I don’t believe that I photograph any species more pugnacious than the Cliff Swallow. Their combative nature can lead to some interesting photo opportunities but they’re so darned quick that doing it well is very difficult.
You have to get lucky to get good light on a raptor in flight when the sun’s high in the sky.
It’s surprisingly difficult to anticipate direction of take-off, even as birds leave the entrance to a nest cavity in a tree.
Many things can go wrong when photographing birds at take-off and clipping wings is at or near the top of the list. The amount of room the photographer needs to allow for raised (or lowered) wings is hugely deceiving. Sure, you may catch the wings in a horizontal position without clipping them but that position is generally much less desirable.
The background bokeh of an image can have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic quality of an image.
It seems that one species or another usually predominates on my trips to Antelope Island. Four days ago it was Sage Thrashers demonstrating springtime behaviors.
Once again, a little photo-geekiness from me this morning. I know that some regular readers of Feathered Photography (especially those who are photographers themselves) sometimes wonder why I tend to use such fast shutter speeds so I thought I’d attempt an explanation.
Western Meadowlarks are now singing by the gazillion from their elevated perches on Antelope Island so I’m getting some opportunities for take-off shots.
Typically this is a shot I would have missed because I’d have anticipated the wrong direction for take-off.
I find it helpful to set photographic goals even though some of them may never be attained and only frustration results.
Photographing a bird as it lands is much more difficult than when it is taking off.
