Shoot Everyday!

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 20226876 - Eastern Towhee; Walton County, Georgia. January 23, 2019.

An overcast morning with a slight breeze makes it a bit chilly for exposed fingers and my nose. Finally able to get a short break for a bird walk. The grass has been mowed around the upper pond. There’s a lot of bird activity. A great time to go shooting!

Bird photography tips abound. There is everything from concise web pages to multi-volume books on the subject. The tips range from knowing your species to knowing your equipment; tips on shutter speed, aperture and ISO; tips from backlighting to flash; tips on manual settings to program modes; and tips on anticipating a birds actions. But the best tip I’ve ever read and have put into practice is: GET OUT AND SHOOT EVERY DAY!

I made 2018 my “birding photography year.” I got outside nearly every day and shot hundreds upon hundreds of birds. Many of those shots weren’t that great, but here and there, you snag a gem. Every once in a while that little bird allows you to approach close enough that extreme cropping isn’t needed. Every once in a while you’re on top of your game and get that flying bird in focus. Every once in a while you come upon that rare migrating warbler. But even if you are deleting hundreds of photos, you are gaining a great amount of practice and experience.

Posted on January 25, 2022 03:46 PM by