Love Birds
Feb, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photograph during a trip to Tenerife. My friend has an avery and keeps lots of brightly coloured beautiful birds, giving me plenty of opportunity practice.Time
This was taken on a late January morning just as the usual morning clouds were starting to break to reveal the glorious Canarian sunshine. The clouds helped create a diffused light, perfect for taking wildlife shotsLighting
Tenerife is known internationally as the "Island of Eternal Spring" and enjoys warm temperatures all year round, so even on the cloudy days you can't escape bright sunlight. I always use a lens hood in these situations to block out any stray light and prevent lens flare. A polariser also helps block reflections and increases contrastEquipment
This was shot on my Canon EOS 1100D using a 70-300mm zoom lens. I also used a lens hood and polariser filterInspiration
I'm a keen amateur photographer and am always on the look out for any chance to practice taking photographs and add to my portfolio. What better way to make use of my holiday visiting friends than to photograph their beautiful birds. As they have an array of species in a large outdoor avery I was given endless opportunities to gain some really great imagesEditing
I struck gold with this photograph as it didn't require much touching up at all. I love to add a slight vignette to some of my images to create that little extra drama and focus, aswell as a slight tweak to the colour saturation for that added boostIn my camera bag
My trusty Canon EOS 1100D is never out of my camera bag and along with it travels my zoom lens, the Canon 70-300mm, perfect for getting up close to wildlife. I also carry a reasonably cheap Macro lens helping me get even closer to the smaller animals.bthen there's my kit lens, the 18-55mm which offers a wider angle of view serving me well taking landscape shots. There are numerous graduated filters, ND filters and polarisers for giving my photographs that added special effect. I have my eye on a fixed prime lens next to get out of my comfort zone and start shooting portraitsFeedback
My top tips for shooting wildlife and zoo photographs would be: 1. Time of day: Early mornings and late afternoons are always best. Mid-day shots tend to be harsh and wash out the colors. Shooting on overcast days are usually better for zoo photography, as you will produce results that are usually better exposed. 2. Get in Close: Something with an upper length of 200-300mm would probably be handy, allowing you to get up close without disturbing any wildlife. 3. Background: Use a simple and non-distracting backdrop as this enhances the importance of your subject. If the background is cluttered, unnatural, or distracting, the animal photo just won’t work. Having a wide aperture also helps to blur the background giving your subject more focus. 4. Use a large aperture to shoot through fences, this will reduce depth-of-field (front to back sharpness) allowing you to throw the fence out of focus and often not appearing in the picture at all! Always aim through a gap in the fence and stand as close to the fence as possible. 5. Filters and Hoods: A polarising filter will reduce the bounced light so you can see texture and tones in the fur, while the lens hood will protect from any unwanted light reducing the risk of lens flare. 6. Shooting through glass: Carry a cloth to wipe the area you will shoot through. Press the camera against the glass to minimse reflections and attach a lens hood to prevent further reflections. Use focus lock or manual focus. The polariser is also good when shooting through glass as it reduces reflections 7. Focus: If the animal is moving use focus lock to prefocus on a certain point and take the photo as the creature enters the focus zone 8. Be patient: Take your time and wait for your perfect shot, animals are unpredictable and waiting may pay off in a fantastic photo!
