Category: Uncategorized

by Nikolai Whitebear

Photographing birds from the comfort of your own home brings joy like nothing else. Here you’ll read the most valuable tips on How to photograph birds in your backyard!

Attracting Birds!

Before photographing birds in your backyard you must first attract birds to your yard. This can easily be done with a birdfeeder or two, or even just a pile of birdseed by a tree. Seeds, corn, oats, and nuts are all fantastic options for feeding birds. Ensuring that there are different areas for visiting birds to perch is another critical factor for photography. Ground shots are usually boring. A perching bird models far better! If you aren’t fortunate enough to have trees in your yard you can create perching posts with sticks or poles! I’m very thankful to have many trees around me, even fruit-bearing trees that attract beauties such as this Rose-breasted Grosbeak!

Lighting

Lighting provides an essential foundation for any photography, whether that be birds, humans, buildings, or landscapes! With bird photography, ensure the light is to your back when photographing. Below you can see I photographed this Eastern American Tree Sparrow on a beautiful late morning last month. From the window of my bedroom, I pointed my lens and snapped the shot. The sun provides just enough light to see the fine detail of the feathers while remaining proper exposure. This photograph also leads us into our next section, choosing a supportive background.

Background

The background is just as vital as the subject of the photograph. Again, see above the complementing and contrasting colors of the background. The soft blue sky paints a gorgeous backdrop and the berries burst with color! The blues and reds contrast wonderfully here! Make sure to have some distance between the bird and the background as well. The distance creates a stronger distinction, drawing extra attention to your subject!

Have fun!

Enjoy your time outside as much as you can. Bird photography is a wonderful practice that allows you to learn and share knowledge of our Mother Earth. That knowledge is passed down to ensure we are aware that the protecting natural life of our planet is of the utmost importance! Thank you all for reading and learning how to photograph birds in your backyard.

-Niawa

by Nikolai Whitebear

Learning how to photograph birds in flight may feel challenging when you begin. They seem to move so fast that you don’t have time to aim your camera! But once you spend some time with them, get to know them, and understand their behavior you’ll be taking photos just like the ones seen in this article!

Camera Settings

Before each time you are out photographing please ensure your camera settings are the best for the environment. Location, time, and sunlight all play vital roles in a photographer’s work. The shutter speed should be very fast, 1/2000 of a second. Combined with the ISO set to auto, you are guaranteed a crisp photo!

Using the focus limiter will help. It eliminates objects close to you allowing the autofocus to work faster! Lastly, image stabilization can be turned off while photographing birds in flight. Having image stabilization on can slow the lens performance! Preset as many of these settings as you can before you make the trip to begin photographing. You will experience feelings of regret and frustration when you realize you were shootings in all the wrong settings.

Use your whole body

The camera can only do so much. You as the photographer must learn how to follow a subject as it moves. The best tip I can give is to move the lens with your whole body. Do not just use your arms and head to move the lens. Move your chest and core as the bird flies across the sky. Don’t forget about your legs too! Spread your feet into a wider stance. A stronger stance will allow you to aim and shoot with absolute accuracy.

This photo above I shot while the Belted Kingfisher zoomed past me. I wasn’t as close as I would’ve loved but I am certain these tips helped me capture a small bird that flies very fast.

Practice

Just reading these recommendations is not enough to truly learn how to photograph birds in flight. Go out and begin practicing your own photography. Develop your own methods that create the kind of photographs that you want to take! Travel to different locations, Mother Earth works in mysterious ways at times, you never know what she may gift you. That photo above I took the first time I photographed gulls in the Niagara Gorge! I was not expecting a photo that captures so much grace and elegance! Keep an open mind, breathe, and love every second of being outside!

-Niawa

Macro photography of insects has taught me more about Mother Earth than any other photography practice. Insects are one of the vital pillars that support the entire animal kingdom. Marco photography requires a calm mind, a steady hand, and patience. Being close to insects opens your mind to unexplored areas of the universe. Moths are especially underappreciated and studied far less than compared to butterflies. With these 3tips, your moth photography will excel making your photos unforgettable.

Light

Moths began fascinating me back in the summer of 2020. I spent much of my time during quarantine outside. Each night as I returned home they were always fluttering around the porch light by the front door. Quickly I began consistently photographing them, always questioning who each being was. My early photos of moths expressed my lack of knowledge of proper lighting.

A flash is essential when photographing moths at night. Without substantial light, the pictures will be blurry and unusable. My best photographs of moths were taken using only the pop-up flash from the camera body. The light of an external flash is too harsh for the style that I desire. I wrap a piece of printer paper over the pop-up flash, it makes a perfect diffuser as you can see in the photo above. All the delicate intricacies of the moth are captured while also not washing out the details with too much light. ISO should be at least over 1000. Their wings move faster than you’d think and this ensures every photo is crisp!

Time

Nighttime is when most moths are seen fluttering around lamps. The time of night can bring different visitors to your door. In my own experiences I’ve met new moths in the darkest hours of the night that weren’t there after the sun had only set. Pick a night to stay up later, check your lights every 20 minutes! You’ll be happy surprised at who is about at 2:00 AM!

