The beautiful Londolozi Game Reserve is a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers. Today we will focus on bird photography, offering you invaluable tips to enhance your skills and capture stunning moments. From utilizing telephoto lenses to understanding the importance of light, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, these top five tips will help you elevate your bird photography to new heights on your next safari (or even in your garden at home).

1. Invest in a Telephoto Lens:

The main difference between telephoto lenses and zoom lenses is that a telephoto lens has a longer focal length while a zoom lens can change focal lengths but start and end at any focal length.

When it comes to bird photography, a telephoto lens is an indispensable tool. Birds are often moving either in flight or dancing around the branches of a tree while keeping their distance, making it essential to bring them closer through your lens.

A Sigma 150-600mm gives you great diversity without breaking the bank.

A telephoto lens with a focal length of 300mm or more allows you to capture intricate details of your subjects without disturbing their natural behaviour. Consider using prime lenses for superior image quality, or if budget allows, explore zoom lenses for added flexibility in composition.

If you do not have the above-mentioned equipment, pay the Londolozi Photographic Studio a visit where you can explore and rent quality camera equipment on your next safari.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about the different lens or body options available at the studio, there will be an experienced photographic guide to help you in the Londolozi Photo Studio.

2. Understand the Importance of Light:

Lighting plays a pivotal role in photography, and bird photography is no exception. Seek out the golden hours—shortly after sunrise and before sunset—when the light is soft, warm, and provides a pleasing glow. During these times, shadows are longer, enhancing the texture and depth of your images.

Stunning afternoon light captures the beautiful array of colours on this Malachite Kingfisher.

Overcast days can also be ideal for bird photography, as the diffused light reduces harsh shadows and brings out the colours and details of your subjects. Be mindful of the direction of light to ensure well-lit subjects and avoid silhouetting. Therefore always try to have the sun behind you so that the subject is facing the light to bring emphasis to the colouration of the bird.

When pointing your camera up towards the clouds – for instance when photographing a bird in flight – what will most likely happen is your camera will read the situation as being too bright, and try to compensate by underexposing, giving you deep shadows and a darker image.

In this situation, you need to tell the camera that you want to keep the picture bright. This means shifting the exposure setting to the right on the dial above. Exposure is measured in stops, which are divided into thirds. Overexposing by one or two-thirds might be enough, but you might even have to go five or six up to get the exposure you are after for your subject and in turn white out the background/sky.

Here is an example of over-exposing an image: the background is blown out however there is less shadow and more detail on the subject and this is achieved with the exposure compensation dial.

3. Master Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO:

Next, in order to capture birds in motion with sharp details and minimal blur, it’s crucial to understand the interplay between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings.

Aperture:

Selecting a wide aperture (lower f-stop number) will create a shallow depth of field, helping isolate your subject from the background. This technique is particularly useful when photographing birds perched on branches or in foliage.

This image catches the detail of the subject in deep foliage. By using a low f-stop number (wide aperture) the background is out of focus and the Flycatcher pops in the image.

Shutter Speed:

Birds are known for their quick movements, so using a fast shutter speed is essential to freeze their motion. Set your camera to a high shutter speed, such as 1/1000 to 1/2000, to capture birds in flight or while engaging in swift actions. Engaging Shutter Priority on your camera is recommended in such situations so that you can set the required shutter speed and then let the camera configure the ISO and Aperture for the situation.

To capture this image, a high shutter speed captures the rapid flapping wings and a high ISO of 1250 overexposes the subject against a bright background.

ISO:

Lastly, adjusting the ISO sensitivity of your camera allows you to compensate for low-light situations. Aim for the lowest ISO possible to minimise noise and maintain image quality. I leave ISO on auto but don’t hesitate to increase it if necessary to achieve a well-exposed image.

Remember – a noisy image is better than a blurry image when you are aiming to get a sharp photograph!

4. Patience and Observation:

Birds are unpredictable subjects, and capturing their unique behaviours requires patience and observation. Spend time understanding their habits, feeding patterns, and favoured perching spots. Your guide will be alert to this knowledge and he/she will help you anticipate their movements, increasing your chances of capturing that perfect shot.

Pay attention to their body language, as it often provides valuable cues for action shots or interesting poses. Remain still and quiet, blending into the environment to minimize disturbance.

The Little Bee-eater is known to perch on a branch and then swoop down on its prey before returning to the exact same branch it was previously perched on creating an easy way to predict the movement of these birds.

5. Composition and Background:

Composition is a key element in bird photography. Aim for visually appealing and balanced compositions by following the rule of thirds, where you divide the frame into a 3×3 grid and place your subject on the intersections or ‘power points’.

Consider the background carefully, as a cluttered or distracting background can detract from the bird itself. Look for clean, uncluttered backgrounds that enhance the bird’s colours and create a pleasing contrast.

A flock of Yellow-billed Oxpeckers gather on the back of a Buffalo. The wonderful contrast of dark colours as well as bright reds and yellows make photographing birds so fun.

If the background is very bright, try and increase the exposure by increasing ISO to bring the subject more into focus. A situation where this may be the case is capturing a bird in flight on a cloudy day. By over-exposing the shot, the subject will pop out of the scene and greater detail of its features and feathers will be observed as well as removing any shadows. (Note that this can also be done by adjusting the exposure compensation dial to the right as discussed earlier).

This Saddle-billed Stork is well composed in the frame, just off-centre and well positioned in the context of the image. The misty Sand River in the background and its reflection in the foreground enhances the photograph.

As you embark on your bird photography journey at Londolozi Game Reserve, remember to equip yourself with a telephoto lens, master the use of light, understand the interplay between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, Most importantly, practice patience and remember to enjoy the experience one photograph at a time.

By implementing these top five tips, you’ll be well on your way.