BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
Why do this workshop?
Q. Have you always wanted to improve your bird photography?
Q. Have you acquired a new telephoto lens, or a new camera body, and need some pointers?
Q. Have you admired those prize-winning action shots of birds? Do you want to know how they were taken and do the same?
Q. Would you like to learn how to operate your camera controls faster, that is “set it and forget it”?
In this full day workshop, you will learn how to locate and get close to elegant waterbirds, such as egrets, spoonbills, ducks and swans. You will learn how to set up your camera to capture fast action sequences of birds in flight. We might even get the amazing osprey as it dives for and captures fish in its talons.
Locking focus on a moving target and keeping it sharp throughout the action is trickier than you can imagine. Even experienced photographers have trouble. We will get you using the latest controls that are now built into even starter DSLR cameras.
We will cover:
the best time of day and conditions for action bird photography
the essential equipment like lenses, teleconverters, memory cards, tripods and heads
how to set your camera for consistently accurate exposure, no matter what the action
how to set your camera and equipment to get crisp, sharp and well-focused birds, including focus tracking and multi-point focusing.
Capturing the action is not all that makes up great bird pictures. The best ones are those with beautiful light and great composition. We will show you how to find the best light for birds and how to compensate when the available light is not the best. There are ways to still get striking photos of birds in flight in low light. We’ll try out innovative techniques like slow shutter speed motion blur, either on its own or assisted with flash. For those wanting to know more about flash, you’ll discover how it can brighten colours and dramatically increase sharpness.
Today’s DSLR cameras can capture a lot of digital information - but it has to be extracted properly. We will show you the best methods for pulling out the hidden colours, sharpness and vivid contrast lurking in those dull-looking RAW files. You’ll be a amazed at what can be done quite quickly with software like Lightroom and Photoshop, even turning those high ISO noisy captures into milky smooth backgrounds.
What makes this workshop special? What you will learn:
This is an intimate workshop, catering for one to four participants. You are assured of getting plenty of personal attention. Geoff White has led many landscape photography tours to New Zealand and has been concentrating on bird photography in recent years.
What are the requirements?
You should have a DSLR camera with both manual and auto modes. Either full frame or crop sensor is OK. If you want to use a mirrorless, then contact us first.
You should have a long telephoto lens, either with or without a teleconverter, to give you a focal length of at least 400 mm. Although fixed focal length lenses are good, a zoom lens is much more versatile.
A tripod/monopod with either a ball head or a gimbal, plus quick release, is ideal. However, if you want to just learn hand-holding techniques then it is fine to leave your tripod at home.
We won’t be doing a lot of walking or trekking or anything physically difficult. Anyone with moderate fitness (who can carry those heavy lenses!) will make a good bird photographer.
