This article shares a selection of handheld images of sparrows by the pond in my backyard. All photographs were captured through my kitchen window which overlooks the pond.
Often during hot, humid weather in July and August in Southern Ontario it can be somewhat challenging finding subject birds to photograph. It can be a bit frustrating to travel to a location that has been productive earlier in the season, to discover a shortage of avian subject matter.
During the peak of summer, this shortage of birds sometimes leads me to shift my priorities in terms of photographing dragonflies and other insects. I also spend some time with flower photography.
On the positive side, one of the consistent opportunities for bird photography that I do have during the summer doldrums, are birds by the pond in my backyard. These are very commons species like sparrows… but they can still be fun to photograph if one can catch them in action.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
One morning last week I happened to glance out of my kitchen window and noticed a number of animated sparrows by the pond. My camera happened to be on the kitchen counter so I thought I’d spend 5 or 6 minutes capturing a few, quick images.
As I grabbed my camera I quickly dialed my Custom Mode Dial to C3 (my Pro Capture H setting) and went to the window to start capturing a few image runs.
Virtually any bird is more interesting to photograph if you can capture it in some kind of action sequence. Even if it is just hopping from one rock to another. Using technology like Pro Capture H for this type of opportunity is an invaluable tool.
We have a large Japanese maple that surrounds the waterfall on the top portion of our pond. If a bird is launching into flight at a favourable angle, I can often get some usable images.
Getting in close to a small bird like a sparrow in flight often yields some pleasing images… even though the species of bird is commonplace. l enjoy the look of concentration and intensity that is often present with these action captures.
I find that photographing sparrows by the pond is also a very good practice exercise as it helps me hone my shutter release timing. This is important when I use Pro Capture H with my E-M1X, and the birds are flying towards my camera. If my response time is not quick enough they can fly out of focus before I can get a good image capture.
We keep our pond running 7/24 all year round so area birds will have someplace to bath, and drink throughout the year. Even though I was only at my kitchen window for 5 or 6 minutes I was able to capture 3 nice image runs of sparrows taking flight from the water. One of the decided benefits of building a backyard pond is attracting birds all year round.
From a photographic perspective I really love having water droplets spraying about, or having water cascading off a bird. These details add some context and interest to photographs. In the following short set of consecutive images the sparrow took flight in an upward trajectory… so I was only able to capture 3 useable photographs before the sparrow left my composition.
I was able to capture another Pro Capture H run of a sparrow taking flight using a more horizontal flight path. Rather than producing 3 useable images, this Pro Capture H run yielded 7 good images.
Our final sparrows by the pond image run is my favourite one from that day. In fact, these three consecutive images are probably my all time favourite sparrow in flight images.
Not everyone who enjoys bird photography has the opportunity and/or the financial capability to participate in bird photography travel excursions. What we can take advantage of is all of the bird life in our local areas. Hopefully this article has demonstrated at least to a small degree, that even very common birds like sparrows can be interesting photographic subjects. Especially when captured in action sequences.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. I used my standard Pro Capture H camera settings for all of the images in this article: 60 frames per second, Pre-Shutter Frames and Frame Limiter both set to 15, and a single, small AF point engaged. This is the 1,306 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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By the By, I pickup the EM1 mkiii specifically for astro photography because of the starry night focus feature. Today, I went out in the yard and had the 300 f4 mounted, and setup for fast shooting, this camera is a speed demon, almost faster than my X. I find the X shoots faster in mechanical shutter, and the M.3 in electronic shutter which is so fast with no blackout whatsoever …
Hi Randy,
My wife really enjoys her E-M1 Mark III… I seldom use it as I don’t find that particular body comfortable to use. I find both cameras quick and responsive… but have never compared them.
Tom
I know how it is with something that happens all of a sudden. I was in my backyard making test shots with the X and 300 f4, when I spotted a gaggle (is that right) of crows flying in and around the pine tree in the front yard. I quickly grabbed my C4 which is procap L, f5.6, auto ISO, and adjusting shutter as I went. I made some amazing crows in flight, landing and other gymnastics they work doing. Out of all the cameras I have ever shot with, never had the tools that the X gives me to quickly get shots that would be otherwise impossible to catch.
BTW, nice shots out the windur!
Randy
Hi Randy,
I’ve also found the E-M1X is the most capable camera that I’ve ever owned. No doubt in my mind I’ve captured images with this camera that I would have missed with anything else that I’ve owned in the past.
Tom
How do you keep your pond unfrozen in the winter? I have little ponds but I rarely see any birds near them, except for this year as we had a summer drought and the birds really needed water.
Great photos of these little cuties!
Hi Joni,
When I built the pond I designed it with two levels. Each level receives water from a small waterfall. We never turn off the water pump so there is water circulation and moving water in both levels of the pond all year round. In the winter we also have an electric floating pond heater. We place this in the bottom level. We still get some surface ice during very cold periods in the winter but there is usually some open water on both levels of the pond. In extreme cold (e.g. -25C) The surface of the ponds may be covered in ice, but underneath that ice there is still moving water. The waterfalls along with the moving water aerates the water and keeps the goldfish alive during the winter.
Tom