Robins feeding
photographing birds
photographing birds
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Jan, 2017Views
201
Likes
Awards
Winner in Robins Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Categories
lindathomasBAhons
December 11, 2017
Congratulations on winning my challenge for Robins this is an amazing shot
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This Photo was taken in my back garden in the Highlands of Scotland. I live just South of Inverness in a country location and the birds are plentiful. These two Robins were playing about all morning trying to dominate each other and be boss of the garden. One was slightly smaller than the other but he was the one who always started the fight.Time
It was a cold January morning, The sun only came up over the hill from 10am and light was variable as the clouds came and went. I positioned myself meters from the feeders and sat on an old tree trunk with a blanket, gloves and hot cup of coffee. I would sit there for hours or until I began to really froze.Lighting
In January the light is variable and I had to make a lot of changes to the ISO as I wanted the shutter speed to remain High to capture the detail. I watched the clouds and at times the sun shone through the clouds and also the reflection from the snow was challengingEquipment
I used my Nikon D7100 Aperture 5/1Camera: ISO 640 Shutter Speed 1/2500 NIKON D7100 I worked between a tripod with ball head and hand held. The lens I Used was a Nikon 28 - 300 3.5 - 5.6 no flash just variable settingsInspiration
I love snow days after the kids have gone to school, this is my time to do my thing. I love to capture birds because it is a challenge to get that great shot and it makes me feel a great achievement. I usually take a few hundred photos in the hour or two as I like to capture the birds in flight, landing, and taking off again as it tells a story. I have named some of the birds as they keep returning to the feeder, I love the way they have a pecking order and that some breeds as in the blue tits swoop in, take some seed and disappear quickly where as the Robins hang around near by to see what is what. puff them selves up then flu to the feeder and stay a while until they are challenged. The finches are cheeky and will give a fantastic display of domineering and chase every other bird away. They are amazing to watch and amazing to photograph. They say when people see a Robin that it is a sign that a loved one is watching from Heaven.Editing
Taking so many photos I try not to edit too much, I may crop a little but I find with the right settings nothing really needs to be drastically changed. I use light room to import and export files. I always shoot RAW.In my camera bag
Goodness, Usually a selection of lenses I love my 70 -200 Nikon, I have a Nikon 70 -300 which I love also and shorter lenses. I always have spare batteries and cards, lens wipes as it is cold, spare gloves in winter and a drying cloth. I also carry a selection of filters and I love my SR8 Star filter.Feedback
I would say to anyone who would like to photograph birds, Be patient, be silent, do not get anxious, wear warm but not bright clothing. Watch the birds for a while, see which ones go to the feeder from which direction and which way they leave. start with taking photos of birds on the feeder or table. then as your confidence and focus ability grows then try some flying away and move on from there. Take into account weather conditions, light, wind, Try with a tripod but I find as long as the camera and lens are not to heavy then I prefer hand held. Never try and stay warm and take photos through a window it does not give a good photograph. I also tried using a remote shutter which had a bit of a delay but I was happy as long as you know your entry points and bird exit points ..Lens - A good focal lens is better as you do not have to be so close something 200 - 300 the most important setting is the shutter speed. at 1200 - 1800 you will capture the bird body and wings may be a bit blurred 2000 - 2500 is the best setting if possible and it may be necessary to up the ISO a bit but if you have the right conditions, with the sun behind you then this will help reduce the ISO and any noise in the photo I find matrix metering best but I will say play around with the settings as there should be plenty of opportunity for a well stocked bird table to have visitors.
