Birds?

[Japaslavian]

Excuse my ignorance but to all you bird photographers out there...

What is the allure of bird photography? I don't mean to come off as a jerk, but I'm really curious as to what draws you to photograph birds. I only ask, as yesterday I went down to the water to do some more waterscape type things when I ran into an older gentleman with this enormous telephoto lens shooting the passing cars and and than writing things down. He struck up a conversation with me about why I was just standing there with a remote in my hand and was a little dumbfounded when I explained that I was waiting for my 5 minute exposure to finish, but then continued to explain that he was testing his lens at different settings to see which setting gave him the sharpest image. He than went on to say that what he was doing was incredibly boring, even more so than me staring at my little LCD waiting for the second timer to hit 300. I couldn't help but think to myself, bird photography seems like the most boring, un-gratifying, and mundane photographic venture I can think of, even more so (as he said) than sitting around for 5 minutes while you camera struggles to see through 19 stops worth of ND filters...

So I ask... Why birds? I know there must be a good reason, because so many people do it, I've just yet to figure it out. Maybe it's just one of those, "it comes with time" kind of things, because (no offense, really) I only really see more mature adults doing this kind of photography.

[ZannieGirl49]

I'm not a bird photographer but I would think that it would either be a part of someone's interest in the larger field of wildlife photography or a natural extension of an interest in birdwatching. Maybe to help in cataloging different species?

Now I'll sit back and wait for some actual bird photographers to respond.

[RichardTaylor]

Why shoot birds?

All the examples are birds in the wilds of suburban Sydney, Australia

(1) It can be a technical challenge to get good shots.

(2) You will see, and photograph, action that that not a lot of people have seen.



(3) It will improve your photographic skills in "capturing the moment"
It is no different to a lot of outdoor sports photography in that similar equipment is used and you have no control over your subject.



(4) It gets you out of the house and into nature.



(5) it is fun.

[Japaslavian]

Hmm yeah I guess I can see all that.

I guess It's just one of those things I could never see myself getting into, so I immediately dismissed it.

CARRY ON

[ZannieGirl49]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

Why shoot birds?

All the examples are birds in the wilds of suburban Sydney, Australia

(1) It can be a technical challenge to get good shots.

(2) You will see, and photograph, action that that not a lot of people have seen.



(3) It will improve your photographic skills in "capturing the moment"
It is no different to a lot of outdoor sports photography in that similar equipment is used and you have no control over your subject.



(4) It gets you out of the house and into nature.



(5) it is fun.

Your images are beautiful. I especially like the last one, not just because of the technique but because it is just very sweet. Sorry, I don't mean to turn this into SYS. Maybe I'll have to pay a visit to the local egrets when I get a zoomier lens.

[candleman]

awesome shot of the Kingfisher Richard! (or is that a Kookaburra ?? )

i dont shoot birds, not with my camera anyway.

I can see it could be fun in a country where birds actually exist.. NZ has very little wildlife.
what the kick is.. not sure, i guess bird photographers get the sme kick out of capturing a bird that you get shooting water.
i suppose they could ask, whats so special about water?

i guess there is a special set of skills & knowlege required for bird photography.. and thats the learning experience Richard kinda mentioned.

[inkista]

The freedom of flight. Life & death struggles to catch and kill food. Sex. Violence. The look of vole guts strung out like spaghetti. All sorts of stuff make birds interesting and dramatic subject matter to me. YMMV, of course.



Plus, honestly? After shooting birds in flight? Event timing is a doddle. Why does anyone shoot any subject? Mostly, because they find it interesting.

[Q2SHOOT]

The few birds I've attempted to photograph have taught me how difficult a process it actually is. They're not the subject for the inexperienced or impatient photographer. I suggest you try and shoot a few birds to see what it's all about and maybe your interest will be tweaked.

[StillFocus]

I like wildlife photography in general because it's as interesting as it is challenging. If you don't find animals to be fascinating then obviously you aren't going to enjoy it, but I find that nature has a certain majesty to it.

Personally I spent around an hour this weekend trying to capture two hummingbirds fighting over a feeder, and the sense of accomplishment alone was worth the time spent.

[Japaslavian]

Well consider me schooled.

I still think it's boring, but I'm sure what I do is equally boring if not more so to others. Nature just isn't my thing I guess. I'm too much a fan of the lifeless to start photographing wildlife.

Though if it's any consolation:


There's some birds in that shot.