Photographing the Beauty of Birds

1. Introduction to Bird Photography: Hello, friends. Welcome to this course. Photographing birds is a pleasing and challenging activity. It gets you close to nature and makes you forget the daily Joseph life. It is a de stressing activity which calms and soothes, so knows. Once you get initiated, very soon you will find yourself addicted to this great hobby. This is a demanding hobby and needs special skill and equipment To be able to take attractive photographs, you will need to research about type of birds and their habits to be able to close in short in time and take great pictures. The learning curve is steep, but once you get the hang off it, it will provide you and left joy. If you're serious about this hobby, he will need to be committed. Be patient, be passionate, have respect for birds and nature who work hard, have a reasonable budget available, have time to devote to it and love being out in nature by yourself for extended periods of time. French, this is me. Birds fascinate me, and I love photographing them. I traveled around the country exploring birds and wildlife sanctuary and to capture images of different species of birds. I am a self taught photography and burning into the S and believe that photography can be self taught and there really is no need to attend formal classes or workshop. This goes on bird photography is my humble endeavor to share knowledge with you all on this subject. In this course, you will learn the following. You will learn about the Koopman needed for bird photography. You will learn about camera settings. You will learn about focusing metering and exposer. We also a section on composing. You will learn how to compose your photographs nicely both in camera and during post processing. He will learn about tips and techniques. Take good photographs you learn about for graphing birds in flight and last off. All you will learn about post was a single image in to enhance them. Now this have taken pains to give you lessons on this have been because industrial photographic it is a very essential aspect. What you see is not what you get, and therefore you need to post process your photographs and you need to learn about it. So you will learn a lot on this topic in this tutorial. For those off you who enroll in the scores. Their surprise gift. Once you complete the course, take the questions at the end of the course and those off you who score above 70% will be emailed an interactive a book on the subject. So go right ahead and and roll for this course now Happy learning. 2. Which Camera ?: Hello, friends, welcome toe this model. And in this module we're going to discuss the camera and a light equipment required for but for doubt, said I must tell you that quite a good DSLR camera with the lens which has, ah, focal length off at least 400. If it is more the better part from a good camera and lens, you will also require a tripod or Amona port. So we will discuss about all these aspects as you proceed ahead. In this model, let's discuss aboard the camera. The DSLR cameras come in two flavors. One is the full frame DSLR and the second of the A P S C or crop sensor camera. When you talk about full frame cameras, they are the camera on the higher end off price and performance. They have large sensors almost, you know, akin to the 35 size which used to come earlier at a film role. So probably the science has been taken from their full frame. Cameras have got food want to you. Firstly, they made quality is very good, and also they have good, low light performance when it comes to crop sensor cameras that if the A P C camera, they are the younger cousins off full frame cameras there also DSLR cameras. Apart from the sensor. Most off, the functionality, which is there in the camera, is almost akin to a full frame. Now the difference lies in the sensor size. This side is cropped toe ratio 1.6 compared to a full frame camera sensor, and therefore the census side is quite small. As a result, they made quality. It's likely inferior compared to a full frame. At the same time, there is more more than they made at higher ISO rangers, and then the low light performance is also a bit inferior. But this gap is now being bridged by better processors, other processing chips which are coming in tow. These camera and they are offsetting. We had wanted off full frame cameras to quite extent. This needs to be industry right now. This is about the DSLR camera that will mention only this much. Now there's another aspect which need discussion. That is, whether we should only use DSLR camera or micro 4/3 has got some used. Also, as far as bird photography is concerned, three friends seem is now changing. Just last month to, Lin said, have been announced, and that makes a lot of difference. And you do that. Micro photo camera come into reckoning. We will discuss about this, AL. You proceed head know whether it either DSLR camera with a full frame or corruptions or whether it is the micro for third camp, which you decide to use. There are some parameters which must be there. Firstly, whatever camera good shoes should be capable of shooting at least one by one by 2000 of a second or faster, that would be you and better. It must have a bust. Moreover, five frames higher, the better. I'll explain why this is required, as we progress had in this course and should have the facility off the I. And so we'll focus. This is essential for birds in flight, and it should have high IAS arrange. Actually, anything beyond either 3200 is not really workable for bird photography. But just try and show that you have camera at least with shoots is capable of shooting with the ice or in the 3200 or above. Okay, so the there are certain parameters, which you must consider while choosing your camera. We will discuss a bit about micro 4/3 here. See, uh, when I talk about micro filters, they are to branch, which come to my mind first is the Olympus cities of camera. Olympus has got the only cereal They are AM one. Then you have Olympus. Who? M d E m five Mark two. And you have Olympus. Who? M d e m 10 marked. They are all middle s camera than therefore the size, and the weight off those cameras is quite less. But the performance is compatible to any dear seller, so they're lighting with That's a myriad wanted. Therefore, because they're light in weight, it is possible to shoot hand held. That is a major issue when it comes through. But photography, you're not tied toe a try board. And when you use a tripod with the large ones, it's quite cumbersome. If you have done that earlier, you probably would realize that and recently new lens and have been announced for these cameras, which is really it is going to be a game changer with those lenses. One is, I think Olympus has announced it, which is 300 problems with with the F four. A poacher and other one is announce where Panasonic, which is the zoom lens in the end of 100 or 400? No, board these on micro 4/3 means across factor of two. Therefore, when you multiply that by to the actual effective range of these cameras becomes 600 Emma and in case a Panasonic, it becomes almost 800. Now, in case off this Ah, Olympus in case of Olympus lives, if you attacked with it an adapter on C 14. It has a factor of 1.47 multiplied by 1.4. You get more extended range up to 820. Now you know, 800 focal and some focal UNT by all standards, because the best lens, which is available with Canon or Nikon, is also 800 addicts, far distant right, the best ones. And they cost a pile the canon and Nikon and says their cost in the range of 12,000 to $16,000 whereas these leads inevitably announced is between $504,000. So it's almost about 7 to 8 times cheaper and yet providing over the same kind off focal. And and the good point is for the best point of that combined. Combining the camera and the lens the weight You're going to be almost 1/3 off for DSLR camera along with the lens. So that is going to be a big game changer as I see it. So keep that in mind as yet they have only been have been relieved and their start carrying on, probably by Apple 2016 they would be available in the market. In fact, by the time you get to three historial, probably their only living in the market. Now, when you're using Micro