Photographing birds in my garden!

King of Groove

King of Groove

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Before anyone gets the wrong idea I'm talking about birds of the featherd variety!!!

I'm a bit of beginner on this front. Have taken some pictures but the purchase of a new bird feeder unit has produced a sudden influx of new arrivals. I'm assuming the bird jungle telegraph has spread the word of a new cafe/feeding station in Carshalton!

My current set up is to use a Nikon D300 with either the 70-300 non vr lens or 18-200 vr lens fitted on a tripod.

I'm concious of the fact you couldn't stand too close with camera so was thinking that the best way would be to operate the camera from the lounge by remote control to avoid camera shake etc.

I was looking at the Nikon MC-36 camera remote control cable thingy but I've notice Amazon say cable length is only 85cm which isn't even 2 foot!

So what equipment would I need to produce the perfect bird pictures sitting say at my lounge table. Now that brings to me another question is it worth purchasing v2.0 of camera control pro or is liveview the better way?

I'd really apprecate loads of advice here!
 
I would shoot through fresh air, Clive, and not through glass from that distance.

I personally wouldnt use a remote as they have only to move a fraction and the focus can be out if you are using a wide aperture.

Its a case of taking time.. getting closer and hiding... not sitting indoors with a cup of coffee and your feet up on the table with your slippers on!! :D

Im not saying you cant........but you will get a better pic if you are hands on with the camera.
 
As Janice says - the best option is hands on with the camera so that you have most control.

To fire a camera via remote control is certainly doable - it is very hit and miss as to the quality of results and there is a large number of wasted shots.

An example of what I achieved is here:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=92856

Here I was using a wireless remote - from a ebay vendor for £8.99 - and focusing on an exact spot 2 metres away [the front of stone in the stream] after that you can be at a safe distance away, or indoors behind glass, and fire the remote when a bird is on the right spot.
 
erding said:
As Janice says - the best option is hands on with the camera so that you have most control.

To fire a camera via remote control is certainly doable - it is very hit and miss as to the quality of results and there is a large number of wasted shots.

An example of what I achieved is here:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=92856

Here I was using a wireless remote - from a ebay vendor for £8.99 - and focusing on an exact spot 2 metres away [the front of stone in the stream] after that you can be at a safe distance away, or indoors behind glass, and fire the remote when a bird is on the right spot.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Have you got the details/model of remote?
 
Hi King of Groove
Janice is absolutely right, best to get up close and personal... but don't be afraid to join the rest of us slobs and pop the slippers on, D300 in on hand, cup cocoa in other, one eye on TV and other on your nuts mag. When a little feathered friend appears press shutter release and voila !

You can also use a wireless remote, set up camera in garden and return to coaco and just press remote as and when.
Not done this personally, but used remote in other situations.
The one I have cost £18 inc P&P (Phottix Cleon Wireless Remote N8 for Nikon D200/D300/D3) and works a treat.
Here is link
http://cgi.ebay.com/Phottix-Cleon-W...4|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
 
Definately take your pics outside, set yourself up on a tripod or bean bag, try and blend in with your surroundings , no sudden movements and you will be suprised how close you can be and the birds will still feed, try and set some natural looking perches up near to the feeders to get a nice natural looking shot without the feeders in view !!

Dean
 
How about trying this as an experiment... (can't claim credit for the idea, I saw it on another forum).

This assumes you have a way of locking the shutter release (e.g. a remote lead).

In the menu for AE-L/AF-L, use the setting AF-ON so that focus is performed by pressing the AE-L/AF-L switch instead of the shutter release. Also set to continuous shooting.

Now set the camera on the tripod and set the focus on something where you want it to be, e.g. the feeder, using the AF-L/AE-L button. Move the camera a bit so it's no longer focussed but where the bird will be in focus when it lands on the feeder. Lock the shutter release and now whenever a bird lands and is in focus, the camera takes a shot (or shots) :)

Leave the camera a while then come back and see what you've got!

Here's one I prepared earlier using 180mm Sigma macro (I think the sound of the shutter made him/her look at the camera)

 
King of Groove said:
Spotted this on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463374953&pf_rd_i=468294
Click to expand...

In principle the same bits as the kit I got - big difference in price though!

I went for the cheap ebay version because I didn't if the idea would work - namely low level remote firing producing some acceptable shots.

I forgot to mention, in the previous post, that if you are setting up for shooting outside near birds you should think about having some sound deadening material around the body [an old cushion in my case] - otherwise you are likely to scare the bird off each time you take a shot.
 
King of Groove said:
So what equipment would I need to produce the perfect bird pictures sitting say at my lounge table.
Click to expand...
Here's one way of doing it. This is an uncropped frame I shot from inside my lounge. The bird feeder is about 15m way down the garden.

339607192_zDTVS-L.jpg


Equipment? Canon 350D, 500mm f/4 L IS lens, plus two 2x teleconverters. Focal length was 2000mm actual, 3200mm full-frame equivalent.
 
I didn't realise you could use more than one teleconverter at once. So, on an f/4 lens, would two 2x teleconverters give you a max aperture of f/16?

Sorry to take the post OT
 
RichardC27 said:
I didn't realise you could use more than one teleconverter at once. So, on an f/4 lens, would two 2x teleconverters give you a max aperture of f/16?
Click to expand...
Yes. Wide open, my lens was effectively 2,000mm f/16. You sometimes need to be careful about which teleconverters you stack - for example a Canon 1.4x and a Canon 2x will only fit together one way round - and of course the image quality suffers, but you can do it.

Here is an example of someone stacking 5 teleconverters to produce a lens which is effectively 12,800mm f/91. It works, too!
 
:lol:
 
you just showing off that you have all them lenses now :lol: :D
 
That was entertaining, and as you said ,it was someone elses set up.

Encouraged me to see if my Kenco 1.4 and Canon 1.4 would work with the 100-400, it does too :) Manual focus of course.
 
Simmotino said:
The bird fills the frame primarily because by the time you've stacked all those TC's on the back of the lens and bolted it to the camera, your lens is 14 and a half meters long! :lol:
Click to expand...

:lol:

My opinion is to get out there, and hide in some camo netting while sitting on a deck chair :lol: The neighbours might think your mad but who cares :lol:
 
Simmotino said:
The bird fills the frame primarily because by the time you've stacked all those TC's on the back of the lens and bolted it to the camera, your lens is 14 and a half meters long! :lol:
Click to expand...
That made me laugh. It would be another way of "getting closer to the birds", wouldn't it!

Nice one.
 
Well folks yesterday was a big day!

Decided to start on my project to photograph birds in my back garden. As mentioned before a bit of beginner on this front.

I decided to use my D70 with 70-300 (non vr lens) stuck on a monopod.

The Robin sat on the fence for ages but eventually gave in and came on the new bird feeder. I know the picture is far from perfect but I've made a start! I welcome C&C.

DSC_0852a.jpg
 
Been having a slight play in Photoshop Elements 6. C&C welcomed.

DSC_0852d.jpg
 
King of Groove said:
Anyone with C&C?!!

:tumbleweed:
Click to expand...

It's certainly a reasonable start but my number one objective would be to get some shots with the bird in natural surroundings.

Robins like to perch before coming to feeders so will be more than happy to stand on a nearby branch which you place to suit.

If you are quick, & lucky:thumbs:, you'll catch them in flight between the two!

Personally I enjoy the logistics of it all as much as the shooting:cuckoo:!

Good luck with it.
 
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