Bright-capped Cisticola
http://www.photo.net.ph/albums/userpics/10179/_TJP5763.jpg
This bird was around 2 inches long so I cropped the image to make it fill up the frame. The 1.5x crop factor and 500mm focal length was enough but the early-morning overcast skies didn't help.

White-collared Kingfisher
http://www.photo.net.ph/albums/userpics/10179/_TJP5785.jpg
This guy was deep within the canopy of the tree. Had to focus manually since there wasn't enough light. Still lacks sharpness. Oh well.

Philippine Nightjar
http://www.photo.net.ph/albums/userpics/10179/_TJP5775.jpg
This one didn't even want to show its face! Taken behind Palma Hall.

Master Romy! Pahingi ng tips!

Good catch, TJ.... looks like you guys and gals turned UP-Diliman into a bird shooters' playground this morning....:)


Romy

Nice captures TJ.

Thanks Romy and Reyno!

So where are the tips. =B)

So where are the tips. =B)

Lol... the subject of wild bird photography has so large a scope, but let me try to define what i think is a technically good bird photograph...:)

1. Sharp subject, good focus on the eye
2. Good pose
3. Clean background, with colors to complement the subject's.
4. Perfect exposure and good quality of light
5. Appealing composition.

The first challenge that a starting bird shooter should surmount is how to capture sharp images. The other 4 factors will be easily mastered later.... after all, what is there to compose if the subject is blurry?

As far as sharpness is concerned, the most common causes of unsharp bird pics are camera shake, subject motion or inaccurate focusing.

Here's one website with tips (using film slr but most techniques are also applicable to dslr birding):

http://www.web-nat.com/bic/ont/tipsindex.html

Romy

Thanks for the tips Romy. At this point, I'm just excited to actually see those birds. With a few more sorties under my belt, I hope I'll be able to capture sharper images.

One of these days, will visit my alma mater and do side birding too. Thanks for sharing.
gil

TJ, where in U.P. Diliman did you shoot these? Thanks.

Regards,
Norman

TJ, where in U.P. Diliman did you shoot these? Thanks.

Regards,
Norman

Hi Norman,

The Cisticola was taken near the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission road, the Kingfisher was in the area between the FC and Vargas Museum, while the Nightjar was taken behind Palma Hall.