Improve Your Garden Bird Photography - Part One: Preparation and Observation

Рет қаралды 2,006

3 жыл бұрын

As we all find ourselves looking closer to home for our photographic inspiration right now, there's no better time to venture out into our gardens and enjoy the wildlife.
In the past twelve months or so, I have spent lots of time setting up my garden for bird photography and a few of you have asked me about how I manage to get my sharp, well composed bird photos so In this first video of a three part series, I want to show you my set-up and talk about some the important things to consider when preparing your space, such as light, backgrounds and types of props.
I also talk a little about the importance of learning the behaviour of the garden birds in order to predict their movements, which in turn helps to be prepared for taking the shot.
I hope that you enjoy the video!
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Пікірлер: 82

@DGriffGallery 3 жыл бұрын

Right then. That's decided. I'm going to have a go at this blimmin bird photography too! We get some interesting fowl on the lake! 😊👍

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

You definitely need to mate. I’m already looking forward to the video 🙂

@ianspendlove4776 3 жыл бұрын

@@GaryNormanPhoto me too.

@davidstarkey3002 3 жыл бұрын

Love the mossy branch on the bird bath .

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks David, although I have to admit that I've actually moved it now...

@jefffiles9209 3 жыл бұрын

Great tips Gary, think the background can make or break a shot, and needs planning just as you have. Looking forward to pt2.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jeff, yep the background is a key thing to take into account for sure!

@petergood2000 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant video again Gary. Smashing setup and great shots. Keep it up mate and stay safe.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much Peter, glad that you enjoyed it :-)

@brenttomlinson7871 3 жыл бұрын

nice video in lockdown and the pictures in the snow are great

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much :-)

@davidlesliewilliams1513 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Gary. Superb advice for all of us. The images reflect your attention to detail. Have just cleaned out my bird feeders full of nuts because they just go mouldy, combination of what's supplied and the wet weather. Stay safe and keep up the great work.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Yep, and without sounding smutty, I’m going to remove my nuts soon as I think they may go the same way. I know that in the spring the suet pellets are popular, so I’ll probably go back to them shortly.

@MikeGoodwin 3 жыл бұрын

Oh great, now I want to buy a blind. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Good thing we have a couple of months for that urge to pass 🤣 Well done mate! Looking forward to the rest of the series,

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

You should go for it mate!! I bet you have some fascinating birds over where you are!

@davidrodwell6509 3 жыл бұрын

Gary, thanks for these two videos on garden bird photography, so informative and extremely watchable. At present, I have my general search ongoing for a good kingfisher shot and have located an area near me where allegedly five live in close proximity. I also enjoyed your first vlog at Dungeness, which is just 30 minutes from home for me. I am now working through all your videos where you provide so much help and information with a gentle style. Dave

@evolvingphotons 3 жыл бұрын

Really useful Gary, I've got the birds, I've got the perches, but I hadn't really considered the backgrounds. Always learn somethings. Cheers

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Justyn, glad that you enjoyed it and maybe learned something new :-)

@DarrenKnightPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Superb video G and some excellent advice. I’m currently in my garden shooting the robins as I watch/listen to the video. BTW, loving the new look 👍

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I do hope you’re making a vlog on those robins mate. A DK bird video is always a treat 🙂

@sheilafoster-hancock5687 3 жыл бұрын

Gorgeous pictures.

@burtjake4137 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the vlog found it very interesting off to the garden to give it a go thank you Burt

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope that you managed to get some nice images :-)

@ianspendlove4776 3 жыл бұрын

Thank Gary, I’m just sitting in my kitchen photographing through the open window onto my setup 😀. I have another setup through the dining room window, my inspiration this year was also Darren when setting these up in lockdown 2. Keep safe.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I think Darren’s videos have inspired a lot of us. I’d love to see some of your images if you want to share 🙂

@ianspendlove4776 3 жыл бұрын

@@GaryNormanPhoto facebook.com/nellandiansphotos This is our Facebook page, we started it during lockdown at the request of some family members and some friends.

