Capturing the Birds of Kiawah
By Tina Schell
In this issue we have explored some of the amazing birds that populate our beautiful shores , often illustrated by beautiful photographs . As a photographer , I know of no better place to capture birds — wading , flying , mating , nesting , fishing — you name it , you will find it on Kiawah . I have asked a few of my fellowphotographers to share their insights into making the most of our incredible bird photography opportunities . Here are some of their thoughts along with some examples of their results :
Kathy Keane Kathy suggests you try to spend time on the beach , especially in the early morning or late in the day . She recommends you move slowly toward your subject ( s ) and keep shooting as you approach , as you can never be sure when the birds will leave . She also feels that a telephoto lens is especially helpful .
Sue Corcoran Sue ’ s advice is very practical . She suggests setting your camera up before you walk out the door because things can happen very quickly in the field . She recommends using your longest lens — even 200 mm may be too short for flying birds , but sometimes you get lucky . For Sue , the usual settings are Shutter priority at 1 / 1000 at a minimum , faster if conditions allow . A high shutter speed also helps eliminate camera shake . She recommends setting your ISO for the appropriate conditions . In full sun , ISO 200 usually works , higher for longer lenses and using Spot Auto Focus . Sue recommends looking for interesting compositions that include nearby birds and definitely resisting the temptation to shoot tiny specs in the sky !
52 Naturally Kiawah