Photographing the birds that fill the sky in South Australia provides us with endless opportunities.
Australia has a conglomerate of colourful and unique birds.
Creation is indeed marked by variety and beauty, God’s word says…..
Psalm 84.3 The sparrows have found a home and the swallows have nests. They raised their young near your alters Lord
Psalm 104.12 The birds of the sky nest among the waters they sing among the tree branches.
Birds have an airy and supposedly dreamy way of life,
…..roaming the space above the ground. We humans are earth bound and often wonder what it would be like to view life from above. Birds give us a sense of freedom and happiness. They seem to frolic from dawn to dusk, exuding life, power and joy.
Although I am not a specific bird photographer, I love to photograph the emotional vibes that birds give off.
That feeling….that spiritual force you feel when gazing at their daily activities. Fragile, light and soaring to heights that we cannot quite reach in the way that they do.
When photographing birds:
1. Try and get as close as possible, moving really slowly or otherwise try to conceal yourself behind some bushes or trees.
2. I use the fastest shutter speed I can. Often up to 1800 or more depending on conditions.
3. I use the movement setting but will turn to stationary if the bird is sitting still.
4. My aim is very much to portray a feeling, not really to capture a bird in a super clear and technical manner.
When editing my photographs:
I may add a new sky if I think it benefits the frame. I will often brighten and add a hint of colour to the bird. Mostly I simply let my creative side go.
Here are a few of my secrets revealed….
The galahs were in a green field and using photoshop I put them into a pink sky.
The rosella was on our roof, I cut it out using photoshop and put him into an image I had of our next door neighbours barren fruit tree.
There were only two crows in the black tree in the green field. I added a few more. I used the clone tool and also PNG’s of birds I had in my library.
The moon has been added into some photographs, but on others it was actually there.
Lastly, the bird in the nest in the power pole has been added in. He actually was sitting in the nest but flew off when I stopped the car. Very annoying, so I added one of my previous images of crows to this nest.
I encourage you, it’s about having fun, experimenting and doing what you love. Like I have said, I photograph birds to evoke a feeling, a sense of mysticism, of the unreal… something I cannot describe in words. It perplexes my soul and fills me with awe.
My photographs below are simply of moments I have felt a connection to the bird life around me.
I photographed these three singing their hearts out early one cold morning
Sometimes the sky turns into a startling blend of colours. This image was taken of a seagull just outside our beach house.
The setting sun lit up the tree branches, providing an interesting and lovely photo
A murmuration of starlings at the Port Clinton mangroves. A spectacular sight.
The Shy Albatross. Taken on a day when we were out fishing, off the coast of Yorke Peninsula.
Spoonbills often gather at the Port Clinton Conservation Park. The mangroves provide food, water and safety for the many birds in this area.
If you are interested in the more detailed aspect of bird photography here is a good place to start.
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS
(All images are taken by Wendy Philip. No AI generated images.)
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