Manners

To hold a moth in your own hand is a beautifully soft experience. When picking one up you should always ask permission. Introduce yourself and ask if you may pick them up. I’ve had moths refuse to come near me, but after I remembered to use my manners they happily accepted. As you can see below this Virgin Tiger Moth (Apantesis virgo) stayed with me for quite some time! I kindly asked if I may hold them, I am eternally thankful for the experience and photos that came from it.

Bonne nuit (Goodnight)

After spending enough time with moths your thoughts around them may begin to change. Not only do they fly with grace and passion but they have a true unrecognized beauty. Their diversity is astounding when compared to butterflies. Their importance is vital. They have always kept me company throughout the night, I hope you cal find peace in their presence too.

by Nikolai Whitebear

Often I feel that gulls are the most unappreciated and misunderstood birds of our shores. If only the time was taken to see that we’re genuinely quite similar. High adaptability, perseverance, and the strength to speak their minds are just a few of the admirable characteristics that gulls possess. So next time you cross paths with them take a breath, watch, listen, and learn. Gulls have many messages to share, you must make the choice to listen. Once you’ve learned how to listen, you may begin learning to capture their beauty in a photograph!

Light and Time

Only at the right time and place can one have proper lighting. Natural light is your best and at times only option when photographing gulls. Flashes can be used at closer encounters but this usually upsets and disturbs the bird. In the picture above you can see this Bonaparte’s Gull was captured in full sunlight. The sun had just risen above the gorge casting its mighty rays on the gulls.

For camera settings, the exposure should be 1/500 or higher. Gulls fly quickly and make sudden movements and this exposure ensures the photographs are crisp. Since the plumage of a gull is comprised of mostly white feathers it can be easy to wash out the detail with too much light. Practice finding the proper balance as you photograph these remarkable birds.

Location

Possessing knowledge of the location where you wish to photograph is essential. Say you’re planning a trip to a new location a few minutes of research on the area can make a significant difference. When you arrive take a few minutes to survey where you’d like to photograph. Gulls are almost always found waddling around the shores or gliding over the waves. You may find an angle or area that you otherwise wouldn’t have, which will gift you that memorable photo!

Get to know your Gulls!

Time is required to form an understanding of any gulls. You meet some who will let you approach quite closely and others may not be as friendly to strangers. Always introduce yourself when meeting a new being on Mother Earth. Say your name, and listen for theirs. Then, you ask for permission to photograph them. Above you see an Atlantic Black-legged Kittiwake. When I saw this bird from afar I did not rush over immediately to photograph them. I paused, introduced myself, and asked if I may take a picture. I believe this is what allowed me to be so close.

If you’re eager to learn more about bird photography please read my previous article on Waterfowl photography which can be found here! Thank you to all who have taken the time to read.

-Niawa

by Nikolai Whitebear

Ducks, geese, loons, and all waterfowl are extraordinarily beautiful in their own way. From the ornate markings of a wood duck to the stunning simplicity of a merganser these birds fill our skies and lakes with grace. Capturing their elegance in a photograph can be a tricky task. These birds can be shy and quick to flap away once they see you approach. In this post, you’ll find 5 tips for improving waterfowl photography.

Time

Time is indeed everything for wildlife photography. Whether that be the time of the day or the present season both greatly influence who you will encounter when you step outside. Early mornings and late afternoons are the greatest times to be photographing. Usage of natural light, sunrise or sunset will enrich your photographs beyond your dreams!

She was photographed in the late afternoon which gifted the perfect amount of sunshine. The lighter areas are not washed out by excessive light while still having enough to capture the delicate details of every feather.

Location

Depending on where you live on Mother Earth there will be different waterfowl. In North America, most birds spend their summers in the north and migrate south for the winter. I live along the Niagara River, home to an astonishing number of waterfowl species. Having knowledge of the location where you wish to photograph is essential. Visiting multiple times will allow you more opportunities to explore and photograph!

Lens and camera settings

Camera settings can feel overwhelming at the first attempt but with practice, you will know the right numbers for ISO, and exposure, and the moment will come together. Waterfowl move quite quickly when flying and moving about the water. You want to ensure you have an exposure of 1/500 or higher. Your ISO will change due to available light but do your best to keep it high. A solid image with noise is greatly preferred to a blurry unusable photo.

Golden hour will gift the most memorable photos if you understand how to work with the light. It can be easy to overexpose the highlights of areas that have direct light while also difficult to capture the shadows that create intricate detail within the birds’ plumage.

Understand the birds

When meeting someone you don’t know you should always use your manners and introduce yourself. The same thing goes for birds and anytime life on Mother Earth. Now that you know the bird you can begin to learn about them. How they move, what they eat, and where they like to be are all important characteristics. As your familiarity increases you’ll find yourself taking high-detail photographs. This greater intimacy really makes a difference once you bring awareness to it.

Some ducks allow you to approach quite closely for a shot. Others will take off the moment they see you just as this Common Goldeneye did. Quick reflexes and the knowledge that they will most likely fly quickly can be how you can take photos like this.