for third camera with these kind of land sales, the rate your going to be so light that tripod may not be required it all so that you're going to be a big at one stage. But they that they said wanted also, the battery life of these camera is quite less I've been using the camera. I don't have the less. But I've been using this camera and uh, all that a fully judge battery last for is 2 50 to 300 shots. That's pretty less for when you are in the while and shooting wildlife. And but we will have to carry a few charred in your pocket or in your bag or whatever. You will have to have adequate amount off batteries available with you, which are fully charged to be able to replace as and when required. So that is that as far as micro food. Third, cover the concern. It requires a serious look. Please do are here to my advice. You will be happy coming out of camera lenses. I put this photograph in front off, as you will see the sizes off. The camera lens is very for but photography, and it is directly proportional to what can you afford? Well, we will see this appears with the most heavy has stand it. Also, they also require very sturdy tripods. Toe. Keep it stable at the same time. They require very costly gimble heads or bald heads. To be able to move them around, toe acquired your target or the birds, which you're trying to capture, so I mean personally, I find it very annoying to carry the huge, let's say, than the tripods along with it. It takes out all the pleasure from birdwatching and photography, so that needs to be kept in mind. So the point is we need to be considered while violences are, firstly the weight of the limbs when I would say the later the better obviously. But when it comes to extended range, which unless can give you you it becomes heavy so that you got to keep in mind that is the last Great. If you can manage with the lighter lives, go ahead with that. Now reach obviously more. The focal it better you two will have, but it with against the weight off the leads of the moment. A lens has got along the reach and it has got a wider Parcher and it is a mainstay of light . So adding all the quality of means putting on more weight on the camera. So, as while I remember the 800 camera lens off, the calendar is around, four are kids, which is quite heavy, and this way on, other aspects do make it a bit cumbersome. Certain needs to be thought, but at the same time they give you very good quality off picture. No noise. When you're using a lens, you must ensure that the lens, which you buy has as wide apart as possible so that it has got better low light capability and thereby you will have less noise in your images. That's very important, but also remember that there are real and means of reducing this noise in our day. You have tremendous Softwares which help you to reduce an oil should it crop in the low light performance. Obviously, you must always going for a lens which can give you better low light performance, because when you are doing wildlife for bird photography, you are in a wooded area probably under the trees on. The birds may also be in the trees, so quality of light in that area may be quite poor. So if you have a lens which has good, low light performance, it is good to have that also portability. I've already discussed a bit about portability. You know, we've got to ensure that you are able to move freely. You are able to enjoy a photography and not not get bind ID by the weight, which you would carry around Personally. I hate the idea of carrying huge land, say, than who's try poured, trying to send them up, take one or two short, pick them up, move ahead. I'm very happy with us. Small lives, a camera and I should be able tow shoot handed. That's my option. There are compromises which needs to be made, but those compromises can also be offset by better skill and use off modern software. And then you go to consider the price. If you if prices no bar, if you're able to carry, have you Cookman go ahead and buy the biggest and the best, certainly they will give you better results. But if right of the constant, which most of the harvest have, then I will suggest a combination in the next slight right from so here. By now, we have discussed quite a bit about camera. The lens said I haven't gone into space sticks or brands, but I have given you a general idea, and I let you know the parameters and brooding corns off the lenses. So keep that in mind when you're selecting or equipment. No, my choice for a harvest and this is what I use, and I'm pretty happy with it is what you see on the left. It's Ah Canon 70 d camera with a cannon. 400 lens with 5.6 aperture edits. That is the concept of Portrait has at the Why distant. And then, of course, it goes up. Who? I think it's 22. So this is a good combination, which I find you could also replace this. Let's with 100 to 400 of them zoom lens mark to recently. It is coming to the market that also I believe, is pretty good. But never go for the zoom lens, which was, Ah, Mark one. Because at the longest end, the pictures turned out to be quite soft. They come out to be quite soft, so keep that in mind now. You also how considerate you see on the right side a combination off micro 4/3 camera with the latest lenses which have been announced, and if I wanted to go buy whatever has come in the press or whatever we would have seen on YouTube, give out comparisons and review, it should be a very good option on my God lightweight camera lightweight lens and giving him a range off as much as the best. Let's available with Canon or Nikon. I'm in one must try that. And I'm sure if that is true, things are This is going to be a game changer, so keep that in mind. So, friends, we end this lesson or module here on day. We will see each other on the next model because that is a lot of ground yet to be covered . This is just the tip of the iceberg. We're just getting in already for getting some good tips. So that's it for this. Listen til the next listen by and take. 3. Lenses for Bird Photography: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this module off the course in this model, if you're going to discuss the lenses available for bird photography or shall we say, wildlife photography? At the whole, there are many options available. The 1st 1 which I'm going to discuss it. You are the canon lenses because that is what I should with I should with cannon, right? They have variety off, Let's is available. And the moment you talk about Lindsay's, when it comes to bird photography, you always thinking in terms off super tele photo lenses. Right? And when you talk about super telephoto lenses, the lenses which are 400. And above. So we have a range off lenses available and you can see here we have, Lin says right from 400. Through assume, which is 200 to 400. Mm. You have 400. Mm. With a minimal, but you're off 2.8 available. And also I'm irresistible islands. You have lenses available upto 500 Emam 600. Mm. And 800. Mm. Folk. Elin's So options are there, and one of them is not shown here, which has been relieve some time back and that either 100 to 400 zoom mark two. That's also pretty good length. Gives your in between 100 to 401 no friends. A few things We need to understand the first aspect of that. When you're talking about the including focal length, there are also two kinds off cameras, which have discussed already one of the full frame camera, and the other one is a PSC, which has got a crop factor. So let's say that a 400 lens I use on a full frame camera than the teach, which I get his 400 Emily. But when I combine this lens or use it with a PSC cameras, let's say a cannon 70 d or 70 mark to I have to multiply the reach by 1.6 so straight over the 400 mn becomes 6 40 Tomi such as good as using a 600 lands on a full frame camera with almost 1/7 and 1/8 of the price. That is what it is. So I hope you're getting the idea when it comes to remade quality. Yes, that is no doubt more cost better. The lengths. Probably they made quality would be also good is good. But the difference is not that much that you cannot breeze the gap by better skill and also better post processing. So keep that in mind when you decide on lens, but options are available. The options are right available from 800 toe 