As I headed out to Robinson Preserve with the dog and my wife this morning, I grabbed my 600 f4 telephoto lens. My plan was to shoot small birds. The small birds tend to be quick, so the long lens comes in handy.
I knew I was in luck when I heard the sound of a Belted Kingfisher soon after arriving at the preserve. I also knew I was in for a challenge. Kingfishers are among the fastest small birds out there. They can travel at 45 miles per hour and they can dive 20 to 40 feet into just inches of water. Trying to get a great photo of these birds in action is tough. Sitting on a branch is one thing, but as soon as they leave the perch all bets are off! That’s where practice and patience come in.
First the practice: I’ve been shooting photos for four decades (or so) now. So you’d think that was plenty of practice, but no. My subject matter has always been varied and I have had to learn how to shoot photos in various situations, sometimes with very little time or warning. Now that I am out taking photos in nature, I still have to practice constantly. I shoot landscapes, wildlife and birds — all sorts of birds and some are easier than others. So to stay proficient, I go out with my camera about five days a week and I purposely look for different subjects. And besides I like the birds doing what birds do, fly, fish, eat, flip, fight, dive or just do something besides sit there.
I love landscapes, seascapes, mangroves and still life. Making those photos come alive presents a far different challenge than trying to capture a Belted Kingfisher diving for his breakfast. There are different lenses, different camera settings, different shooting styles for those scenarios. I don’t want to get rusty, so I go out and make sure I’m looking for something different often.
Today’s skills test was all about quick action. With a bird like a Kingfisher, high ISO’s help with higher shutter speeds, tracking the bird is almost impossible as it heads to the water, so I take my best guess and hope I am close. The best advice: Be patient and shoot like crazy! Getting that perfect (or close to perfect) shot also calls for knowing your subject, observing behavior and habits can give you that extra edge, but remember it takes time, so be patient with yourself.
I came home with more than a few photos that weren’t sharp enough or not framed quite the way I wanted, or I just missed it completely. I could have stopped sooner, but I would have been disappointed with what I brought home because I didn’t take the time to wait for the perfect shot and to make sure I got it several times over.
My reward: I brought home a few photos that show just what a Kingfisher can do. It’s fun to see these little birds in action and it’s fun to share that with others — it just takes patience and practice.
