Really quick - there is still space on the Colombia Photo-birding extravaganza that I am leading for Alvaro's Adventures Jun 22 - July 2 (full PDF itinerary linked just above my bio on that page). The general idea of this trip is to move slightly slower than on a normal birding trip so that we have time to collect shots in photographically productive areas - like around feeder arrays. We will not be sitting in a blind all day waiting for that one perfect shot, and we will cover plenty of habitats to run up your Colombian list! So, if you carry a camera while birding, I know you'll really enjoy this tour. We'll be visiting these exact spots (and many others!) where I collected these shots.
***Click images for larger, sweeter views***
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager - Anisognathus somptuosus
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 7D Mark II
1/200 at f/7.1, ISO 1600
Buffy Helmetcrest - Oxypogon stuebelii
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO II on EOS 7D2
1/800 at f/6.3, ISO 800
OK, on with the show! Since I've given you a lot to read in my recent Ecuador posts, I am just going to share a few recent photos and give you a few tips that might help you capture a few of your own.
***Again, click images for larger, sweeter views***
American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
Canon 500mm f/4 IS on EOS 7D Mark II
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 400
Tip #1 - Get Low
This is the single most valuable tip that I can offer. Shooting down on shorebirds (from the standing position, for example) doesn't do much to imbue them with character. You really need to get down to their eye level to make them seem larger than life. That will also help with bokeh (blur) and subject isolation from both the foreground and background. Getting low will also allow much closer approach. Shorebirds are really trusting, provided that you're laying down on your stomach. I know many people can't easily get low or just don't want to lay in wet sand or mud, but that's what I had to do to collect most of the shots in this post.
American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 5D Mark IV
1/2000 at f/5.6, ISO 800
American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 5D Mark IV
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 500
Tip #2 - Study tide tables
If you're going to be shooting somewhere tidal, it is imperative that you know what the tides are doing. For example, I never shoot SF Bay on low tide as the birds are too far out on the flats to make effective images. Likewise, the highest tide can be tough as the flats are completely inundated and the bird move elsewhere to roost. I generally look for mid-tides in the early morning or later afternoon so that I have decent light for the desired water level. It also helps to know what your subject eats so that you can find the tide when that food source is exposed. Rocky shorebirds, for example, might hide on high tide and then appear as the tide drops and exposes the rocks that they prefer. So, know your tides! It's easy to find them online.
Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 5D Mark IV
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 640
Black Oystercatcher - Haematopus bachmani
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II on EOS 7D Mark II
1/2000 at f/6.3, ISO 640
Black Oystercatcher - Haematopus bachmani
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II on EOS 7D Mark II
1/2000 at f/5.6, ISO 640
Tip #3 - Use a very fast shutter for shorebird flight work
While shorebirds on the ground are relatively straightforward, shorebirds in-flight present a big challenge, particularly the little guys. Shorebirds fly really fast and most beat their wings very rapidly, so a fast shutter is going to be required to properly stop the action and get a sharp image. 1/2000 is the absolute slowest I'll go for shorebird flight work, but I generally prefer 1/2500 or 1/3200. In late afternoon sunlight, my starting settings are always 1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 400. I'll bring the ISO up as the sun drops, and, if I stay towards sunset, start dropping the shutter speed at that point to get correct exposure. Some people get scared off by higher ISOs but remember, you can fix noise - but not blur - in post-production. I generally skip shooting on days with less that perfect sunlight, but that's a luxury of living in California!
Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II on EOS 7D Mark II
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 400
Dunlin - Calidris alpina
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO II + 1.4x III on EOS 5D Mark IV
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 400
Willet - Tringa semipalmata
Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO II + 1.4x III on EOS 5D Mark IV
1/2500 at f/5.6, ISO 640
Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 5D Mark IV
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 640
OK, that's it for now. And don't forget about Colombia!
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