400 with you and with the price difference of almost about $10,000 which is quite a bit also going to see for what purpose are you doing this Photography? Are you doing it for They're based products. The books. Are you doing this toe print Very large posters surfing for life boosters, maybe the larger focal int. Let's say that justified. But if it's for the Web for your website or for a book also because you don't really require very high resolution images for printing and books, I think anything around 400 course of the books. Now I like to also discuss a bit about portability the moment the lens have cross 400 Emily . And also they are image step like the way it starts going up disproportionately. When I said this proposed actually means you know if I have a four under him plans here and a five minimum with eyes, the difference in weight. You're going to be almost double, almost double, and it becomes very difficult to shoot. Handle with such lengths of you require a tripod so your mobility gets hampered and becomes quite difficult to acquire and toe acquiring. Click a flying bird, so you got to keep that in mind. So when it comes to a flying birds, you require something which is light, which you can use hand held. So you got to see the pros and cons off the land, said, and then decide on what you really want toe go for. I'll give you my word IQ towards the end off this lesson. Now we also have some their options available in Nikon, too. We just likely on the expensive side, and we will see that there. 800 is 16 $1000. 30 almost about $4000 cost here than the eternal remembrance off cannot. I'm Similarly, the prices are sliding downwards, so they have a range of Flint's available. But I found a deal instead. A pretty heavy, especially this lens that is the 800 ambulance. I have tried it out. Used it even on a tripod to turn it around in the pretty it requires a bit of doing and to carry it and move for some distance for trick or something. Avenue. Really? I need to be pretty strong because you also have to along with this lug, a very heavy tripod which can take the weight off this lens So similarly, most of the violence is you will require a tripod to use with and they have alliances. Impromptu subject. We just appear suddenly. Probably. If you are running a league, you can establish yourself and the birds are owned. You can take your own time that this is okay enough. But I have my own thoughts over, uh, getting such would stuff. But I will give my verdict towards the end. Right? So, so far, the best cameras, whether DSLR cameras, because you could use this kind of lens set on them. But now, slowly, the game is changing. Earlier, you could never think about micro for third camera like Olympus or Lou Mix to be used for why life photography or for bird photography. But recently, both these companies, Olympus and Lou Mix have announced their announced two lenses. So, firstly, let me discuss this one. No, this is by Panasonic, and it's, uh his room blends with a a range of 100 to 400. Mm. And in a Parcher gap off F 4 to 6.3. So what 100? Mm, probably will be able to use operator of four. And when you go at the maximum rain, that a 400. Then probably will be ableto your 6.3. Okay, that's good enough in case you're shorting and daylight. But I would have liked if it waas wider. Now, when you use this on a micro 4/3 which has got a crop factor off to. So obviously this lens now gives you a range of 200 to 800. Now, at the higher end that 800 it is almost equal into what you're getting hot off Candidacy 800 Emma or my cons. A tournament which is the largest which they have. So to be able to get this in a very reasonable price and you see it is just about $1800. It's almost about um 7 to 8 times cheaper than those lenses on a much lighter. Obviously, I think it's a very good option, so you need to also think about this now. Even Olympus has now come out with the length, which is 300 lemon F four linds. So, uh, have four lens, which is very good. And when you combine it with a pelican water M C 14 than you getting a crop factor of 1.4, we will apply that. So as it is when you use it on a micro photos camera with a corn crop factor off to it got WTO 600 mn on with On. By using this gun verte, you can extend your reach to 820 mn. So that's a very good option toe and the cost of slightly you Slightly costlier than Panasonic, it comes through about dollar to 4 99 The French. I think this is going to be a game changer now, as far is bird photography. And while a photography is concerned because I have a photograph for off nature, I have to travel, have traveled by air and have to carry equipment. Hardly any allowances available, and you need to carry all as cabin baggage, so either you carry very less equipment or you pay for it. In my case, I carry two body than fuel lenses on Duh, I have to cross seven Katie. So I had to distribute that into two parts and the quest my wife to carry a bit with her so that we never had to be. But now, if I combine the you'll answer with my solicitor Olympus. When the e M. Five months to or even new mix jacks it the it's going to be pretty light to carry both for travel and for actual photography. I won't feel the weight That's a big big at Wantage, and I'm surely going to give it a thought, right. France will have discussed with you the program corns off these, Lin said. And what you should be using both in terms off reach, in terms, off weight, intense off in terms, off portability and in terms of cost, I leave you to judge for yourself what you want Oh, going for But I must give you what I use Well, I use basically a cannon 70 d body on a user can in 405.6 terry for talents, and I am able to get good. Very good quality made it out of this combination so far. And I am now thinking because I work quality acquired. A Wendy. I am five mark to camera. I'm thinking off going in for this 300 ambulance. Or maybe I'll go in for the 100 to 400 Panasonic limbs because it's going to be it's going to increase. My portability is going toe, you know, increase the options off, carrying more lenses when I fly to my destination for travel. So keep in mind what we have discussed. I think you've bean knock quite well exposed to the possible arrange off, Lim says. Which are there and what are their pros and cons. So make own decisions. I'm sure you gain from this. Listen, thank you for being with us, and we'll see when the next listen. Dylan take care 4. About Exposure: exposing correctly is the key to taking good photographs, toe get vibrant colors and further details. Your exposer setting has to be as accurate as possible. The modern Here fellas make this task quite easy. However, you need to understand the system will so that you are able to override the camera settings when the situation 40 months. So how do you define over exposure and under exporter? Simply put over exposer is when the information in the highlights is effectively unreadable . When there is this type of excessive loss off image information, there is no way to retrieve that. Missing information in the digital darkroom under exposure is pretty much the same concept , except in this case, there is no a 1,000,000 formacion contained within the shadows. This non existent information cannot be retrieved through post processing, either in digital photography. Once that he made information is gone, there's no way to retrieve it. However, if you are shooting and raw format, then they made information in shadow area off under, exposed made is retained to a great degree and can be retrieved in post processing. But if they made it over exposed, then there is no way to retrieve the lost detail in the image. So what needs to be very careful and ensure that you expose correct e What? You've good exposure? All modern? Yes, a large Have a meeting system. It is important to understand how meeting works and went to use the different meeting modes . So what is meeting? Meeting how your camera deter mines, what the correct shutter speed and aperture should be, depending on the amount of light that goes into the camera and the sensitivity off the sensor. Today, every DSLR has an integrated light meter that measures the reflected light and deter mines . The optimal exposer, the most common