Experiment

[Graham]

OK, I know these are not good pictures so please bear with me.

 

This type of photography is something I have never really tried.  OK, I have stuck the camera through the kitchen winder a few times but never in the hope of getting anything and I was right.

 

However, after trying out my Yongnuo flash triggers as radio shutter triggers (i didn't even know you could do that until yesterday) I decided to see if they worked.  Oh yes, they do.

 

So, badly placed feeders, camera outside on tripod, all in shade against a bad background, I knew there was no hope.  But, no matter how poor these cropped and soft images are, they have sparked an interest in setting it up correctly to make decent shots a possibility.

 

So, with repeated apologies for the image quality, I show you the conception of an idea in the hope that others may try something new this weekend too.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

You seem to have done fine Graham,I used to do it like that with a air bulb shutter release years ago. Now with improved iso and image stabilization  I just shoot through the living room window handheld.

[kev7d]

I am enjoying the set Graham. Nice colour and detail.

[Graham]

You seem to have done fine Graham,I used to do it like that with a air bulb shutter release years ago. Now with improved iso and image stabilization  I just shoot through the living room window handheld.

Sadly the environment around the garden does not allow for comfort shooting lol. I have just spent a couple of hours ironing (it has to be done) giving some thought to how I want to do this. What I have come up with, in my mind, is a bird 'studio'. What I want to try and create is a more natural looking setting where birds are attracted to and can feed but without feeders.

My idea so far, and please jump on me if I am getting this wrong, is to get some logs and position them in an area that will give me a natural and constant background. Into these logs I propose to drill some large diameter holes into which I can put food (I am thinking fat ball type material) so that the birds can land on the logs and feed but the food will not be seen from the camera angle.

Into this 'studio' I will introduce a structure or hide of some kind into which I can place the camera on a stand and, possibly, a flash unit. Once set up, I will be able to retreat and radio trigger the camera and flash from within the house or summer house depending on how warm it is......

I can then remove photography equipment, but leaving the hide, so that the birds stay happy with the environment and I don't have to wait for them to get used to the camera being there each time. I know, from this mornings experiment, that the camera put them off as there were far more birds feeding before I set the camera up and after I took it away than when it was there.

OK, I may be over thinking this but developing styles of photography that I can do at home is very important to me so I am more than prepared to put the effort in.

I would love to hear from anyone who has done something similar if they are prepared to share their ideas.

[NannyFerret]

I think you have got it well sussed out.

Looking forward to seeing how you do it, and what you come up with.
 

[annie]

They look well good...

 

I do sneaky shots of the birds through the kitchen window when it's too cold to go outside. 

 

I make my own fat mix for stuffing in holes and half coconut shells..just melted lard mixed with sultana's and dried mealworms. The birds love it...

[ChrisLumix]

Those aren't bad shots at all.