Basics of Bird Photography

Specialized photography often calls for specific equipment tailored to the subject at hand. Birding photography is no exception. There are key considerations to be dealt with in terms of film, lenses, method of stabilization, and lighting.

Film - Fast or Slow?

The grain of a photograph depends upon the speed of the film selected. Slow speed films will produce the least amount of grain and the sharpest images but they are not appropriate to capture swiftly-moving birds. Faster films produce more grain but are capable of stopping action. A good compromise is a 400 ISO film such as Kodak's Kodachrome, Fuji Velvia, Fuji Provia or Fuji Sensia. These films have good color saturation and 400 ISO is fast enough to stop action but slow enough to offer minimal grain.

Length of Lens

Long lenses work best for bird photography. Look for something in the 300mm-600mm range or invest in teleconverters. Don't ignore the f-stop of your lens. The longer the lens the less you can "stop it down." You want to stay somewhere around F5.6 to get a good convergence of light and shutter speed as well as a pleasing depth of field.

Tripod or Monopod

Tripods are generally used for supporting cameras and telephoto lens but they can be bulky and difficult to manipulate. Make sure you find a tripod heavy enough to support your camera but flexible enough to be moved easily. Choose a tripod head with a good range of movement and a quick release feature. Don't rule out using a monopod if you expect to be moving around a lot. Good manufacturers of both types of support systems include Manfrotto/ Bogen, Foba and Arca Swiss.

Continue to : Special Lighting Considerations for Birding Photography