How do you get your waterfowl shots?

SkywatchSkywatch Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
edited December 23, 2006 in Wildlife
Stopped at new a location today in Arkansas, had plenty of birds for shooting but it was very hard to get close to these wild guys, Im only working with a 300mm so im gonna have to arrive early and set up a blind or cover down in camo with a tripod and wait for them to come to me.....

My question was do a lot of people on here do that, Im seeing a lot of good shots from the florida area, are the birds down there more tame. Can you sneak up on them or do you just have a lot of reach and plenty of walkways or do you have to setup and hide as well? I would have to wade through a lot of crap to get to a decent place to set up. Just wondering what most people do to get their shots.:wink

Comments

  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited December 22, 2006
    I have a 200mm lens and really dont have much of a problem getting close. I use the car as a blind sometimes, and I move slowly.

    What's best for me is to always have the camera handy and to scope out near the roadside ponds.

    It can be done w/o a blind, you just need to be creative.

    Now, from the shots I see of others, they have 500mm and above lenses as well.

    Good luck, lots of poeple have success with shorter lenses.

    Z

    PS: Check the sticky's above for great tips to get you on the right track.
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    Geography has a lot to do with it. In Florida the wildlife let you get closer because they are used to humans. Birds that hang out by beaches and waterways associate humans with food due to them getting fed or their stealing of bait.

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    A 500mm lens also helps. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    A camo blind and some sexy bait. :D

    57979773.jpg
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • SkywatchSkywatch Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    Lol, nice Mike!
    That might have to be my approach, because theres no roads where im shooting and the birds are not tame at all. Looks like full camo and waiting for me.
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  • SkywatchSkywatch Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    Oh yea.
    Your right Harry, i remember going deepsea fishing in ft. walton once....all along the fishing docks the birds were everywhere, i was suprised how close i could get. I was able to get this shot of a GBH.73279402-L.jpg
  • GraphyFotozGraphyFotoz Registered Users Posts: 2,267 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    A camo blind and some sexy bait. :D

    57979773.jpg

    Hey that's JUST like my blind......wait is that me? eek7.gif
    W00T that's some kinda bait!!
    You crack me up BMP!! :lol4
    Canon 60D | Nikon Cooloix P7700
    Manfrotto Mono | Bag- LowePro Slingshot 100AW

    http://www.graphyfotoz.smugmug.com/
  • GraphyFotozGraphyFotoz Registered Users Posts: 2,267 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    I'm still in training on this subject!

    Best I've done so far is to hide behind a tree with my big lens!
    NO wise cracks about that BTW! rolleyes1.gif

    94245042-M.jpg
    Canon 60D | Nikon Cooloix P7700
    Manfrotto Mono | Bag- LowePro Slingshot 100AW

    http://www.graphyfotoz.smugmug.com/
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited December 23, 2006
    I have found that if you are patient and are willing to sit still for awhile most waterfowl will ignore you and continue on with what they were doing. Move slowly, and don't make any sudden movements. Also most waterfowl are not expecting predators on the water so photographing from a small boat/kayak allows you to get much closer to them.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
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