Birding and bird photography, do you think there is a difference between them?
Many people don’t realize that “birding” and “bird photography” are not the same thing.
It might seem odd to some of you since you are probably saying to yourself “I take pictures when I go birding”! Well, I also make bird images when I am out with other birders. However, sometimes we can attend outings with birders I truly believe the intent is to learn about birds, not make images. It seems to be the difference between the two activities, what are your goals or intent when you arrive at your location? The preparation and mindset when getting into different spots are if the intent is bird photography and not birding.
The quest for great bird photography is not practical in a group with as many people as birding groups usually contain. Definitely, the best bird images have been created when the photographer is alone or with a very small group of photographers. This is true for several reasons. First, wildlife in general does not like large groups. In fact, if you look at the details of many “wildlife photography workshops” you will notice that most have a maximum participant size of 6. The reason is simple. It is very difficult to have 20 people sneak up on a bird or a mammal. Second, meeting new friends in the birding world and as a group, It feels more comfortable saying they are the nicest bunch of people we have ever met.
In the opposite, inevitably when you are in large groups of people, all with different agendas, trying to make sure someone doesn’t walk in front of your images or scare off your subject is just not practical.
So how do to deal with these “issues”?
Basically, try to adjust your expectations for the group you are with. When you are with birders, try to learn as much as you can and share information. Do not go out with the hope of making an image that you will sell or put in a portfolio. Save that for when you are with bird photographers or out on your own.
The opposite is true when a birder friend wants to go to do some serious shooting. It is nice to share with them the process to go through before visiting a location and the plan for that day’s shooting. So far we think this approach works very well, allowing us to get the most out of both types of birding experiences.