metering motion digital camera are shown on the screen. Let's discuss these. Firstly, the evaluative metric evaluative metering more is the default mitri mode. In mostly salons, it works by dividing the entire frame into multiple zones richer than analyzed on individual basis for light and doctors. One of the key factors that affect evaluative meeting is very camera focused. Point is said to after reading the information from all individuals owns the metering system looks at where you focused within the frame and marks it more important than all other zones you should use this more for most off a photography, since it will generally will do a pretty good job in Deter mining. The correct exposure Center weighted Metering Center, weighted Metering evil wage delight in the middle of the camera and its surroundings on ignores the corners compared toa evaluative metering Center rated. We trick does not look at the focus point to select and only really, where's the middle area of the image? Use this more when you want the camera to privatize the middle of the frame, which works great for pro. The portrait and relatively large subjects that are in the middle of the frame partial metric partial metering is where only a small area at the centre of the mid about 10% of the whole is used to calculate the aperture shutter speed. To use sport meeting only evaluates the light around your focus point and ignores everything else. It evaluates a very small zone and calculates exposure based on that single area. This more is good for bird photography because the birds mostly occupy a small area of the frame because the light is evaluated where you place the focus point, you can get an accurate exposure on the bird. He when when the bird is in the corner of the frame. Whatever metric system you choose, be away that the camera doesn't always get it right and at times the meeting system get fooled. For example, a light colored bird against the dark background is likely to be badly overexposed, or a dark bird against a light background is quite likely to be badly under exposed. This is where your experience counts, and you may have to override exposure said by the camera. Ah, Parcher, I eso ensure their speed. Make the exporter triangle. Let's see how they impact exposer. The A porter controls the lenses die from which controls the amount of light traveling through the lens toe. The film plane the approach is setting is indicated by the F number where each F number represents a stop off light I A saw ratings data mined. They made sense a sensitivity to light. Each value of the rating represents a stop off light, and each incremental I use a number up or down represents are doubling or having off the sensor's sensitivity to light. The shutter speed indicated the spirit in which the curtain opens, then closes and each other Speed value also represents a stop off light. The shutter speed is measured in fractions off the second. When these three elements are combined, they represent a given exposure value for a given setting. Any change in anyone off the three elements will have a miserable and specific impact on how the remaining two elements react to expose they made sensor and how they made ultimately looks. For example, if you increase the f stop, you decree the side of the lens or die from, thus reducing the amount of light hitting they meant sensor, but also increasing the depth of field in the final image. Reducing the shutter speed affects how motion is captured in that this can cause the background or subject to become bloody. However, reducing shutter speed that is keeping the shutter open longer also increases the amount of light hitting they made sensor. So everything is brighter. Increasing the I S O allows for shooting in lower life situation. But you increase the amount of digital noise inherent in the photo. It is impossible to make an independent change in one of the elements are not obtain and oppose it affect and how the other elements are 50 made and ultimately changed the export value. This aspect needs to be understood and mustard to make good bird photographs. 5. About aperture: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this model. When it comes to photography, there are three terms which you will hear again and again. That is a poacher Shutter speed and I s O In this module, we will learn about a posture. A lens of the picture is the opening in the DIA. From that determined the amount of focused light passing through the lens at a small F stops a F two. A tremendous amount of light passes through even at a fraction of a second. But at F 22 when the die from is perhaps at its smallest, only a tiny amount of light is let in even at longer shutter speech. So why does the aperture better is the low light performance of the camera? So a camera with minimum have stop offs. A F 2.8 has better low light performance than a camera having minimum F stop off F 5.6. The side of the A. Parcher also affects the depth of field. Now, as you will notice in this particular image, observe the image on the left side. This was taken with a white departure off F group on zero and at that a Porcher. The stepped off really is quite shallow. So they focused. The camera was focused at this figurine of the lady, and you will find that the figure in of the man in front on DA two friends at the back is totally blurred out. So that is a kind off depth off will you get with? Ah, Wide upper. So now when you observed the photograph on the right side that this photo was taken with a small aperture off F 16. Therefore, there is a larger depth or feel, meaning that all the figure lines in this Portland made are clear. This happened because the depth of field is quite large at F 16 or as your aperture becomes narrower. So I hope you get the point and you can create very, very creative pictures by judicious use off depth of field. Right friend that said, for this model, I'll be right there with you in the next lesson. Till then, Dick 6. About shutter Speed: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this model. When it comes to photography, there are three terms which you will hear again and again. That is a poacher Shutter speed and I S O. In this model, we will learn about shutter speed. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second and indicates how fast the curtains at the film plane open and close. The shutter speed controls how long light enters the lens and his teammates sensor off film playing the shutter speed and ever Sciutto capture the subjected spit seconds. But it can also be said toe capture at speeds upwards off few seconds or minutes or remain continually open up until the photograph for wants to close the curtain. Snapping the shutter in a fraction of a second also gives you control on how motion is recorded. If the spirit is faster than the subject of background, then the major will be shop. If the shutter speed is slower than you will get blurred objects. See these examples? Images captured a flying bird. A slow shutter speed will be blurred. You will have to crank up the shutter speed to get sharp images. We will discuss about this more as we progress in the course, not a sum up. I'll just like to cover that if you have. If you set your camera with faster speed, then it would normally be in the range of one by 501 by 1000 seconds or more. I should do that. You will get sharper images. You will be able to freeze motion. But the pictures will be a bit darker because less light is coming in and hitting the sensor and therefore your pictures may become a bit darker. Now, if you set slow shutter speed on your camera that is won by 60 seconds or one by 20 seconds or less, then you may get blurred images because the motion may not get frozen. Now, if you have slow shutter speed than more light, will entire camera and hit the sensor. Therefore, the pictures will tend to be brighter. So that's it for this model will see you in the next model 7. About ISO: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this model. When it comes to photography, there are three terms which you will hear again and again. That is a poacher Shutter speed and I s O. In this model, we will learn about I s O I s oil. Actually acronym, which stands for International