@ianspendlove4776 3 жыл бұрын

@@GaryNormanPhoto This is probably not the place to ask but is it possible for you to chat about filters on the Pubcast and compare the different systems you all use. I have looked at many but am struggling with the choice, I like the idea of a slot out polarising filter. I'm on a crop sensor but do go as low as 10mm (15mm equivalent)

@neilthacker2069 3 жыл бұрын

You can definitely see an improvement in your images from when you began this journey,some quite stunning detail and more visually pleasing compositions...looking forward to Part Two!

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Neil, very much appreciated 👍

@bcegerton 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Gary with some sound advice

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much Brian

@keithratcliffe5576 3 жыл бұрын

What a great way to spend 22 minutes of my time on a wet lockdown Thursday, thanks Gary. Love the Blackcap pictures.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Keith, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it :-)

@ChrisPattonPhotography 3 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed watching that Gary, didn't ever think there could be so much to think about. Definitely giving this a go next week and see what I can come up with, did see a hereon on rooftops a few week back. Images at the end looked great 👍

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I hope that you got some nice images :-)

@starman1969 3 жыл бұрын

I saw your minimalist bird pic on Twitter and thought I'd take a look. Nice video on how to get good photos of birds in the garden. I have done it myself although my garden is south facing, which is great for sunbathing, but not ideal for photographing birds. Nice shot of the dunnock at the end.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, and welcome to the channel :-)

@bobswezey7452 3 жыл бұрын

Birdman of the UK, beautiful bird images you still in lockdown we are just getting our shots and staying home here in Connecticut ...

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I bet that you get some fantastic birds over there :-)

@peterhewlett1531 3 жыл бұрын

An excellent video Gary, thank you. Although I live in Tasmania your advice fits my situation exactly. The species of birds are mostly different But the same techniques apply. My garden is dominated by Blackbirds, Wattle Birds, and the Superb Wren. I am looking forward to your next video. Regards, Peter

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much Peter, I'd love to see some of the shots that you've managed :-)

@susanfirth2279 3 жыл бұрын

Nice set up Gary. Beautiful detail in the feathers. Your Robins are so much prettier than the ones we have here across the pond. We get American Robins, usually my first sign of spring but some do overwinter if there are lots of berries to be found.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I have to say that the robins are definitely my favourites :-)

@debmyers153 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the tips!

@paulbell9957 3 жыл бұрын

Love your set up mate. Enjoyed the video, love the images 😊👍

@markzphotoscom 3 жыл бұрын

I don't do a lot of bird photography but I did pull the camera out (luckily they hung around till I got the long lens out) and snapped a few. IDK if I'll take it to the next level yet. Thanks for this video. Got me thinking.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it and I hope that you give it a go because it can be both realxing and great fun :-)

@adrianmoore4690 3 жыл бұрын

nice shots and great video

@JohnHPettigrewFujishooter67 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the video Gary, some good advice, thanks for sharing, I already have some ideas for my bird shots this year and hope to do a Hummingbird video, thanks for sharing mate and I am really gonna have to get you a new hat.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Oi! What’s wrong with my hat?? 😂😂 I’d love to see you capture some hummingbird shots 👍

@JohnHPettigrewFujishooter67 3 жыл бұрын

@@GaryNormanPhoto I have a few Humming bird shots in my F word video, it's a long video so you may want to skip to 15.59, this year the plan is to do a vlog just about them. As for the hat it should say Glasgow Celtic.lol

@garystone6583 3 жыл бұрын

Not another tutorial 🤣 Only joking, some great points and well presented mate. Some fantastic images as ever. 👍👌

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah sorry mate, another bloody tutorial ;-)

@Colin-ut4qf 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video Gary some sound advice.I see the beard is growing well haha

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Colin, much appreciated. It’s coming along nicely isn’t it? 🙂

@rlrphotography-uk 3 жыл бұрын

Nice Educational video ,Thanks Garry . If you dont mind me giving you another tip. I find peanuts hang around too long so, pinched from another site I put handfull of peanuts in the blender, gave them a good blitz & then mixed them into a paste with peanut butter. I also have a drilled out log and the Blue Tits go made for the food . best thing is they do perch eating for a while unlike the feeder as you say , grab a seed and bugger off to the next tree.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I have some Flutter Butter, which is supposed to attract the bluetits like crazy, but it's only actually attracting the blackbirds at the moment...

