I have to admit I was crazy about bird photography once. I bought a macro lens (75-300 mm) thinking I would click flowers. After I got the Macro I started chasing the birds instead. I did it for a long time. But I would never be too happy with my pictures barring a few. And I always wonder what was I doing wrong?
Spot Billed Duck, Hauz Khas, Delhi
I then interacted with some photographers and looked at the gear they used. In the end a bigger zoom or a teleconverter would help my cause. But birding is a patience game too . And many a times you need to use a tripod (that reminds me I am without a tripod at the moment) and that once again means patience.
Spot Billed Duck Creating Ripples, Hauz Khas, Delhi
I do think I have patience but it is the time that is at a premium. I don’t think I ever have devoted more than 2-3 hours to my bird photography at a stretch (with a few exceptions). And with a 75-300 you need to get really close to the bird to get a decent picture. Using it hand held will make everything blurred unless there is a lot of light! When there is a lot of light the birds might decide to hide away and take their afternoon siesta!
And I went round and round in circles till I decided it is alright. At the moment I don’t see anyway where I could devote more time to developing my bird photography skills. But I do like clicking birds and I will and post the pictures occasionally. So what if they are not what I would really like them to be. I love clicking birds and that is enough I guess.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Amit.
Thanks Niranjan.
Sushil I will search for that bird sanctuary near Yamuna for sure. Thanks for the tip.
Anu
I miss those times when I could just tell myself that I started blogging for fun and forget the rest! I really wonder if it is a good thing or a bad thing.
Thanks Rama.
Desi Traveller but it has to be a big zoom lens! And even then it is uncertain whether the bird will pose or not.
Thanks Chirag.
Thanks Panchali.
Thanks Tom and Charlie.
Always great to see new species of birds from all over the world!
drooling on your experience–wow!
lovely pictures
Birds will always fascinate anybody who loves nature… they have a magnetic charm that makes the lens move towards them.
Great captures. The first one with reflections is splendid.
lovely capture… its been years and years since i have been there.. and i certainly dont remember ducks!! about bird photography, i was almost enroute to buying a dslr, and then went on the corbett trip with lakshmi, karthik, neelima and the others, and realised that travelling with samhith, there was no way i could take proper care of the camera, lenses, tripod, other equipment.. and keep changing lenses with my varied interests… which is why i settled on the bridge camera i now have… and every time i see a bird and want a better shot, i remind myself why i bought this in the first place!
A BRILLIANT CAPTURE
*Nice Start *
There is a bird century in Noida near the Yammuna . ( when we come from Sarita Vihar ) I hope you wud find many kind of birds many in this winters
Thanks for the information about Valley of flowers n Ghangaria
Nice capture.
http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Cute birds nicely clicked! Great post, Mridula:)