BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
Greg Meenehan

There can be few bird owners who have not thought at some stage that it would be nice to have a photograph of their pet. Whether that picture does justice to its beauty and character is probably partly down to the quality of the camera used and partly down to luck.
But there are ways that you can improve the final image and get a result that will give pleasure for years to come, as well as providing a useful means of identification in the event of a theft or disappearance.
Whenever a bird goes missing, one of the first questions that the owner will be asked is whether they have a recent photograph for use on fliers to be circulated in the area of the disappearance.
But hopefully any pictures that you take will play a more pleasurable role. I have seen portraits of birds printed to look as if they had been painted in oils on canvas, hanging in pride of place on living room walls.

Digital revolution
Digital cameras have all but taken over from film, now, with the advantage that you can see what you have taken immediately and print the result using your computer.
As with most things, the more expensive the camera the better the final result, and 35 mm digital cameras with removable lenses are the most versatile, though the results from compact cameras with several megapixels are also impressive.
The main difference will be in how close you can get to the bird to fill the frame, which makes the picture more dramatic. But even if the focal length of the lens is not in the region of the 70 mm-plus needed to do justice to a single bird, you can still take great pictures of the bird interacting with someone, perhaps on their shoulder, with a shorter lens.

Tips for success
The important things to remembers are:
o choose a place where the light is good, such as close to a window;
o be aware of the background and keep it as plain as possible to avoid it becoming a distraction;
o pick a day when the sun is shining but not at full strength. Hazy light that creates soft shadows create the best pictures, and in strong sunlight it is often better to take pictures in the shade or wait until the evening. Different times of the day will give different results;
o be aware of the direction of the sun, and get someone to hold reflective material, such as a sheet of tin foil, on the opposite side from the main light to reflect some back on to the bird;
o use a flash if your camera has one, even in daylight, as the artificial light will bring out the colours and the feather detail;
o get someone to stand behind you and attract the bird¹s attention, possibly by rattling a bunch of keys or scrunching a crisp packet;
o always focus carefully using the bird¹s eye as the target. If the eye is not in focus, the picture will look second rate;
o keep the camera very still while squeezing the shutter release gently. Camera shake will ruin a good picture;
o get down so that you are at the bird¹s eye level, or put it on a perch. Looking down on a bird from human height is not a flattering angle;
o try giving the bird something to eat or play with to add interest to the photo;
o if your camera¹s exposure settings can be altered, try taking shots at different apertures and shutter speeds, and keep a record of what you did so that you will know what settings worked best;
o try taking full-length portraits and then just the head, getting as close as your camera will allow;
o be aware that trial and error are the keys to success, and that only by experimentation and analysis of the results will you find out what works and what doesn¹t.

Spread your wings
If you feel like branching out into taking pictures of birds other than your pets, there are lots of places where this can be done.
Zoos, bird gardens and falconry centres provide lots of opportunities for the price of admission, and game fairs and rescue centres are also good places to visit with a camera.
Many of the birds in zoos will be behind wire mesh or glass, though you can still get reasonable pictures if you have a longish lens and hold it close to the wire.
Flying displays offer some of the best opportunities, with nothing between you and the bird, and often time is set aside for picture taking at the end.
The local park or waterfowl centre or even the river or canal could also provide more opportunities, while some people set up hides and feeding stations in their back garden or install a bird bath.
With so many people turning to digital photography, there are some excellent bargains in the second-hand film camera market.
Armed with a 300 mm lens and a 35 mm film camera and flash you can explore the world of bird photography, from pigeons being fed in the market square to the exotic birds that you come across while on holiday, and perhaps even sell some of your work to magazines and newspapers.
All it takes is a little patience and perseverance, and a desire to capture images of the rich variety of bird life for you and others to enjoy.