Standards Organisation. The IAS aerating, which ranges in value from 25 to 3200 or beyond, indicates the specific light sensitivity the lower diess aerating, the less sensitive they made since it is and therefore smoother the image because there is less distant noise in the image, the higher the I S o rating, the stronger the image since it has to work to establish an effective you made which thereby produces more digital noise. You know those multi colored speckles in the shadows and in the mid tones and you can see in the photo on the right. So what is distant noise? It is any light signals that does not originate from the subject and therefore creates random colors in an image. The digital camera makers have designed the mess insert to perform best at the lowest eso, just like with film covers on most distant cameras. This is I s 0 100 although some high endia sellers have a more that break the IRS. So down to 50 or even 25 3 progress in the course, we will discuss how to set the I S O to get best residents in a given situation. That's it for this model. Take care. 8. Using the Histogram: Hello, Friends. Welcome toe this module off the course and in this module, we're going to learn about history, Grams. His telegram is a graph that displays either hope, right and images. That is, the brightness instagram, or what levels off RGB colors are present in the image that is the RGB. His program. The modern cameras are capable of displaying either INSTAGRAM honors as Serious Creek. No, I recommend setting it to display the brightness instagram and not the RGB instagram for bird photography. I'm personally more interested in making sure my exposure is correct in the camera. Colors can be corrected in post processing for how toe xs these two Graham refer to your cameras. User man will. Now let's see how toe the lead and make use of the his telegram. So on this diagram, I've laid out few graphs portion of grass for you. And let me tell you, it may appear to be a bit confusing was pretty simple affair. Now in the upper one, if you see the graph, it incline totally towards the left. So that means there are more dark pictures or shadow areas in your picture, and therefore it is under exposed. So in case this kind of looked after get, you have to adjust your exposer your settings on the camera to get a graphic. At least look something like this on the left side or something like this. The center. Now, when you have a graph like this, it's biased towards the left or right. It's exposed to the left, but it is still okay, the right details available. But there's certain parts off your made which are dark and in shadow, which can be recovered. Venue of a graph like this, where the graph is biased in the center and it slopes towards the left of light. Then it's a neutral exposure and this is what we need toe achieve. That is it is a real exposed photograph. No, in case the graph of beer something like this that must spread over but still biased towards the right. That means there are more bright area that is white pictures and no photograph. And it has been exposed to the right. So this news, we also taken care off. Engage The graph appears to be like what you see here that Mr Clean client with the right that means it is overexposed, and you need to give collection to get it right. So this is how you read and use your instagram toe. Add gesture, exposure so that the final security get is well balanced and well exposed. So that's it for this module. We learn more as we progress in the course. Children take a 9. Exposure Compensation: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this model, and in this module we're going to learn about exposure compensation. The major, which you see in front of you on the screen, is often eager it. It's a white bird and photographed against, ah, relatively dark background. It was taken using a poacher Priety more, and I simply allowed the cameras monitoring system to work out the shutter speed. You can clearly see that the camera got it wrong in an attempt to produce some detail in the dark area of the maid. If set a relatively slow starter speed, resulting in the main subject that is the e great being blown out, with no further details retained at all in photographing birds, we should be more concerned about the details In the bird's feather. Modern DSLR cameras come with a feature called Exposure Compensation. This allows you to decrease or increase the exposure calculated by your meter but upto three stops in 1/3 stop increments, depending on which camera you are using. You can either said this by using window on top of your camera or by pressing a button on which a Q is returned to access your cameras quick menu. This is particularly applicable to can use. This other camera also will be having a similar kind off a button and then use a joystick and real to locate and adjust the exposure. Compensation. How much to increase or decrease it by is very much a matter of experience, but user al city viewer to check the image. If your camera has a high alert feature, have this turned on when reviewing the immediate in the viewer, Highlight alert will show, if any 80 other over exposed that is blown out. You should then decrease the exposure compensation a little and try or short again if the body still they've now look at this image. This had the exposure, compensation said to reduce the exposure a little. Now the background is really dark, which is what we want, and it helps the bird to stand out, and the feather detail in the bird is more visible. So if you are photographing a bird against a dark background, you will need to decrease the meter exposure level a little. When photographing a bird against a light background, you will need to increase the meter exposure level a little, but by how much? Well, as I said, it's largely a matter of experience. And with experience you will learn to master this technique. So I hope you got how to go ahead and use this exposure compensation feature in your camera . And that's it for this tutorial. We will see you again in the next tutorial. Till then, take care. 10. Camera Settings: Hello, friends. Welcome back. And in this module, we're going to discuss about camera settings as pertains through bird photography. Of the first aspect, which I would like to discuss with you is the aperture settings You have, Ah, mortar dial on your camera on you can set whether it should be apart. Propriety or he should be shooting in Manuel moored or shatter Brianti, or should be totally auto. So that option is there. I would like to in fact, I always said that more toe a party proprieties. Why shoot in a parched propriety? And when it comes to a poacher that is the F stops. I normally set it to around 5.6 to 6.3 so that I get adequate depth of field toe have my subject that is the bird clear in the frame. And at the same time, by doing that, I also managed to get us move out of focus background. Now, the next thing which I would like to discuss is the I S O settings. I s soul is basically the sensitivity off he sensor setting that the best thing to do is to set it at I s 0 100 because then you will have very less noise coming into your images. But it all depends if you brought your camera, said toe a poacher priety. And in the light of less than to boost up because you require a decent amount off shutter speed, you may have to boost your I s comes in with experience and a bit of experimentation on. I will urge you to go ahead and do that. Normally, when I'm shooting, I keep my eye sort of or 3 20 without, but you're sitting on 5.6 and then I hear just as the lighting condition changes. Now the next issue, which I would like to discuss, is the auto focus mode. Most of the modern DEA fellas have three methods off auto focus. Our other three. Moore's for setting the auto focus. The first is one shot in one short to a new half. Press your shutter button, then it will look on, and only one picture will be taken. So if you move your camera left and right, then it may go out of focus. The 2nd 1 is the focus that is artificial intelligent focus. Now here. What happens is apple situation. The camera focus is supposed the wording moving it will get in tow. Eyes are with our award. If the boldest article will