Leave your thoughts below please…
But for me… You know what I’ve found with Bird Photography more than any other genre out there? There are ABSOLUTELY No guarantees here. I can’t even promise you that on any given outing you’ll even take a photo of a bird.Â
But we have a secret weapon in our corner that will help us stack the deck in our favor…
If you give me 10 minutes to watch this video, I bet I can help reset your approach and leave you with 3 practice strategies that I bet you haven’t tried before. (don’t forget to press the gear icon in the video play bar and you can speed me up if you want).
Also, please swing by and check out the brand new Guide to Bird Photography to get the best sale price along with some great bonuses.
Birds in Flight YouTube Video:
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
These are wonderful meditations. Some of the birds remind me of ballerinas moving through the air.
You were able to catch their power and delicacy at the same time.
I have been using this as part of my meditation practice. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I love photographing birds, however at 78 years old, with some mobility issues i am finding it more difficult. My solution is to shoot “backyard birds”, in the main and only go to wetlands that are accessible by my SUV. I have a reasonably large shade house, constructed for growing tomatoes, an extra layer of shade cloth that rolls up, when not in use, converts it to a very handy bird hide, facing the bird baths which sit 2mtrs above ground at a distance of about 10mtrs. Another similar bird bath sits about 3mtrs from my lounge room window which works a treat. A bit of a ramble, I know but these changes have allowed me to continue with one of my best loved photographic pursuit’s
Thanks Matt. I loved the course and learned a lot from it. Have been doing a bit of practice in the backyard as we are under lockdown. Great tips to use video – I had never thought of that!
Thanks Matt , you make photography easier to understand, you don’t box us into brands , and details . You take “daunting” out of it – love the way you show how to do the bird photography , something I struggle with, I was impressed with using the tips, think it’s not only birds but everything with motion. I’m looking to utilise this now .. practice a key – not so hung up on buying gear but using. what I have – amazing course , concise and enjoyable….thanks
Great practice tips that I haven’t seen anywhere else – thanks.
Great tips Matt. I never thought to practice on a video in the house. I always appreciate your tips. Thanks!!!
Bam!! I try to practice everyday. Photographing common birds or birds in poor light or poor composition can be instructive. I go out with some very adept birders and I tell them I’m a photographer who enjoys photographing birds, versus a birder who documents birds. There is nothing more rewarding than coming back from an outing with a beautiful portrait of a bird or an action shot of a bird in flight or fishing/hunting. To enjoy this hobby you have to put in the time. My mindset when I go out is even if I don’t come back with a good photo I’m going to enjoy myself and have a good day.
Matt, your BIF video is beautiful! And so relaxing. Love your choice of music. May I ask, do you slow down the movement in post post-processing? Or are you doing it in camera?
Practising AF on a birds in flight video… inspired idea.
Hi Matt, Before a trip I will go to the lake, weather permitting, every day for weeks to practice and make my reactions with the camera completely instinctive, but this simple idea is something I would never have considered. Thank you so much.
Wow, Those three tips are priceless. I would never have thought to do this. So simple, yet priceless in what can be learned and the confidence that can be gained by doing these three things.
I love Seth Godin, so you had me in the first moment. Love the ideas and you can use those for many areas of photography that you need to practice. I loved it. I love birds, but hadn’t considered or heard of any of those ideas before, so thank you
Guitars, golf, photography, or anything in life one doesn’t achieve mastery without practice. Great, practical tips.
Don’t try to start with swallows… ?
Mike.
And don’t look down. Keep your eye on the bird, and bring your camera up. Your hands know where your eye is.
Matt, you are a gem! These are great ideas and I would never have thought of them. I’m stealing my grandkids’ stuffed toys now!
As usual, your instructional videos are the best of the best. I learn so much from you—you make everything simple and easy to understand. Thanks!
Awesome tips. You never fail to amaze me with your ability to break down the whole into manageable chunks.
Matt – thank you so much for this video and others. You are a gifted teacher who constantly challenges me and helps me to capture the photos I imagine!
I have a lake near me that is Gull hang out I practice on them !!! I see them everywhere even in parking lots I think they make great practice subjects!!
When I got my first mirrorless camera last summer, the transition from my old Nikon DSLR was not easy. I used YouTube bird videos on a large screen to practice with focus zones and various types of subject tracking. It really accelerated my learning. In addition to videos, static pictures can make good learning subjects. For example, put on the screen photos of wedding receptions showing lots of people and learn which eyes the camera decides to use for focus. Pets, dolls, and teddy bears also make patient subjects. Happy to see you suggesting this type of learning/practice. It really works.
Great video and great advice on how to and too practice!
Love this! Thanks Matt.
Matt, I had to laugh. Everything you said is so true I go out everyday and many and most days I don’t even turn the camera on. But that’s the fun, the adventure of what you may get. You’ve been on my web site. Your right. It could take 100 shots to get the right shot. If it was easy, it would be no fun, no challenge. The other thing of course is put up a bird feeder or two.
You won’t have to wait so long.
Ken in NE Ohio
Great ideas! With Smart TV’s you can play them on there too to have a larger viewing area to practice on.
Yes! great idea!
Just what I am doing now!
Bird Photography is challenging, rewarding, and FUN. Your comments are refreshing and useful. One more tip, be patient with yourself it takes time to learn how to photograph birds and wildlife. You will likely always get less keepers that throwaways.
Great ideas for practise. Thanks
Brilliant! Thanks Matt. These are so simple, easy to do, and who would have thought?
We have no more excuses.
Fabulous ideas! On Amazon now looking for birds.
And I am going to sign up for your bird photography course. Always been a landscape photographer but branching out of my comfort zone may be good for me and my photography.
Thanks for the great video
Great ideas, Matt!
I do like the idea of practicing in order to have a better, more “automatic” feel when out in the field.
GREAT VIDEO!!! Spot on! That video should help a lot of people