Bird Portrait How-To

[deeky]

So how do you get a nice close-up of a wild bird? Find one with a bit of an attitude and get near its nest. This was one of the moments it wasn't hovering over my head trying to drive me off.

As always, comments welcome.

IMG_8225a1 by breckmiller, on Flickr

 

[Overread]

Very nice portrait, a tricky subject but looks like the light was nice and cloudy/soft for you and thus letting you get some detailing in the black areas so that its black coloured not just a smear of underexposed black. Very striking bird.



That said, whilst I'm sure you mean it in a playful manner, I should hasten to warn that disturbance of the nest is a very risky thing for many birds. Disturbance can cause many to abandon nests (even if they work to defend them whilst you are there) and thus its not something I'd advocate using as a method. If you think the nest is near the best thing is to walk away and let the bird relax. Sure you might not get the photo, but you can rest safer knowing that you'v done your bit to try and let that bird produce offspring.

This is especially true of rare or endagered birds where every chick really can count!

 

[Jeff G]

Beautiful shot, might want to include a hardhat into your kit.

 

[Jeff15]

Nice shot......

 

[deeky]

That said, whilst I'm sure you mean it in a playful manner,

You are absolutely correct. It was said toungue-in-cheek. I was walking an established trail and kept an eye out for a nest for the sake of avoiding it, but saw none. I only assumed there was a nest based on their reaction to my presence. Click, click, move on.