gettinto one short more. But in this situation, at times the camera does get tricked. So I prefer this third method. Very the area. Cerro, because birds are such creatures, which generally hardly stay static, the keeper hopping from one branch to the other or they're flying or they're moving. So eso is something which I have come through the country legally, the most suitable more so when the birds are in fright, right? So if you live with that and I said, Oh, I think will not go wrong As far Bird Photography's got son, however, it got so dry you more what it implies that you have options off taking either a single short or you can take four or five shots at one time or even in your continuous shooting at time. There are one or two options available, which will cover just about two or three short. Or it can be 5 to 6 shorts or the complete whatever fasters your camera can shoot, then you have the option off timers 12th timer into second time with dear obviously are not applicable. That's about it. But photography has got so far photographing birds, I would suggest that you always keep it on partners shooting and at the fastest burst rate with your camera offers. Okay, then, is your mitri moored somewhere else in the series off this course and tutorials have covered the metering more in great detail. So do go through it, because that's the important aspect. But here, when it comes to your camera settings, there are four options available. We go from left to right is a partial Mitri, the center weighted meeting spot Metering and evaluative meeting. Very comfortable bird photography. I prefer toe have my camera set to sport metric because birds occupy a very small portion of the frame. So if you want to counter to expose for the light falling on the bird, then it's preferable that you're focused. Point is on the bird on it is sport. Meeting for the camera meter picks up the reflected light from that sport and measures your it further accordingly. So that is what it about metering more and the last aspect which I would like to discuss with the white balance somewhere else in the tutorials series of tutorials. I've discussed this at great length, but here I would like to just say that always have this set toe auto white balance. Because if you are shooting a draw, which you should, then you can adjust the white balance in post processing and get it exactly the way you want. The camera can always get full if you select a particular kind off white valets liveried at auto white balance. That would be, I think, that should meet your requirement just toe for information. The affects of white balance setting when shooting in daylight on as shown here on the screen. So, you know, if you said it that day like this is what is a kind of color, you will get any considered cloudy. This is what you will get. Four. Similarly, for shade Langston photo sent in fresh. So as is quite evident, the way you said the white balance setting has an impact on the color quality and how the white look in your images or photos. Right for so these other issues, which I wanted to discuss as far camera settings is concerned. I hope you found this to be informative. We will meet soon in the next more duel to then take. 11. Composing Photos: friends will come to this model, and in this model we will discuss about composition. You may take a very sharp in, made with good light falling on the bird. But if you remain is not composed well, it will not qualify. Other good image composition is about arranging elements in a scene in an aesthetic and pleasing manner. When done correctly, it died of US eyes. So the most important area off the image good composition is what makes an image visually appealing. And in this regard, few rules need to be followed. The rule of thirds an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts of two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines and the point of focus off the subject should be placed along these lines on their intersections. Aligning a subject with these points creates energy and interest in the composition. It is more visually appealing than placing the subject in the center. The intersections of these lines are power points, and I preferred for placing the focal point of pictures. You must use this rule in a manner that the main looks balanced and attractive do not place the bird in the center. That is not good composition. Follow the rule of thirds and place the words on an intersection off these lines, and you will have a very good composition to have good composition leaves space in the direction in which the bird is looking at now. This is not good composition, though the bird is filling the frame on its ah, exposed quite well. Yet yet they made is not catching the eye and on this inmate does not qualify as a good image. Or shall I say, well composed image there is in this image is there is a liquid space in front of the bird where it is looking. This looks much better composed when working with reflections. Think off the reflection is part of the subject and compose accordingly. As done in this particular image, the bird should've by about 50 to 60% of the frame. That would be term. That good composition on use, depth of field depth of field can enhance your composition to a great degree. In this were followed the rule of third at the same time, due to shallow depth of field. The background has bean blurred out the background is now looking very smooth, so the birds are standing out. So if you follow these guidelines, you will soon be making eye catching images. 12. Achieving Better Bokeh: right friends will come back This module, we're going to learn how to get good bookie. Now, what a good bookie bouquet is the Japanese word. And what it means is that in your remains, the background must be our focus. Or it must be as technically blurred so that you remain pops out Looks alliterative, popping out off the maid as your singer here, this part playmate. If you have a look, your background is very smooth soft and the images on other the birds are looking. I live, they're standing out. If you get this kind off made, it looks quite pleasing to the eyes. I just would tell you that what you see in the background actually is a tree and some bushes around that tree. But shouldn't I managed to get out of focus? So it's all looking smooth and plain. Otherwise, it would have been very distracting. Well, actually, how can we get good bookie now? The most important aspect is that use wide open aperture when you set your camera, try and set it to the widest aperture which is available on your lens. Normally, when you are shooting but photographs he would be using telephoto lens. Probably 400. Focal length and above. So I've taken this photograph with a cannon. 400. Mm. Have 5.6 lynch, and the widest a poacher. Possible here was 5.6. For use that on. I got a decent sort of a booking. It all depends on what is available. Maybe 6.3, maybe four. So use the widest of culture and we'll give you good to this. No. Another aspect which you need to consider is try and get as close to the subject as possible. So closer you get better bouquet or better out of focus background you will get. But when you're trying to pros and with birds, try and show that you do not breach their comfort zone. Otherwise they will fly away. Another aspect which you need to understand on da try and implement is maintained large distance between the subject and the background. If you do so, you will get better. Bouquet your background. We look out of focus and aesthetically blurred. This may not always be possible because birds are not something which you can make them sit oppose in our better movement from your side and they will fly away. But try and achieve as much as possible. Try and place yourself at an angle where you achieve larger distance between the subject and background and for birds in water, lie on the ground or sit down on the ground to get toe. There's level and it will be able to get good bookie. So that's it for this lesson and we'll see you in the next lesson. Thank you for being with us. 13. How to Approach the Birds: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this model. And in this module we will discuss techniques for approaching