Winter Bird Photography
Ask a roomful of birders their favorite season and you probably won’t hear many praises of winter. As temperatures drop, the appeal of venturing outdoors for extended periods of time diminishes for all but the most dedicated photographers and birdwatchers. However, winter provides unique benefits for the bold and bundled. Leafless trees make for easier spotting and white snowy environments make for beautiful settings for photographs. Best of all, winter welcomes its own seasonal lineup of characters, if you know where to look. This article
In Part 1 of The Savvy Winter Bird Photographer, I shared my strategies on how to best prepare yourself and your gear for dealing with extreme winter weather. In addition, I covered some tips for photographing from your vehicle and how to use manual focus in heavy snowfall. In Part 2, I will share some exposure tips, discuss how to create your own backyard bird studio, and also suggest a few winter bird
When winter rolls around, many bird photographers choose to hibernate like a bear or fly south like a bunting. However, with a few precautions and considerations, winter can be an excellent time of year to photograph birds, even in the northern climates. Over the years, I have made dozens of trips to photograph birds in some pretty extreme locations, such as the high arctic, northern Michigan, and northern Minnesota. In this first part of my two-part series, I will share my strategies to prepare yourself and your gear in the best ways for