We as photographers don't talk about the harsh realities of photography. Especially when it comes to bird photography. Everyone gets to see the beautiful pose of a warbler on a branch, or a loon flapping it's wings on the water. As a bird/wildlife photographer I don't often show the struggles in order to take the perfect pictures. The many branch pictures that have accumulated in my storage. The many photos I thought were crystal clear, but weren't. The moments the birds turn to show their rear end as you were taking the picture. The countless hours hunting down a specific bird in the field. The many times I have to sift through so many photos to find the right one to share. Buckle up my friends because this blog post is all about those times, and much more.
I have to start by saying I didn't know what I was getting into when I decided I wanted to get into bird photography. Wildlife photography as been interesting by far, but birds specifically is the most difficult thing to take pictures of. Birds are often flighty, notorious for calling and not showing their face, and often times won't even let you know they are there until it's too late. I was so nieve when I got into the hobby of taking bird photos, but I'm too stubborn to quit.
I will say more times often than not I have to track down a bird for hours. Sometimes you get the dumb luck effect like the Brown Booby in 2020 just sitting on a branch striking a pose. The Ruffed Grouse drumming one last time for us in 2018 before coming off his throne. My favorite (and the shot I call my money shot) the loon in 2021 flapping his wings for me after he preened. I'm not talking about those moments in this post. I'm talking about the grueling moments just trying to got one shot. Like the two hours spent in eighty degree, humid weather trying to track the Hooded Warbler you keep hearing close by in the forest, only for him to be perched right next to your car when you finally give up. Only for a fleeting second, though. I'm talking about the methodical planning, and time spent driving around to try and find a Short Eared Owl (even just a glimpse at this point) to be thoroughly disappointed each time. Yupp, it's my bird that got away. That's not even some of the most frustrating times.
Blue Winged Warbler. I have to mention this frenemy of mine because when I talk about bird photography struggles he's a big one. This bird is a beautiful bird. I would post a picture I've taken of them if I had one. The crazy part of this story is the two encounters on my own that I have had with this bird I've been able to get extremely close. Each time, however, I've had a rude awakening. The first time I will never forget was at a park called Gillium Chirp. Had my camera with me, was real close to this beauty, try to turn my camera on and..... Dead. Oh yeah, my camera battery was dead dead. The second time was at Mohican State Park. I forgot a memory card for the camera that day. I was so close I could touch him that day. If I could ever preach one thing it would be to always make sure you have an empty SD Card, and charged battery in your camera. I'm very notorious for not doing so, and have missed out on some pretty incredible shots. Don't be that fool.
Besides my frenemy birds I often deal with rude birds in my time as a bird photographer. You know the ones that decide they are not ready for the paparazzi, and decide to give you an unflattering pose. I had a wise guy on the board walk this year that asked if I was purposely getting bird butt shots. I told him sometimes it feels that way. After 6 years of taking bird photos I have enough bird butt shots to start an instagram with (it's tempting). It's just the harsh reality of taking pictures of birds. One minute they are all cute and facing you, and the next you are mistakingly taking shots of their rear end because they turned on you. I will say this though, I have gotten some pretty detailed shots sometimes. Even if you get the bird to turn around sometimes we still don't get the perfect shot.
Now the title says blurry warblers for a reason. When making the trek up to Magees for the past ten years, and taking photos up there for the past five, it's not hard to get warbler photos. It is in fact sometimes difficult to get them focused in before they get the zoomies again. Flycatchers same thing. Can't sit still long enough. This results in delayed or too early shots that are just way too blurry. Sometimes you get in that hurried trance. Think you have them honed in, and get home to see oh buddy you were off by a landslide. At least you got the bird in that picture.
My favorites are those half second delay of taking your finger off the shutter button after the bird has gone. This results in more than you wanted pictures of a random tree branch. Every so often I like to see if I can identify said mystery as a little break in finding the gems in the sea of photos I've taken.
All of this to say I've had so much fun over the years taking bird photos. The struggles are frustrating, but I never let them get down. It's what comes with the territories. If I would have quit I wouldn't have proof I saw a Brown Booby in Ohio. I wouldn't be able to say I hiked with a monstrosity of a lens up Angel's Landing just to get some killer pictures of a California Condor after. I wouldn't have gotten my money shot that made all of this worth it. So if you are reading this, and just getting into bird photography. Just keep going. Don't let the blurry photos, tree branches, and bird butts get you down. We all run into those pictures from time to time. You'll get that perfect shot.
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