Wildlife Photography How To

So you come across a beautiful scene, use the camera’s histogram to nail exposure, and find a great composition. Well, you just made a great shot—unless you pull it up on the computer and discover that the image is soft.

The great thing about bird photography is that you can often make amazing images in your backyard if you don’t have a nature preserve nearby. In the video below you’ll learn five easy tips for shooting captivating photographs of birds, whether you’re at home or shooting in the field.

Whether you’re shooting at a local nature reserve, on safari in Africa, or photographing birds in your backyard, there are several things you can do to dramatically improve your results.

Conventional wisdom has always been that zoom lenses can’t compete with fixed focal length glass for most forms of photography. So when a respected pro asks, “Are zoom lenses just better than primes,” we stop and pay attention.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Your camera, your lenses, your drone—if they’re not by your side and at-the-ready, they’re multi-thousand-dollar paper weights.

In the leadup to the holiday season, secure a fantastic deal on Slik tripods and heads. With up to $150 off the normal price on carbon fiber tripods, and up to $50 off select professional ball heads, this is your chance to stock up on quality camera support gear from Slik at a bargain-basement price.

For those new to wildlife photography, birds provide a great opportunity for capturing impressive images. If you’re lucky enough to have a wildlife refuge nearby, that’s a great place to start. But you can also make some great photographs in your own backyard.