BIRDS AND INSECTS

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Wildlife photographers, I am sure, will be able to tell you that birds are not the easiest subject to photograph. The zoom lenses on most digital compacts are nowhere near powerful enough and even with a digital SLR in the back garden, you need at least a 300mm lens to be able to make the bird a reasonable size in the frame. The situation is even more challenging in the wild, where you often cannot  get as close and super-telephotos are the order of the day. One excellent option, though, while you are building up your equipment and expertise, is to visit a bird of prey centre. Here you can get within a couple of metres of species that are more exotic and photogenic – such as owls, hawks, eagles, falcons and kestrels.

At this distance you can produce a powerful wildlife portrait and if you go in close and crop tightly, you can exclude anything in the background that shows that it was not taken out in the wild. By all means try to photograph such birds when they are on the wing but fast reflexes will be necessary as well as long lenses. A shutter speed of 1/500 sec should be sufficient which may require an increase in ISO speed if conditions are overcast – but watch your exposure when the bird is against the sky.

Photographing Insects – Looking for a challenge? Start thinking small and you will soon find yourself immersed in the fascinating world of macro photography. Most digital cameras have a close-focusing capability that allows you to fill the frame with everything from butterflies to dragonflies.

It would be great if you choose a bright sunny day because you will need both a reasonably fast shutter speed and a relatively small aperture. In practice, you want at least 1/125 sec and preferably 1/250 sec or 1/500 sec. Because when insects appear static, they are still moving slightly and the plants they are resting on often sway slightly in the breeze. You need as small an aperture as possible – at least f8 – because once you get in close, depth of field is limited and only part of the insect might appear sharp. Bright colours help bring colours to life and it helps if you choose a plant or flower that works well with the insect you are photographing. While spiders and beetles have their charm, it’s most likely to be dragonflies, bees, grasshoppers and butterflies that attract your attention.