@rlrphotography-uk 3 жыл бұрын

@@GaryNormanPhoto Yes thats true .But the blue tits (when they get chance) hang around a lot longer.

@pexeu1966 3 жыл бұрын

Great informative video Gary, any chance on showing how you set up your hide, I’m off to find a mossy log this weekend👍

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Keep an eye out for this week's video :-)

@kathleenhickey7793 3 жыл бұрын

This was great! I am quite impressed with the care you have put into the environment for your photos. I’ve been shooting through a window, which makes sharpness a challenge. Once I can get about a bit better - which should happen in the next couple of weeks - I’m going to see how I can incorporate some of your ideas. Loved your shots at the end! BTW, do you have blue jays in the UK? The ones in my yard challenge the squirrels for the peanuts. I’ve seen some funny standoffs. They will go for either shelled or in shell.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

No bluejays over here, well certainly not in my garden. I bet you have some fantastic species over where you are :-)

3 жыл бұрын

Nice compilation, Like n.6 and Greetings from Italy :)

@thomaschipman 3 жыл бұрын

excellent advice and i look forward to the other vlogs in this series. going through the trouble of staging multiple scenes really shows in the quality and variety of the shots you ended up with. wonderful images. you're inspiring me to give this birb thing a try, i just fear that our hordes of squirrels will consume the nuts and seeds before any other woodland creatures have a chance to notice.

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Yep, I'm lucky here as the squirrels don't seem to have discovered my garden yet :-)

@pauldlewis3138 3 жыл бұрын

Blackcaps and Sparras I never see in my garden, but I do get the Woodpecker that is evading you at the moment. I find if I crush my peanuts up they do go a lot quicker. Where did you get your moss covered logs from?? Nice vlog Gary

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

I'd lovce a woodpecker! Theres a small wooded track by my house where there has been some thinning out done and there are a few mossy logs in the pile. I have my eye on another one at the moment, but I'm waiting for the current one to dry out first...

@gingerspoons6078 3 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍

@Pappajb26 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video,great shots too,where did you get the hide from?

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

It's a Bushwear TP hide, and I got it from Amazon :-)

@mickbellman7308 3 жыл бұрын

A great video Gary and I’m completely new to this as I’ve only had a Camera since Christmas which is a Canon D5 mark lv I’d like to ask you about your editing and what do you and the others use at the moment I’m using photo-in a iMac 27 inch but thinking about going to Lightroom I’d be interested to find out what you and the others are using thank you MICK 📷📷👍

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Mick, thanks for watching. The 3rd of these videos will be all about editing the images and the software that I use :-)

@iainmc9859 3 жыл бұрын

Great knowledge and photo's. I like watching the birds but I ain't got the patience to try to photograph them. Most of my food waste (I don't waste much!) goes into the garden. It seems the birds are quite partial to boiled rice, high in carbs I guess. We seem to get magpies with incredibly long tails locally. Forget the peanuts unless you're trying to attract squirrels or mice. Also seen a lot of lesser/greater spotted woodpeckers in the woods but they're far too nervous to come into a garden, unless its the size of Mr Knights ;-)

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

Yep, when you have a garden the size of a small national park, its definitely an advantage ;-)

@iainmc9859 3 жыл бұрын

@@GaryNormanPhoto I can't really cast aspersions as my old dog used to chase the deer around the castle grounds .... and you once said I lived in a cottage tut, tut. No Pubcast this weekend ?

@GaryNormanPhoto 3 жыл бұрын

@@iainmc9859 not this week, but we’re back recording tomorrow.