Practice

Truly the most important tip of all is practice. Practice makes progress. If you’re a beginner it will require time and effort to create the photographs that you desire. At times you’ll feel discouraged and want to quit. Pay no mind to those ideas for that is only resistance attempting you hold you back. You are so much stronger and have immense untapped potential. Thank you so much for reading this post, I’ll have another up soon!

Nia-wa

by Nikolai Whitebear

Moths are one of the most underappreciated creatures in the sky. Their diversity drastically exceeds that of the butterflies and their beauty is unmatched. Within this post, you’ll learn the essentials of nighttime moth photography and how to better your practice of photography.

Locating Moths

The best place to find moths at night is around lights. Many moth species are attracted to lights which makes this step the easiest! My favorite spot is the porch light right outside my front door. I live along a small section of woods which brings the most beautiful visitors. Summer nights are filled with moths fluttering around the lights. UV lights can also be used with a sheet. This is a prevalent method that attracts a lot of species. Although not everyone has a UV light around, we’ll save this for another post entirely.

Choice of Lens

Now that you’ve found moths you’ll want to start photographing! If you are an absolute beginner and don’t have a digital camera that is fine! Phone cameras can take some pretty fantastic pictures. But I would highly recommend a digital camera if you desire to take higher-quality images. I love using a Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX macro lens. The image quality is superb and I have been thrilled with the result.

Lighting

Proper lighting is extremely important, especially during the night. You must ensure your subject has enough light cast upon it so your images are clean and crisp. Most people would recommend using an external battery-powered flash but I have found that these flashes create too much light. With too much light the images will be washed out. Instead, I suggest using the pop-up flash on the camera body with a diffusor. My BEST moth photos have been created using this method, less is really more here.

The Canon 40D is my choice for a camera body. I also use a double-battery pack for extended use, it attaches to the bottom of the body acting as a grip as well. Even the pop-up flash can emit harsh light so the diffusor is really essential. All you need is a single piece of printer paper. Wrap it around the flash and you’re set! Since you’ll most likely be very close to the moths you want the light to be evenly cast when photographing.

Background

In my first post here I touched lightly on the importance of the background in photos. A unique background transforms a photo from ordinary to spectacular. The average person is usually not interested in moths or insects. Butterflies and bees steal the show when it comes to insect photography. The background of your photos can be a feature that catches that extra attention. The best recommendation I have is to make your background a color that highly contrasts your subject. Whether that be a leaf, tree, or your clothing. My favorites are using the brake lights of a car, as seen in the second photo on this page, or a piece of colored paper shown in the image below.

This plume moth was resting on the glass window of my front door. So I taped a piece of purple paper behind the glass. Then, I began photographing to achieve this result. I was elated by the photograph. The purple paper contrasts greatly with the moth and the glass adds a mirror image of the moth.

Goodnight to you and the moths

There were many nights when I stayed up well past my bedtime just to stay out with the moths and other creatures of the night. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. I became well acquainted with a lot of beings that I had not met before. Earwigs, lacewings, ichneumonid wasps, and even some beetles found their way to the porch light. Now I am filled with excitement for those summer nights again. But for now, we settle in for winter and turn our eyes and lenses to the waterfowl that spend the cold months here. Thank you all, niawa.

by Nikolai Whitebear

When beginning to practice insect photography it can feel frustrating when your photographs are not looking how you want. Insects are elusive beings, they’re tricky to see. When you finally find someone they’re gone in an instant! With this post, you’ll find helpful information that will have you better prepared for your next adventure out into the world! Follow these tips and your insect photography will surely improve!!

Location

Insects can truly be found in all types of environments. But you’ll have the best of luck photographing if go where the plants are. Flowering plants, like this Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), will often be highly populated with bees, butterflies, beetles, and many more! When you find plants, take your time when searching. Carefully lift every leaf, and look along each branch. You’ll be surprised at who may be right in front of your face!

Time of Day

The time of day has a huge influence on who you will see. Time also determines where the sun is in the sky which dramatically changes the lighting of your photos. Insects are most active when the sun is high in the sky which makes them tricky to photograph. My favorite time to be out is the early morning. They aren’t as active yet and the sun is just beginning its daily journey. Position yourself with your back to the sun and begin photographing any being you encounter. Shoot it just right and you’ll be gifted the most beautiful natural light you can imagine. Photographing at midday will result in harsh light and heavy shadows as you can see in the photo below.

Background

What exists behind your subject is just as important. A background filled with distraction draws attention away from your centerpiece. Do your best to compose your shots so that the background and subject complement each other. A pure blue sky offers endless beauty as a backdrop. As you advance with your photography you can begin to experiment! When I photograph moths I will use a car taillight or a colored piece of paper as a backdrop. Intense contrast catches so much more attention from your audience!

Wrapping Up!

The best way to improve your photography skills is to go outside as much as possible. When I first began photographing I was out almost every day for at least an hour. You’ll learn a lot about yourself. Take your time, there’s no rush. Let it calm you, it can become a mediative practice as well. We all need more time with our Mother Earth, she offers so much to learn. You just have to take the time to listen. Niáwa, and thank you!