Photo at top: Israel Palestinian Honeybird (Palestijnse Honingzuiger) 15 meter sandstorm D800 DX Mode Nikkor 300mm f/4D equivalent 600mm standard camouflage in Israelian desert with our back towards sandstorm protecting our equipment.
F11: full screen
If you never ant more want to miss pictures but shoot some special bird pictures from time to time, try this:
- Always use at least standard camouflage or more.
- Know the birds and their biotopes, migration, breeding and feeding habits.
- Move slowly. Any moment a special bird may be near by.
- Concentrate. Don’t get distracted even not by birders.
- Carry spare batteries and memory cards in your pocket.
- Keep camera(‘s) switched ON. You need every second when something unexpected happens!
- Preferably use “APERTURE Mode Birds“: always ready, avoid frequent resetting and focus at the birds.
- Structurally underexpose to protect detail in highlights but not too much if “black and white” birds.
- Clouds are backlight! Overexpose!
- Do not underexpose too much if birds with dark head/wings: Avoid low colour contrast in Blacks.
- When shooting try to get light in bird’s eyes. It makes the bird look far more alive.
- Keep practicing advanced autofocus features. You will need to know them by heart hem one day!
- Practice changing converters safely in the field if you use them. Use clean pocket or the like.
- Know by heart: Nikkor lenses minimum focus distance.
- Know by heart: Nikkor lenses move focus ring clockwise far focus, counterclockwise close focus.
- Eventually every sitting or resting bird will move or fly so: just wait and be ready …
- Bird flying far away: focus at any far object like tree or tower, thereafter bird itself. If lens is focussed at shorter distance, focus lock now will happen quicker, Nikon lenses start searching in “far” direction.
- Try shooting pictures also in bad weather or poor light! They can be surprisingly interesting!
- Know English species names to exchange information with non-dutch birders !!!
- Always try make seemingly “impossible” shots. You may loose a few minutes or miss great picture. This one may be your one and only chance ever.
