Conclusion

You now have the some of the basic information and skills you need to improve your bird photography. The rest is in your hands. Take the time in the field to relax and enjoy the moment. Observe your subjects’ behavior and watch for any signs of distress before approaching closer. Use the tools in your bag to make the composition that tells your story, whether it includes the environment or is a frame-filling headshot. Get to know your lenses and understand the benefits and tradeoffs of one lens over another for capturing great shots.

Go ahead, get out there and follow your heart to photograph the subjects you love. Learn all you can about your subject and your equipment—and practice, practice, practice! Happy shooting.

Get Bird Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.