoping

The term "digiscoping" was coined a number of years ago when the late Laurence Poh of Ipoh (Click here for his website), discovered that compact digital cameras could be used to take photographs through a spotting scope. The technique produces some great long-distance shots of objects further away than most SLR cameras could ever achieve and at a much more affordable price.

​

Digiscoping is often best used for perching or stationary birds due to the manual effort required to set up the photograph. It is not suitable for moving birds or flight shots. If you are considering capturing birds in flight or those constantly foraging for food, you may need to consider a digital SLR (dSLR) camera.

​

There is a good selection of ready-made digiscoping kits available by several of the more prominent scope suppliers. Custom-made solutions are also available. A good stable tripod is essential in digiscoping. Images captured using this technique are often far off and any movement of the lens/camera can result in significant unwanted "wobble".

​

​

   dSLR/ Superzoom Camera​

Digital single-lens reflex cameras are the successors to the former 35mm SLR cameras. They adopt the use of a digital imaging sensor instead of film to reproduce the image. SLR/dSLR have great flexibility with respect to photography as they allow the interchanging of lenses to suit the needs of the photographer.

​

For example, an 18mm lens could be used for wide-angle shots such as landscapes whereas longer lenses such as 400mm can be used for wildlife (including bird) photography.

​

The best-known dSLR manufacturers are Canon and Nikon. They both produce a wide variety of camera bodies and lenses to suit your budget.

dSLR cameras can produce very impressive results, providing that good quality lenses are used. Most importantly, the user has to master the art of photography on a theoretical and practical basis.

​

Knowing your equipment can save you time and increase your success rate. Flash photography is generally not required when taking photos of birds while tripods are optional.

​

New breed of camera known as superzoom is available at cheaper price. It is also lighter and smaller than DSLR.

​

​

Rule of thumb

​

   STANCE BEHIND THE LENS

​​

Nature photography in general is about appreciation of beauty and capturing the subject's image for one's own enjoyment and posterity. The world's best nature photographers are great respecters and protectors of their subjects, born out of understanding through keen observation and study of their subjects.

​

Bird photography is no different. Understanding bird behavior will help produce better photographs. Each family of birds is different. Each species within the same family can also display different behavior. Once you understand the birds, you will find observing and photographing them a much richer experience.

   GOOD BEHAVIOR

​​

Good behavior towards birds lets us enjoy them while helping to ensure their survival. Every little bit helps. Remember when bird populations drop, there'll be less birds to photograph. Here are some bird-friendly common sense:

• Always place the welfare of the birds first. Minimize the impact your presence has on the subject by keeping your distance and keeping noise levels low.

• ​Reputable bird photographers worldwide do not climb over one another for photographs of nesting birds. Leave the birds alone, let them bring up their family in peace. Your constant presence may cause interrupted feeding of chicks and endanger their survival. Stressed birds have been known to abandon their chicks and nests if they are in danger themselves.

​

​

​

​