birds to take shop. Image of the birds that will fill the frame You will need to get close. Be as quiet as possible. Don't make sudden moves or noise. Stand in one place near a possible perch for at least 10 minutes and you may be able to get a close up shot. Patience is the key. All birds have supervision, so it is very likely that they will see you first. If you try to get any closer, they feel threatened and fly away. Different birds have different tolerance levels for human interaction. Some birds will let people pretty close, and then there are birds that I extremely shy that will not let you come anywhere close. Those birds are extremely hard to photograph, and you will have to understand the birds. Be area to get closer. The key to successful but photography is to make the bird feel safe and natural. You may use the funding technique to approach birds. We're olive green or camouflage pattern clothes. Blue or black shirt and jeans should also do find avoid bright and shiny colors. When you spot a bird, continue walking normally without paying attention to the bird. Slow down and radio camera. Gradually maintain a respectable distance and shoot. Do not make sudden moves. Give your phone in silent mode. Do not walk towards the bird when it is looking towards you. Approach it when it they're looking elsewhere are busy doing something. Keep the noise to a minimum. Do not look directly at birds. Watched them from corner of your eye. Animals in general perceive direct eye contact as a threat, and they will flee at the first opportunity initially should from a respectable distance and then still really continue getting close and shooting. So that's it for this module. We will see you in the next model. Till then, take. 14. Techniques for Photographing Birds: Hello, friends, welcome toe this model. And in this module we will discuss few techniques for taking good bird photos. When you take photos of birds, the image should fill the frame and show as much further detail as possible. For this, you need to use long lens and you need to get as grow through the bird as possible. And your camera settings should be such that you avoid any kind off camera shake. In fact, you should be able to tow freeze an emotion. If that is some, make sure that at least one I should have sharp focus. So try and focus somewhere close to the eye, so that one either sharp focus and also trying and show that lightly falling on that I they just don't keep on snapping birds post or at one place, static trying observed the birds. Try and see when they're about to make some kind of movement, and then try and catch in a situation where it pleases the eye. Ensure that adequate light should be falling on the bird to show off further details and colors is very important. Otherwise all the colors will come out to be subdued should the world when they are in interesting angle parks that can add Kaletra texture to the image. Something like this for to sing in front. I think if you get something like this should be good enough. Look for clutter, free background and screwed bookie. Try and ensure that the distance between the background and the bird is quite large. Then get as close as possible. Use the virus a Porcher, which you have wonderlands and shoot, and they should ensure that you manage a clutter free background and I smooth bookie for your pictures. But this is going to make sure that your bird, you know, stands out in the picture and looks attractive. Shoot for shallow depth of field so that the birds stands out. We have already discussed about how to get booking so that he worked implies yes, try and show that when you are taking picture birds there at the same level is you not. This will ensure that you get the correct perspective birds. Also, it would look more pleasing and natural. Use high shutter speed to freeze motion. If you're taking for the gravel birds and flight and ensure that your shutter speed is at least one by 1000 off a second before this purpose, if required, crank up your eyes off. Choose your background carefully to achieve a smooth book. A. A wide platter. No, here you if you'll see. Since the background is absolutely clear and there is a high contrast between the background, the bird, it's looking. It's looking very appeasing. Toe the eyes, be patient and wait for the bird to act naturally. Try to capture interesting action. I did not explain further. I think the image speaks at all. Shoot from the car. Birds are generally not scared off cars, and you could drive up fairly close and take some good close up shots. I've been trying to practice this, and invariably I managed to get good shots if I do not get out of the car and I also in order that the moment I get out of the car, the noise which is made scarcely birds away, so try and food from the car. Having a back toward the sun provides the best light for bird photography. Try and achieve this as much as possible. Early morning or late often provide the best opportunities, and the best light for bird photography because this is the time when birds are very active , they are playing around their having about, and they're looking for prey. So try and ensure that you are out early morning and late in the afternoon toe. Take snaps of birds. The welcome pulled images and using reflection Lynn Drama one image and make it an eye candy. Now here it's a very simple photograph on a very common bird that is the printed stock, but just the composition that is using the rule of 1/3. And the reflection makes it quite interesting. So, friends, these were few techniques and tips which I wanted to share with you. I hope you will find them useful in your work. Thanks for being with us, and we will see you in the next lesson. Till then, take care. 15. Photographing Birds in Flight 01: Hello. Friends will come to this tutorial on in this tutorial. We will learn about for the graphing birds and flight photographing births and flight is very challenging and interesting. Every situation is unique and each skills to expose well. Each species of birds have the unique characteristics which needs to be researched and kept in mind. To become skilled at photographing birds and flight, you will need to learn to adapt, be quick at changing settings on your camera, have good observation capability and learn to be patient. He will also need to position yourself correctly for the best short and be able to anticipate Bird Woman, the most challenging aspect of photographing birds and fright of getting the right focus. I recommend using the center focus Point said the auto Focus. More toe ai servo and they drive more to high bust, acquire the bird as soon as you see it and then follow it in the viewfinder with shutter harp list so that the ai servo remains activated. When you see a bird flying in the correct orientation to the sun and as it gets closer, get steady and make a smooth banning arc for as long as possible in the direction of the flight. Hold your left hand under the lens so that the weight is really distributed between both off your hands and you can pan the camera as smoothly as possible. Take bus shots as the bird comes toward you and until it starts flying away from you. This will require a lot of practice to master. Learned to observe and position yourself for the shop, observed the flight part of birds and the pattern of the flight. Also, try and locate the roosting place. This will help you in predicting the flight path so that you can acquire them. Will in time to be able to train your camera and take short at the right moment. Learn to position yourself with the sun placed at your back. This will provide for the best exposure and bring out the best color in your subject. The best short are those where the bird fly the cross you feel of you and you are able to panic Rush of you with little or no obstruction. He will learn more about photographing birds and fight in the next session, So see you there 16. Photographing Birds in Flight 02: friends in this module. We're going to look at the camera settings, which you may consider while shooting birds in flight. Set your shooting more to continuous so that you can hold down the shutter button to take multiple images without your camera's burst mode. Set your auto focus more