In the ancient and charming land of Britain, there live many precious birds. They are either brightly colored or gracefully postured, just like the elves in the sky. For ordinary people, if they want to capture the touching images of these precious birds, they need to master some unique skills and have sufficient patience.
Firstly, understanding the habits of birds is a crucial step. The precious birds in Britain are distributed in different habitats, ranging from the seaside cliffs to the depths of the forests, from the vast wetlands to the peaceful countryside. For example, puffins often haunt the sea areas near some islands in northern Scotland, and they like to build their nests on the cliffs. While red kites soar over the open areas and the edges of the forests in southern England. Researching their feeding times, breeding seasons, and daily activity ranges enables us to wait for their appearance at the right time and place. During the breeding season, birds are usually more active as they frequently travel between their nests and foraging grounds to raise their young. At this time, there are more opportunities to capture their vivid images.
Choosing the appropriate equipment is also key. A camera with high pixels and a rapid continuous shooting function is essential. High pixels can ensure a certain level of clarity when cropping the image because sometimes we can’t get close to the birds and have to crop the image later to highlight the subject. The rapid continuous shooting function helps to capture the instantaneous postures of the birds, such as when they spread their wings and fly high or when they are preying. In terms of lenses, a telephoto lens is a great tool for photographing birds. The focal length should be at least 300mm or more so that we can take close-up shots of the birds from a relatively long distance away, avoiding scaring them. Meanwhile, a stable tripod or monopod can help us keep the camera stable during long periods of waiting for shooting, especially in low-light environments such as early morning or evening. Stable shooting can reduce image blurring.
Approaching the birds requires clever methods. We should try to keep quiet, avoid sudden movements and loud noises because birds have very acute hearing and vision. We can take advantage of natural cover, such as hiding behind bushes or using the undulations of the terrain. In some places where birds often appear, we can set up concealed shooting points in advance to let the birds gradually get used to the existence of this “foreign object”. In addition, when shooting, we can first observe the behavior of the birds from a relatively far distance and then slowly approach them after they get used to it. But never be too eager, lest we scare them away.
The use of light can add an artistic touch to the photos. The light in the early morning and evening is soft and rich in colors, which can add a gorgeous luster to the feathers of the birds. Side light and backlight can highlight the outlines and the texture of the feathers of the birds, making the images more layered. On cloudy days or when the light is even, we can try to find a background with light and shadow contrast to highlight the subject.
Photographing the images of Britain’s precious birds is a challenging and exciting journey. It requires us to have a deep understanding of birds, appropriate equipment, clever ways of approaching them, and a keen grasp of light. Each time we press the shutter, it is a conversation with these sky elves. When we capture their touching moments, what the images convey is not only the beauty of the birds but also the wonder and harmony of nature. These photos will also become precious mementos of our encounter with the natural beauty of Britain.