Guest
article:
A
Photographer's Guide To Finding Birds
By
Scott Bourne
Shorebirds,
water birds, birds of prey, exotic birds, and song birds
are just some of the many types of bird subjects that
inspire great images. And no matter where you live,
you can find some of these birds to photograph.
The
great thing about photographing birds is that you can
start in your own back yard. Plant a few bird-friendly
plants, set out some birdbaths and feeders, and build
a blind to attract desirable subjects. If you want birds
that do not inhabit your area, or you want more skittish
birds like hawks, you will need to consider wildlife
models and zoos.
One
of the best ways to find birds of prey is to see if
you have a bird rescue center in your area. These organizations
typically provide medical care and shelter for birds
that were injured or orphaned in the wild. These places
can be an ideal source for photographers who want access
to birds that are not normally approachable.
Call
around until you find a rescue center and then introduce
yourself. Tell the operators of the center that you
are a wildlife photographer and would like a chance
to photograph the birds they work with. Promise to follow
any guidelines they establish, agree to give them copies
of the images you make for promotional use, and if necessary,
offer to make a donation to help them with their work.
This can be a great way to get close-up portraits of
birds under controlled conditions where you can predetermine
the background and look for the right light. Try to
find birds that have minimal injuries or that have been
nearly rehabilitated. Even if a bird has a bad wing
for instance, you may still be able to make a striking
head and shoulders portrait.
Zoos
are another great source for bird photography. Many
zoos maintain large bird collections. In some cases,
these birds may even be in areas that are photographically
accessible. The San Diego Wildlife Park and San Diego
Zoo have several bird exhibits with natural habitats
that make great photographic backgrounds. The San Diego
Wildlife Park features an African bird exhibit that
allows many great photo opportunities with general admission.
Some of the best bird photographs we’ve made have
been at zoos.
If
your local zoo doesn’t have the birds in an area
that you can photograph, call the zoo society and see
if you can arrange for special access through a docent
or handler. Many zoos will make this access available
to you in return for rights to use the images. Still
others may charge a fee. If they have good specimens,
it may be worthwhile.
Private
game owners often will allow photographers access for
a fee. In Roma, Texas, Roel Ramirez has established
blinds and feeders on a section of his property offering
some of the best opportunities to photograph songbirds
you will ever find. (To photograph birds on private
ranches in Texas, check out lensandland.com.)
And
don’t forget aquariums. They are likely to have
water bird exhibits or habitats that attract non-captive
birds. In Newport, Or., at the Newport Aquarium, the
puffin exhibit is superb.
And
then there are wildlife refuges. Places like Bosque
del Apache in central New Mexico are a bird photographer’s
dream.
Wherever
you live, chances are you're within an hour of some
great bird photography. If all else fails, contact your
local Audubon Society and ask for their advice.
---
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Scott
Bourne is the co-author of "88 Secrets to Wildlife
Photography" with Rod Barbee. Scott has also written
three other photo books. All are available from Olympic
Mountain School Press, http://www.mountainschoolpress.com
His work has also appeared in books, magazines, galleries,
calendars, on greeting cards, web sites and on posters.
Scott
is a professional photographer, author, teacher and
pioneer in the digital imaging field. His career started
in the early 70s as a stringer covering motor sports
for Associated Press in Indiana. Since then, he has
shot commercial, portrait, wedding, magazine and fine
art assignments. His new passion is wildlife photography.
Scott
regularly lectures on a variety of photo and media-related
subjects. He's appeared on national television and radio
programs and has written columns for several national
magazines. He is the publisher of Photofocus.com, an
online magazine for serious photographers and also serves
as the executive director of the Olympic Mountain School
of Photography in Gig Harbor, WA.
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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