to a servo ai servo auto Focus will let you lock focus on your target and then continue to focus as the subject moves forward or away from the camera. Set your more dyinto a poacher priority. Setting a camera toe every morning will help and show that you have enough depth of field to keep the whole bird and focus. And a poacher between F 5.6 and F 6.3 is a good balance between getting the entire subject in focus and maintaining a fast enough shutter speed on a sunny day. However, this will depend on the ambient light available at that moment. Set your eyes sore toe as high as necessary to what he was shutter speed off at least one by 1000 seconds. This is necessary to a wide shake while handling the camera and also to freeze the bird. Your camera auto focus point should be set to the Centre Auto Focus point Only this will enable you to keep the focus on the moving bird rather than having it lock to the changing background. As you can pan across your view. The center Auto Focus point is the most sensitive off all your cameras. Focus Points award using the minister later at as it is of no use when you shutter speed is about one by 500 seconds. Instead, it will only hinder and slow down your auto focusing. Let's autofocus oblique man will focus, which should be set to auto Focus, said the minimum focus distance on the lens to its for the setting. This will help you to focus faster right friends. So in this module we learned about few camera settings, which you would like to use while photographing birds and flight. In the next module, we're going to learn about certain techniques, which would be useful for birds in flight 17. Photographing Birds in Flight 03: Hello, friends, welcome toe this model, and in this model we're going to discuss a few techniques for taking good photographs of birds and flight. To get sharp images, you will need to hold your camera properly When shooting handled. Hold the lens battle from underneath the lens and as far forward as you can be comfortable . You will want to press your face firmly into the back of the camera while looking through the viewfinder. This will keep the camera shake to a minimum. It takes practice to find and track a flying bird. Your goal is to get used to tracking frying birds in your viewfinder. Set your telling for those whom lands to its wider setting site and Uprooting bird without the camera. Then, while keeping our eyes on the bird, move the viewfinder up to your eye and continue following the bird. Continue practicing until you are comfortable with this procedure at the narrowest, setting off your lens side the bird and bring the viewfinder up to you. I make sure that the auto focus point it directly over the subject. When subject comes into focus in the viewfinder as it enters the range for which you previously. Pre focus the lens, depress the shutter button Harvey and continue to track the subject from Virginia viewfinder. When you were ready, press the shutter button all the way down and hold it there to engage the camera burst more continue to track the bird from within the viewfinder as the camera takes picture many times, the center auto Focus point will move off the subject or simply failed to lock onto the subject. In such cases, the focus will try to lock onto the background. When you see this happening, the easiest way to recover is by completely letting go off the camera button, re orientate ing the center auto focus point or the subject and then depressing the shutter button. Harvey again, this method will let you acquire focused. Look, most of the time, the friends in this model, we have discussed your techniques about how to take for 1/2 of birds and flight. We're almost coming to the end off the first part off our course, and here I would like to suggest to you that whatever you have learned so far, you must get onto the ground and practice it again and again. Only practice will make you a good bird photograph for 18. Inspiration and examples: Hello, friends. Welcome toe this module. And in this model we're going to have a look at few practical cases and try and drive inspiration out of it. This photograph was taken at Pony, India during a morning walk with the Canon 60 d camera wanted with 400 m. M. F 5.6 lens. The A butcher was set to 5.6. The shutter speed was won by 2500 I also was set at 400. While photographing birds, try and make sure that at least one eye is visible. This can be achieved by focusing on the eye than clicking at the moment when the light is falling on the face and I clearly visible try and achieve a shallow depth of field by using as wide and a poacher as possible and getting close to the subject. Ah, blurred background makes your subjects stand out and is visually appealing. A French here, electric Just highlight one aspect that here my shutter speed is one by 2500 I s 0 400 Probably I did this in a hurry, but otherwise I do not require this kind of a shutter Speed one by 1000 would have been good enough, so I would have been able to reduce my I s O and set it toe. Let's say I s 100 life. If that be so, then this made it would have been absolutely noise free. This photograph was taken at Singer Valley, about 25 kilometers from pony in India on 16 52 013 quite some time back with a Canon 60 d camera mounted with 400 f 5.6 lens, Approachable said to 5.6. Shutter speed was one by 1 60 eyes of all 400. When I took this photograph, it had just rained and the sky was overcast. Has the image has a blue hue? I was quite close to the bird and the camera focused accurately, which is evident from the visible details in the feathers. The foliage in the background was quite far hence the smooth and pleasing bookie. We were just embarking from the shelter after the dribble and the bird popped out from nowhere and first right in front of us. So when God wants you to have a nice picture. It just happens. This photograph was taken it, but Output Board Sanctuary, about 55 kilometers from Agra in India on 24th October. A tutor, a 12 with a Canon 60 d camera mounted with 400 m. M. F 5.6 lens. The a bunch of other 5.6 shutter speed was won by 1600 eyes off 400. Notice how the book stands out against the contrasting background. The catch light in the eyes draws one's attention while photographing birds, you have to show patients and wait for the opportunity to come by. This photograph was taken at little runoff Catch about 100 kilometers from Ahmedabad in India in December, 2014 with the Cannon 70 D camera mounted with 400 m. M. F 5.6 lengths. A poacher was set at 5.6. Shutter speed was won by 1600 I saw 200 while photographing birds in flight. It's best to switch to a I. So for focusing shoot at maximum shutter speed, possible a minimum of one by 1000 seconds in the must to freeze motion. Keep the Senate your back to capture natural colors. This photograph was taken at an AL through a bird sanctuary about 80 kilometers from Amdahl , while in India with the cannon 70 D camera mounted with 400 F 5.6 lens a bunch of US 8 to 5.6. Shutter speed was one by 1000 and I eso was 200. Capturing the reflection in natural surroundings makes the snap off a common but quite interesting. The maid was composed keeping the rule of thirds and mine, and hence the eye gets drawn to the gray hair. On this photograph. Off a question. Serpent Eagle was taken at Naeger Holy National part, about 100 kilometers from Mysore in India, with Cannon Security camera mounted with 400 m. M. F 5.6 lens, the A poacher was 5.6 shutter speed one by 1000 I so 6 40 I had to crank up the ice orbit because it was cloudy and the light was quite law. This snap captured the Christians so prodigal raising an alarm are typical behavior when it feels threatened while photographing birds, try and capture an aspect of his behavior. This makes they made more interesting, right? French, This is the last. Listen, as far as the first part of this course is concerned, I will advise you hear that kindly go through all these lessons as many times as possible and try and practise the aspects which have been discussed in the distance here. After we will move on to the second part off the course and they're in, we will learn how to post process the majors off birds, which we take in the field. So see you there still then decay.