Whatbird.com

Do you have a favorite pose of a standing/perched bird?  Does it depend on the type or size of bird or the bird's color?  Does it depend on what's in the background or what the bird is standing on?

Great question LauraC...I use to wait for the Classic pose from each bird shot I took.  Now I try to wait for the something different to happen in the photo. a Nuthatch with its feathers almost turned inside out by the wind, a wringing wet  dove a drop of rainwater falling off his beak,,  a cardinal so windblown that his crest lay by the side of his head like a bad comb-over...this weekend , for an hour and a half- I got to watch a young blue heron trying to fish..on one attempt he lunged so hard , he lost his balance and  his long wings flailed recapture his balance..he caught the fish- but with every one- he walked 25 yards to shore before eating them... then back out to feed...don't know if that is what you meant in your question, but that is what i look for in a pose...Variety, unusual.

---

http://whatbird.com/forums/photos/early_summers_birds/
IM: oldguyrich

If I am taking a picture of a bird I have already taken pictures of, and am familiar with it's habits, I agree 100% with birdseye, I am looking for something different. However, if I am not familiar with the bird and want a pic for ID, then I just try to get as close a view as possible, and from as many different angles and behaviors as possible. One thing I do try to avoid in all my pics though, are the "man elements", poles, wires etc... (Of course this goes out the door if I don't know the bird!)

birdseye:

Great question LauraC...I use to wait for the Classic pose from each bird shot I took.  Now I try to wait for the something different to happen in the photo. a Nuthatch with its feathers almost turned inside out by the wind, a wringing wet  dove a drop of rainwater falling off his beak,,  a cardinal so windblown that his crest lay by the side of his head like a bad comb-over...this weekend , for an hour and a half- I got to watch a young blue heron trying to fish..on one attempt he lunged so hard , he lost his balance and  his long wings flailed recapture his balance..he caught the fish- but with every one- he walked 25 yards to shore before eating them... then back out to feed...don't know if that is what you meant in your question, but that is what i look for in a pose...Variety, unusual.

I hear you.  Last year was my first year doing this so it was important to me just to capture as many different birds as I saw but this year, I want something different from the usual birds I see.  I keep saying I'm not going to photograph another robin or mockingbird unless they are juggling flaming swords.  But, then I watched a robin take a bath in a puddle...

LauraC:

Do you have a favorite pose of a standing/perched bird?  Does it depend on the type or size of bird or the bird's color?  Does it depend on what's in the background or what the bird is standing on?

LauraC Here is what I do because of my situation I watch my feeders and wait for what ever bird arrives if it is sitting on a perch great but I also have my camera set to burst mode that is going to give me a number of shots one after another that would mean I can have up to 10 shots or more in which to select and pick my keeper. I always shot in burst mode not only for the reason as stated but it also gives me a greater chance of eliminating camera shake you will get some camera movement when you press the shutter button but for the next shots in the series you don't have to press the shutter button as it is already depressed result giving you a better chance of lessing the camera shake.  Here is a sheet I quickly made up of a series burst the one I chose was the bottom left the one I put a drop shaddow under.

---

My New Avatar is in memory of Nancy my darling wife of 10 years who passed away on Monday November the 16th 2009 after an illness

My photo gallery http://thekiwi.org/photography/index.php

thekiwi:

LauraC:

Do you have a favorite pose of a standing/perched bird?  Does it depend on the type or size of bird or the bird's color?  Does it depend on what's in the background or what the bird is standing on?

LauraC Here is what I do because of my situation I watch my feeders and wait for what ever bird arrives if it is sitting on a perch great but I also have my camera set to burst mode that is going to give me a number of shots one after another that would mean I can have up to 10 shots or more in which to select and pick my keeper. I always shot in burst mode not only for the reason as stated but it also gives me a greater chance of eliminating camera shake you will get some camera movement when you press the shutter button but for the next shots in the series you don't have to press the shutter button as it is already depressed result giving you a better chance of lessing the camera shake.  Here is a sheet I quickly made up of a series burst the one I chose was the bottom left the one I put a drop shaddow under.

I do use burst which is why on some short outings I sometimes have over 400 photos .  There are some birds, sparrows in particular, where I like head on shots because they have no problem with looking right at you with a mouth full of stuff while you snap away.  Other birds, like mockingbirds, I prefer side shots because I like their yellow eyes.  Redwinged blackbirds, I want to see the red and yellow on their shoulders.  Brown thrashers, I like to take from the back with their heads slightly turned so the yellow eyes are visible as well as their beautiful brown feathers.  Not so fond of them from the front.  I know this sounds strange but I like to photograph ducks from above them.  Some ordinary ones are quite beautiful on the tops of their backs.   I prefer all birds to be not on the ground unless they are standing near something that breaks up the monotony of the grass or pavement.  I have some preening bird photos but in those their eyes are usually obscured and I delete most of those.

 

LauraC:

thekiwi:

LauraC:

Do you have a favorite pose of a standing/perched bird?  Does it depend on the type or size of bird or the bird's color?  Does it depend on what's in the background or what the bird is standing on?

LauraC Here is what I do because of my situation I watch my feeders and wait for what ever bird arrives if it is sitting on a perch great but I also have my camera set to burst mode that is going to give me a number of shots one after another that would mean I can have up to 10 shots or more in which to select and pick my keeper. I always shot in burst mode not only for the reason as stated but it also gives me a greater chance of eliminating camera shake you will get some camera movement when you press the shutter button but for the next shots in the series you don't have to press the shutter button as it is already depressed result giving you a better chance of lessing the camera shake.  Here is a sheet I quickly made up of a series burst the one I chose was the bottom left the one I put a drop Shadow under.

I do use burst which is why on some short outings I sometimes have over 400 photos .  There are some birds, sparrows in particular, where I like head on shots because they have no problem with looking right at you with a mouth full of stuff while you snap away.  Other birds, like mockingbirds, I prefer side shots because I like their yellow eyes.  Redwinged blackbirds, I want to see the red and yellow on their shoulders.  Brown thrashers, I like to take from the back with their heads slightly turned so the yellow eyes are visible as well as their beautiful brown feathers.  Not so fond of them from the front.  I know this sounds strange but I like to photograph ducks from above them.  Some ordinary ones are quite beautiful on the tops of their backs.   I prefer all birds to be not on the ground unless they are standing near something that breaks up the monotony of the grass or pavement.  I have some preening bird photos but in those their eyes are usually obscured and I delete most of those.

LauraC From your answer it would appear to me that you understand on how to get your shot, but also bearing that in mind we all have our personal preferences as to what setting we wish to shoot our subject in. IE a bird on a stick (for me this works best as I can see the bird and its details without the distractions surrounding it.) Others like to see there subject in settings such as the trees and hedges. Water ways etc.

I wish to ask you this. Have you found that by using Burst mode, your photos after the 1st, one are sharper and have less camera shake.?

 

---

My New Avatar is in memory of Nancy my darling wife of 10 years who passed away on Monday November the 16th 2009 after an illness

My photo gallery http://thekiwi.org/photography/index.php