The Saltwater Estuaries of the Everglades
Doug GardnerDescription
Doug meters wild birds at a 1/3rd stop under exposure to enrich the colors and capture all the data. Along a sandbar, he shoots avocet wading birds with a 500mm lens and a 1.4 converter. He also shoots oystercatchers, royal terns, and marbled godwits. To isolate a bird for a single portrait, he recommends working the edges of the flock, waiting for one to move away. Another way to isolate a subject is to use a telephoto lens at a low f-stop, blurring the background. A sleeping bird also makes a good subject because it rarely moves. You will learn to keep the background in the distance, making it easier to blur out all elements except your subject.
To capture a flock of birds in flight, you should keep your shutter speed high and focus on a single bird as it flies. To capture a flying bird within a group, autofocus on one at the edge of the flock to avoid motion blur. Later, Doug will show you how to photograph dolphins with a motor drive.
Come along with Doug Gardner and experience photographing wildlife in the amazing saltwater estuaries.
See all of the videos in our Shooting the Ten Thousand Islands Course:
Shooting the Ten Thousand Islands – Course Preview
Photographing Wildlife in the Mangrove Forest
Photographing Birds: Capturing Spoonbills and Pelicans
This video: The Saltwater Estuaries of the Everglades