Advice please

[drodd]

Apologies, no photo to diplay, purely a request for help.

Today I took my camera to work, to take photos of the birds outside out office window.

We have put some bird feeders in the trees, 1 with nuts and the other with fat balls.

There have been a few birds feed from them, i.e., Goldfinch, Blue Tits, Sparrows and Woodpeckers.

I thought I wold take my camera to work to get my photography fix during a break. I took about 40 photos today, all of which I had to send to File 13 as they were absolutely cr@p.

So my request is one of any tips, tricks or techniques of taking photographs of birds. It is not a subject that I have had much interest in, but they are so cute and lively and thought it would be great to spend some time with them during a break away from the computer at the same time as getting my tog fix for the day.

I may be limited as far as kit is concerned as I only have a 18-55 kit lens. So any advice or suggestions as to what would be a good lens to obtain for this type of photography would be appreciated, as would any techniques that folk use when photographing birds.

The trees are about 25 metres from the office window, and I would be taking the photos through a double glazed window. Alternatively I can go outside to get a bit closer, but the birds tend to fly away. I did, however, get to within about 8 metres of them without scaring them away, but all my pics were so OOF.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions of how I might be able to get some decent pics (and if it means getting better glass, any suggestions as tyo what migh be good).

I have posted this here because I thought it the best place for advice from the people who have an interest in the subject.

Thank you.

Cheers

Dawn

 

[I-S]

For birds, particularly small birds that will come to a feed you need a long lens. If there's such a thing as too long a lens for this sort of work, I don't think it's yet been built. A well priced starting lens would be the 55-250IS, which offers good quality at a knock-down price. However, you will hanker after more and more length, and the 70-300 IS is the next step up.

Don't try to shoot through the window - if you can open it or go outside to a spot where you won't disturb the birds then that is far better. After that, patience is required for birds. Observe them, see where they perch before flying down onto the feeder - This will give better shots as generally shots on the feeder or with the feeder in frame feel disappointing. Normally they will perch on twigs and branches nearby the feeder before flying down to it, and will go back there after an altercation with another bird at the feeder, so you can frame and prefocus and just wait for the bird to fly into frame.

 

[Martyn...]

Dawn, if they are used to the feeders, get into position and keep still, as long as you are not too close they will return.

Movement will spook them, they will react to it as a threat, so keep still and wait and you should be fine.

Wedge a twig in one of the feeder ports, they will land on it, and present a more natural looking shot.

You need a longer lens ... 300mm should be fine if you can get reasonably close, no idea of the Canon ones available, I-S has suggested a couple, I am sure there are other options.

 

[CT]

25 metres (about 80 feet) is a long way away - in fact with Sparrow/Robin sized birds you'd really be pushing the range with say a 500mm lens and a high pixel crop camera such as the 7D.

If I shoot through my window glass at home I lose a whole stop of speed and there's a tint on the glass (invisible to the naked eye) which plays havoc with the colour balance.

It sounds like you need to get outside and closer -or get some longer glass, but open the window every time rather than shoot through it.

 

[St-ephen]

You could buy a remote shutter release, set up a perch near your food and wait until a bird comes and sits on your perch. Set your focus to manual and pre-focus on a point where you expect the bird to sit. I use clothes pegs to focus on, and then to block bits of the perch where you don't want your birds to sit. (obviously move the peg used to focus out of shot). I do this quite a lot, waiting in the comfort of my living room from about 20metres. These shots were taken in just this way.
A tripod or beanbag would be a huge help (essential really) with this too. Dont expect the birds to hang about; when they hear the shutter they're off. Hope this makes sense and helps.

Stephen

 

[Alastair]

The alternative to a new longer lens is a tripod and a remote shutter release.

I've used the 17-85mm kit lens to shoot jays (very shy) at a about 20m distance.. with the camera only a little over 5m from the bird table. At that time I was using a USB repeater cable to take the shot using the EOS Utilities programme to shoot tethered. It would be easier to shoot usuing a wireless radio trigger though (e.g. RF-602). Set-up the camera, pre-focus and set to manual focus.. retreat to your vantage point and shoot when you think the target is in the frame.



An interesting observation is that whilst the jays were very shy of movement and me trying to get close.. they weren't at all disturbed by the use of flash.

 

[drodd]

Wow! Thanks everyone so far for you very good advice and tips. I think I am going to have to start a new jot book just for this type of photography.

Unfortunately, opening the window far enough at work is not an option, because they only open so far (security reasons). Otherwise, if I could I would have a perfect setup and would be able to perch my camera on the window sill which is directly in line with the feeders. maybe I need to take a hacksaw to work to dispose of the security bar

I have made a note of the tips, advice about equipment and techniques. I think I definitely need to purchase a lens that will be more suitable to this type of photography. Christmas is coming and hopefully I can add a lens to my wish-list.

I also appreciate you sharing your photos with me as examples of what can be achieved. Thank you.

Please feel free to add any further advice, the more I can learn, the better.

Hopefully I will soon be able to get a good enough capture to post for c&c.

Despite the fact that winter is looming, I think this could be an interesting subject to photograph and keep me occupied over the next few months.

Besides the Robin, are there any other birds I could keep my eyes on over the next few months?

Thanks again for all the very valuable contributions, much appreciated.

Cheers

Dawn

 

[Just Dave]

set up a perch near your food and wait until a bird comes and sits on your perch. Set your focus to manual and pre-focus on a point where you expect the bird to sit. These Images were taken in just this way

What ever you do DONT do that, youll end up with loads of OOF shots, and those images (from the link above) prove just that

Its because each bird needs to be focused on separately preferably on the birds eye

 

[drodd]

What ever you do DONT do that, youll end up with loads of OOF shots, and those images (from the link above) prove just that

Its because each bird needs to be focused on separately preferably on the birds eye

Hiya Dave, thanks for the advice. I thought some of the photos in the link looked good, but then I am new to bird photography so I still have to learn about focusing on them. I will keep in mind about focusing on the eyes, not sure how easy that is though as they are so small.

I am looking forward to trying to get some photos soon.

Cheers

Dawn

 

[Just Dave]

Yes 2 are ok but 1 is well OOF

 

[Tringa]

Almost anything can turn up, especially if the weather gets cold - we had great spotted woodpeckers on the feeders about 10 feet fromthe back door during the coldest part of last winter.

If the area has any bushes or trees with berries you could also get some redwings.

Dave

 

[drodd]

Almost anything can turn up, especially if the weather gets cold - we had great spotted woodpeckers on the feeders about 10 feet fromthe back door during the coldest part of last winter.

If the area has any bushes or trees with berries you could also get some redwings.

Dave

Thanks Dave, saw a woodpecker the other day and yesterday we had some mistle thrush visit.

There are some bushes with berries, so hopefully will see some redwings.

Cheers

Dawn