The conditions for bird photography were less than ideal today with grey, overcast skies and blustery winds. Since the bird migration season is underway I decided to grab a couple of cameras and head off to the Hendrie Valley Sanctuary anyway, just to see what opportunities I could find. I noticed a couple of gulls bickering over a dead fish and watched them intently, thinking that something noteworthy may occur. This article features 40 consecutive photographs of an attempted fish theft captured at 60 frames per second. Continue reading Attempted Fish Theft Captured at 60 Frames Per Second
Category Archives: Bird Photography
Using Slow Shutter Speeds to Photograph Wild Birds Handheld
Readers who enjoy bird photography can attest to the fact that many people go out early in the morning to capture their images. This can be a challenge, especially when using a camera with a smaller sensor, as higher ISO values are often used during this time of day. This article shares a few images and discusses using slow shutter speeds to photograph wild birds handheld. Continue reading Using Slow Shutter Speeds to Photograph Wild Birds Handheld
Great Blue Heron Interspecies Aggression
On Labour Day (Sept 3) I took some time out of my schedule to visit the Hendrie Valley Sanctuary to do some bird photography. As I studied various species of birds I decided to move closer to a great blue heron and a group of Canada geese. This short article shares some images of great blue heron interspecies aggression. Continue reading Great Blue Heron Interspecies Aggression
Wing Positions Can Add Drama
Bird photography can become somewhat of an addictive pastime for a number of reasons. One never knows what photographic opportunity Mother Nature will provide, and once presented, if we will be up to the task of capturing it. Many of us regularly go out to photograph birds even though we may already have thousands of images of a particular species. What keeps us coming back is the anticipation that our next image may capture something special, different, or better, than during our last outing. This short article shares some images that (hopefully) demonstrate that wing positions can add drama to our bird photographs. Continue reading Wing Positions Can Add Drama
Gull Swallowing a Fish at 15 FPS
When we are out with our cameras capturing nature photographs it is beneficial to notice small, commonplace events as they can still produce interesting images. This article features a selection of images of a gull swallowing a fish at 15 FPS (frames per second). Continue reading Gull Swallowing a Fish at 15 FPS
Green Heron Fishing
There are a number of species of herons, each having its own preferred prey and approach to fishing/feeding. This article shares a selection of photographs of a green heron fishing along with some observations about the fishing style of this species. Continue reading Green Heron Fishing
Quick Adjustments to a Dark Bird Image using DxO PhotoLab
While I was out recently photographing some green herons, I captured some images of one perked on a branch inside a tree. This article provides some progressive images and commentary about doing some quick adjustments to a dark bird image using DxO PhotoLab. Continue reading Quick Adjustments to a Dark Bird Image using DxO PhotoLab
Post Hopping Heron
In some previous articles the importance of getting to know specific environments and observing bird behaviour has been discussed. This short article continues that content thread by sharing some images of a post hopping heron. Continue reading Post Hopping Heron
Heron Catching Two Fish Simultaneously
Many photographers, when talking about how they got hooked on bird photography, will mention the thrill of capturing some unique moments. It could be a bird-in-flight, birds fighting, a parent bird feeding an offspring, an unusual posture, special lighting, or a bird hunting. This article features a selection of images of a heron catching two fish simultaneously. Continue reading Heron Catching Two Fish Simultaneously
Frame Rate and Buffer Size Considerations
When considering camera gear for nature photography many people primarily focus on sensor size and lens focal length/aperture. These are important factors, especially when shooting in lower light conditions. Camera frame rate and buffer size are also important factors to consider if you plan on regularly photographing birds-in-flight and other action subjects. This article features 40 consecutive images of a goose running on the surface of a pond, captured during a recent visit to the Hendrie Valley Sanctuary. I would have missed many of the photographs in this image series if I had been using a camera with a slower frame rate and a smaller buffer. Continue reading Frame Rate and Buffer Size Considerations