The Wide World of Bird Photography

Birding continues to be one of our most popular pastimes. In 2022, 96 million people in the U.S. reported birdwatching, feeding, or photographing birds. This is more than double the number of birdwatchers reported in 2016. Birds are endlessly fascinating subjects, and the rigors of our day-to-day lives melt away when we pay close attention to them. Learning to photograph birds in a unique and artful way is a fun challenge and a great way to connect to the beauty and wonders of the natural world. Join photographer and educator Lindsay Silverman for our two-day online webinar exploring the wide world of bird photography. 

Lindsay’s program focuses on the techniques essential for capturing memorable bird photos as well as the aesthetic, fine-art aspects of this popular niche in photography. He discusses how to choose your locations in order to get close to birds, how to select the best equipment for your desired results, using your camera’s EVF for getting exposure right—even in rapidly changing conditions, and for making camera settings decisions on the fly so you can become better birding photographers.

In session one, Lindsay covers:

• The best Apps for making informed location decisions
• Ethics for capturing birds and wildlife
• Most effective lenses for bird photography
• Hand holding your gear vs tripods and monopods
• Photographing in RAW for the best image quality
• AF modes and the importance of subject detection
• Customizing your camera for success
• Camera Settings
• Shutter speeds and burst modes for capturing the action
• Strategies for capturing birds in flight vs birds perched
• Photographing with limited depth of field
• Importance of backgrounds
• Filling the frame 
• Strategies for getting close to birds
• Maximizing birds in landscapes
• The juxtaposition of birds in urban environments

In session two, Lindsay covers: 

• The beauty of bird portraits
• Going out early vs going out late
• Birds in morning light, afternoon, and evening light
• Photographing birds with fresh catch
• The differences of getting birds taking-off vs birds landing
• Birds in changing seasons
• Photographing multi-species
• Showing context
• Photographing predatory birds
• Creative use of backlighting and reflections
• Photographing bird families
• Don’t forget the ducks
• Bird photography resources
• Bringing it all together and wrapping it up

Spend three inspiring hours in May (perfect birding weather) with Lindsay, one of the most passionate and technically adept bird photographers in the world, to build a solid foundation and refine your ongoing love of birds through the photographic process.