My First Bird Photos

[psran]

I just bought a Tamron 70-300 VC and was wanting to test my skills and the new glass. These are some of the Shots I captured in my backyard, just casual shoot.Please guide me about my mistakes with technique etc. These pics have been heavily cropped and also its my first experience with uploading pics on forum.

Please be a bit gentle in guiding me

 

[AceCo55]

If you are looking for critiques, you would be better off posting in the "photo galleries" which are for "Photos submitted by members for general display or critique"
There is one for "Nature and Wildlife" - I'm sure you will get more of a response there and from excellent photographers that will be able to provide detailed feeback
Nature & Wildlife

 

[psran]

Okay now that I am in correct section, someone BUMP

 

[Bo4key]

In most of them, the lighting seems to be off or flat and the subject is darker than most of the backgrounds. A good rule of thumb I like to use when shooting birds is to get the sun to my back if at all possible. That way the light is shining on the subject and you will most likely get a catchlight in their eyes which will give them life.

If it isn't possible to get the sun behind you, you will need to switch the camera to spot metering and meter off the subject. This will cause some of the backgrounds to wash out but at least you will get proper exposure of the subject.

I also find that shooting birds against mostly a bright sky background (blue or grey) is difficult to nail the exposure and avoid a flat looking shot.

As for composition, you are centering the subject in most these shots which is not ideal. Maybe do some reading on composition or check out a photo site like 500px and do a search on bird & wildlife and see how others are doing it.

 

[SCraig]

Whenever possible eliminate man-made objects from your shots. Power poles, wires, houses, etc. do not add to a natural setting.

 

[baturn]

A couple of suggestions for posting - 1. number the photos
2. ID the birds.

 

[HL45]

Third picture is nice, great first attempt!

 

[JacaRanda]

You really have a couple of interesting birds, I would love to know what they are in pictures 3 & 6.

 

[psran]

You really have a couple of interesting birds, I would love to know what they are in pictures 3 & 6.

Pics 2 & 3 are Indian Mynah. I am not sure about 6th one just saw them around so clicked them

Edit - 6th one is Red- vested Bulbul

 

[psran]

Thanks everyone for your useful comments

I can see that all the poles etc have made the pics look a bit unnatural but this was just a shoot I did around the place I live, I am not well versed with Post-processing so could not remove them

I am sure I will get better ones next time

 

[psran]

Pics 2 & 3 are Indian Mynah. I am not sure about 6th one just saw them around so clicked them Edit - 6th one is Red- vested Bulbul

Edit - 6th one is Red-vested Bulbul

 

[psran]

Got some more pictures today, though not great technically.1. Black Drongo, very rarely seen in our region. I somehow ended using a slow shutter speed of 1/15, hence not so sharp image




2. White Chested Kingfisher. Alas I could not capture his Blue coloured back, he just flew away



3. Red Wattled Lapwing, very common in our region

 

[psran]

Got some more pics from a local Bird sanctuary. Pics range from Bad to ugly to very ugly
1.Rose ringed Parakeet




5. Two white throated kingfishers ( Very Beautiful)



I used a Tamron 70-300 VC handheld with Nikon D7000 for all the shots. Birds were quite far and I had to do a lot of cropping. To me most of them look unusable, don't know how people manage with only 300mm. Getting photos of BIF was almost impossible Some more pics to follow. C&c

P.S:- I would be updating the Bird names as I find themwelcome

 

[psran]

Someone kind enough to reply ?

 

[HL45]

Someone kind enough to reply ? I used a Tamron 70-300 VC handheld with Nikon D7000 for all the shots. Birds were quite far and I had to do a lot of cropping. To me most of them look unusable, don't know how people manage with only 300mm. Getting photos of BIF was almost impossible

You about said it all. 400mm would be minimum unless you can get close!