Candydez12 73 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 I want to know so I can get better pictures up close. Thanks so much for your help! 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aaron 631 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Zoom lenses, windows, bird feeders. Sometimes bird are more habituated to people at busy public parks so they don’t get scared as easily. Some parks near me you can put out your hand and the chickadees will land on you whether or not you have seed. Yet sometimes I can’t get the chickadees to even attempt to land on my hand in my yard even with seed.  Waiting until the birds come to you also works. If you just sit outside, or stand in one spot for a while they sometimes won’t perceive you as that big of a threat or may simply not notice your presence. I would sit outside on a chair everyday for an hour or so in the summer and one day I had a house finch land on my head! Must of thought I was a statue or something. Lots of photographers invest in bird blinds as well, but I wouldn’t say that’s needed.  Sometimes it’s just luck as well. No way of telling if that bald eagle is gonna perch on the tree beside the path or across the river.  It’s more or less a waiting game. Some species are easier than others. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avery 1,056 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 (edited) If the bird doesn’t want to be close to you, it’s not going to let you get close. As Aaron said, it’s a waiting game. I usually will get as close to the bird as I think it will let me before it starts to get agitated. Then, if it comes closer, great! If not, so be it! A good picture isn’t worth it if it hurts the bird.  Example: This was gotten by sitting in a lawn chair five feet from my feeder for 30 minutes. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/283201701#_ga=2.73806171.833437689.1613746855-362103245.1592329863 Edited February 20 by Avery 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 1,978 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 (edited) I'm surprised how well it works to use a car as your 'blind'. Edited February 20 by Jefferson Shank 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 3,392 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 If you have feeders, it can depend on how hungry they are. On colder days, they'll tolerate me being closer to the feeders than on warmer ones. I've had them perch within three feet of me when I'm refilling the feeders. That's not helpful for photography but you can get some great observations. @Candydez12, did we ever find out what camera you're using? I don't know what you're budget is but you can get a used FZ70 with great zoom for under $150, or a new FZ80 for under $300. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Candydez12 73 Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 @Charlie Spencer we got a almost brand new very expensive camera from a friend of ours for Christmas and we got it for less then 300 dollars! It is a Canon EOS Rebel T5. My dad said they are worth a lot of money. I have a huge zoom lens so (unless I want to get bird pictures from more further away) I am getting good pictures. 🙂 Thanks for asking. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Candydez12 73 Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 On 2/19/2021 at 6:06 PM, Avery said: If the bird doesn’t want to be close to you, it’s not going to let you get close. As Aaron said, it’s a waiting game. I usually will get as close to the bird as I think it will let me before it starts to get agitated. Then, if it comes closer, great! If not, so be it! A good picture isn’t worth it if it hurts the bird.  Example: This was gotten by sitting in a lawn chair five feet from my feeder for 30 minutes. https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/283201701#_ga=2.73806171.833437689.1613746855-362103245.1592329863 Great Picture! And thanks so much 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 711 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 12 hours ago, Candydez12 said: @Charlie Spencer we got a almost brand new very expensive camera from a friend of ours for Christmas and we got it for less then 300 dollars! It is a Canon EOS Rebel T5. My dad said they are worth a lot of money. I have a huge zoom lens so (unless I want to get bird pictures from more further away) I am getting good pictures. 🙂 Thanks for asking. How long is your lens? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Candydez12 73 Posted Thursday at 06:14 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 06:14 PM What it says is 75-300mm on my lens anyway @Seanbirds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 711 Posted Thursday at 07:41 PM Share Posted Thursday at 07:41 PM 1 hour ago, Candydez12 said: What it says is 75-300mm on my lens anyway @Seanbirds I have that very same lens! Just keep practicing with it and applying the suggestions made here (by better photographers than I), and you’ll be taking calendar-worthy photos in no time! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 4,585 Posted Thursday at 08:12 PM Share Posted Thursday at 08:12 PM (edited) I know how frustrating it can be, especially if you're expecting to get closer shots. I have found that some birds will come closer if I'm wearing sunglasses and/or a large-brimmed hat (to hide my eyes). But sometimes the birds don't come or let you get close, just like sometimes you don't see the species you are looking for, so be patient and go birding often. 300mm, which is equal to 480mm on your crop sensor camera, is good. Your camera is 18 megapixels, so you can crop a little. Edited Thursday at 08:13 PM by The Bird Nuts 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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