Most of the nature photography tutorials we post concentrate on gear, camera settings, and other technical aspects because these are absolutely essential when photographing birds and other wildlife subjects. Today’s video from Flying Parrot Photography is an interesting departure because it sets aside the technical stuff and concentrates on creative considerations instead.
Our instructor Sonia is an Australian pro who admits to being “obsessed” with photographing our feathered friends, and the tutorials she posts are designed to help you make the most of your time in the field by boosting your confidence is all situations. This six-minute episode presents “five techniques to add to your practice, flex your creative muscles, find new inspiration, and create unique, engaging photos.”
Sonia begins by encouraging you to take an abstract approach so that your imagery stands out from the crowd. One way to do this is by zooming in tight, “leaving out certain peripheral details and allowing viewers to fill them in with their imagination.” Concentrating on interesting textures, forms and colors will enable you quickly grab attention by surprising everyone who looks at your work.
Taking the opposite approach by incorporating the landscape in an image can also be quite effective. Here she demonstrates how “bringing the background into the foreground and thinking like an artist painting a scene” will create powerful photos when a bird is just part of the overall story. This method involves looking for eye-catching elements that complement your primary subject.
The concept of symmetry is another powerful tool for creating compelling compositions. Symmetry can often be found in water reflections on calm days or in scenes with two birds sitting or flying side-by-side. She notes that this is the perfect time to center your subjects and ignore the familiar rule of thirds. And sometimes a single bird in flight, facing the camera with wings spread wide, creates a very engaging symmetrical look.
Sonia also illustrates that monochrome images can really shake things up because most bird photographers strive for rich, vibrant colors. You’ll also learn how introducing a man-made element can be very effective—especially when photographing birds in the urban environment.
There’s a lot more to learn about capturing captivating images of birds on the Flying Parrot Photography YouTube channel.
And on a related note, be sure to watch a tutorial we featured with another expert bird photographer and image-editing expert who reveals several shooting and post-processing techniques that will guarantee that your high-ISO nature and wildlife photographs will never be noisy again.
Are you struggling to avoid unsightly flare and unwanted reflections from spoiling landscape photos when the sun hits your lens? If so, the video below from master photographer Jan Smid will quickly help resolve this common problem.
Smid is a master photographer who has received over 300 prestigious medals and awards from international competitions in Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles, London, and elsewhere across the globe. He summarizes today’s 10-minute tutorial like this: “We’ll walk you through practical tips and techniques for managing lens flare and reflections in landscape images, both in the field and during post processing.”
His time-proven techniques and Photoshop strategies are guaranteed to help you achieve clear stunning images every time —whether you’re photographing sunrises, sunsets, side-lit photos, or scenes with reflective surfaces like water on a lake or pond. These common distractions can easily spoil a photo by introducing color shifts, reducing contrast, and adding ugly color artifacts.
Smid says his methods are both “simple and 100% effective for removing flare when shooting against the sun,” and he begins by describing two types of flare; one that’s immediately visible on the camera’s display, and another that’s “much more dangerous” because it’s difficult to discern.
Smid demonstrates several in-camera techniques for getting the job done in the field, and his first recommendation is to always make sure your lens is outfitted with a proper hood. This practice isn’t always effective with wide-angle lenses, however, because the hoods they require are typically too shallow to provide sufficient protection.
He also suggests that you try a quick experiment by shooting two versions of the same scene; one with a hand hand covering the sun—taking care that your fingers don’t appear in the frame. Then it’s easy to combine both images in Photoshop to achieve the best of both worlds. He describes a few other image-editing tips that are worthy of attention.
The foregoing is barely a taste of everything you’ll learn, which includes a foolproof method for eliminating flare in panorama photos, straightforward exposure-bracketing techniques, and much more. Be sure to visit Smid’s popular YouTube channel once the video concludes where you’ll find many more how-to lessons for shooting in the field.
And don’t miss an earlier tutorial we featured with another notable pro who demonstrates why colors in outdoor photographs don’t resemble what you saw through the viewfinder and a quick post-processing trick for fixing them in Lightroom.
Looking for a super-telephoto zoom lens for wildlife photography? The new Sony 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS might be the perfect choice. David Schloss, editor at Imaging Resource (Outdoor Photographer’s sister site), recently put this long-range powerhouse to the test. Check out his in-depth review and video at the end of this article.
Designed for wildlife, sports, and aviation photography, this lens offers unprecedented reach at a competitive price ($2899). However, Schloss’s review highlights both its strengths and limitations.
During his field test at Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, he captured sharp images of distant birds in flight—shots that photographers with shorter telephoto lenses couldn’t get. Paired with Sony’s AI subject detection autofocus, the lens delivered precise tracking and 30 fps burst shooting, making it a strong contender for action photography.
At Central Park Zoo, Schloss tested the lens on snow monkeys and sea lions, praising its excellent sharpness and minimal chromatic aberration. However, at 800mm with an f/8 aperture, it struggles in low-light conditions, requiring higher ISO settings that can introduce noise.
The Sony 400-800mm vs. 200-600mm comparison reveals that while the 400-800mm offers extra reach, it has slightly slower autofocus and reduced light intake. Still, for budget-conscious photographers, it’s a worthy alternative to the Sony 600mm f/4.
The lens boasts a rugged, weather-sealed construction and features an internal zoom mechanism, preventing unwanted extension. Weighing 5.5 pounds, it’s manageable but challenging for long handheld use. Plus, it’s compatible with Sony’s 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters, extending its reach to an impressive 1600mm.
For those seeking maximum telephoto reach without breaking the bank, the Sony 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS is a top contender. Watch the full video review below and stay tuned for Schloss’s detailed write-up in Outdoor Photographer magazine.
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