I spent a couple hours in my backyard blind again today. The birds were cooperative and I am slowly learning how to capture better bird photos. It’s not easy because birds are quick! I am more accustomed to photographing elk, which move a lot more slowly!
Today I learned an important lesson: don’t set up the camera too close to the birds. The problem wasn’t being too close that I scared the birds, after all, I was in a blind. The problem was that I was inside the minimum focusing distance of my zoom lens! I re-situated my blind this morning to get better angles on my perches, but I actually set up too close to the action. After some frustrating results early in the evening, I moved the blind back about six feet and then photographs became much more clear!
I continue to learn and am intrigued with the challenge of bird photography. I hope to be back out in my blind again tomorrow!
Glad to see you are getting into the backyard birds. It can be very frustrating with them flitting away just as you hit the shutter button but the good shots are worth it all.
You might want to try adding an extension tube as it will decrease you focus distance for frame filling shots. I use the 25mm Kenko tube and am very pleased with it. Normally I stay with Canon accessories but as one reviewer stated, Kenko air is just as sharp as Canon air. The Kenko has worked flawlessly for me for over three years.
Thanks for this great tip, Coy! I’ve heard about these extension tubes but wondered if I would ever come across an actual need for them in my repertoire. I guess I just did. Thanks!