Bird Photography: The Riparian, Gilbert AZ
Within my community of Gilbert, Arizona is a special place called the Riparian Water Park. Throughout the year various plants bloom and migratory and indigenous birds of Arizona make this special place home.
Bird photography is frustrating for me. Handling the telephoto lens on my Nikon D90 can be a challenge as I try to acquire the “target” and every jiggle is magnified ten-fold. Every once in a while I do get lucky but hope to turn luck more into skill. Using a tripod really helps, as does learning the birds’ habits. [Photographs copyright of Rick Beitman, Sr and Adrienne Campbell]
I like to try to capture relationships between the birds rather than a ‘textbook’ documentation of the bird. I am humbled when I meet avid birders who share their knowledge of what bird it is, how rare it may be, and if it is migratory. Believe it or not in the middle of the Arizona desert one can find Avocets, Egrets, Night Herons, Turns… and poor abandoned house cats seeking a meal of Mallards, Wood Ducks or Geese.
Below are bird photography websites I have found interesting. But please note I am not endorsing their businesses or their commentaries. I am just trying to provide readers with a “service” by sorting through search engine results to find some work I think is exceptional or photography hints that are helpful. This is not a comprehensive list by any means and I welcome your recommended links.
- Alan Murphy is incredible! You can sign up for a newsletter.
- Kim Steininger has a wonderful eye that really shows the love she has for animals.
- Bird Watcher’s Digest has tips on photographing birds.
- Outdoor Eyes offers several approaches to taking bird photographs.
- SLR Photograhpy Guide provides tips on equipment, again this is not an implied endorsement just a site you may find useful.
