Plain backgrounds bring attention to the bird you’re photographing. There are definitely cases where background elements add to the photo, but there are also many in which busy backgrounds crowd and overwhelm the subject. For bird photos, especially in the Caribbean, sky and water are probably two of the most common plain backgrounds, but there …
In this week’s column, we talk about backgrounds. Sometimes, at their best, they go unnoticed. As a photographer, paying attention to what’s behind your subject is key for many reasons. Enjoy the article from today’s Daily Herald Weekender, and follow along on the blog this week as we dig deeper! As a bonus, here’s another …
We have focused primarily on natural light, which is usually the most practical light for bird photos. In some cases, however, using a flash can also be helpful. Normally it requires a strong flash used at a relatively close distance. Flash technique is a complex subject on its own, and one about which I know …
Different times of day provide different light. Sometimes these differences are so strong the viewer of a photo can instantly envision the time of day the photo was taken. Of course, don’t forget that in the early morning and evening hours the light is coming from the east or west, so plan your shooting location …
Partial lighting can be a blessing or a curse. Often it is caused by strongly directional light, like the sun at midday, or light that is partially blocked by vegetation or other obstructions. It cause some areas of a photo to be over or under exposed, or at least make it challenging to get the …
Taking bird photos on an overcast day can be a little tricky because you may not have as much light to work with. On the other hand, there can also be a few advantages. Natural light on a cloudy day tends to be cooler, so it can really bring out rich greens and blues. This …
Silhouettes aren’t particularly useful for documenting wildlife, so they’re not something I have a lot of experience doing. Still, they can be something interesting to try when the lighting pretty much guarantees you can’t do anything else. This snowy egret was walking right through the reflection of sunlight on a pond, a situation where there’s …
Silhouettes aren’t particularly useful for documenting wildlife, so they’re not something I have a lot of experience doing. Still, they can be something interesting to try when the lighting pretty much guarantees you can’t do anything else. This snowy egret was walking right through the reflection of sunlight on a pond, a situation where there’s …
Having the subject illuminated from behind can be a very nice effect. Out in the wild it can be tricky, compared to using backlighting in a studio setting where the photographer is controlling the light from light from all directions. The main benefit of backlighting is achieving a nice glow around the edge of the …
Even if it’s just sunlight, you are using light with every photo you take. You’re also making decisions about how you use that light, whether you’re thinking about them or not. We delve into light in today’s Bird Watch SXM column, and all week on the blog.