Getting close to the subject

[Harlequin]

A lot of people have always asked how do we get so close to the subject like this munia pictured here without harming or causing stress to the subject.



Well one of the best methods is to use hides/blinds. It can be a portable hide, camouflage clothe covering your body or a car.

The munia (a very skittish bird) pictured here (full frame) was taken using a 600mm F4 + 1.7x TC mounted on a car window mount, using my car as a blind, covered in camouflage gear. Car engine has to be switched off as this can not only cause camera shakes, also the noise can bring unnecessary stress. This is one of the better method to approach sensitive subjects .

A slow and steady approach would be best. Don't just drive head on in front of the subject and start shooting. Keen observations would be helpful as this will help you to have a better understanding of the subject and how to best approach without causing too much stress/harm.

I have recently observed, from far using binoculars, how 3 photographers (don't know who they are), trying to photograph get a highly sought after bird and caused quite a fair bit of stress to the subject. Not only that, there was already another photographer ahead of them in a hide.

Till now, I have yet to see that bird return to the same spot now.

The lesson learned here is that most of us do want to get a particular picture of a bird, but what's most important is to consider the comfort zone of the subject, so that it will not be too stressed out until it will not return back. I rather not get the picture if that is the case.

I would prefer to have the subject return back to Singapore so that the next generation can continue to enjoy what little nature that's left in Singapore.

Just sharing some experiences.

Cheers !

[Caussway]

Wow... superb. Timing, composition, sharpness, color, background are all excellent

[Madcat II]

Interesting... on the subject on getting too close, I posted my pics on a european site and found out about this...

In Uk, you actually have to apply a licence before you are allowed to approach a bird... I wonder if NSS will take similar action??

[joeyao]

Originally Posted by Madcat II In Uk, you actually have to apply a licence before you are allowed to approach a bird... I wonder if NSS will take similar action??

Unlikely to happen here...habitats are being destroyed in the name of progress and economic development...nature is given very low priority.

[Garion]

That is a well taken shot Harlequin and thanks for the insightful and thoughful comments on the correct ethics when trying to approach and photograph birds. A hide, whether portable or a vehicle, would definitely come in useful to get closer to the subject without stressing it out. Most of the time, in our eagerness to get the shot, we tends to forget that the welfare of the subject comes first.

Originally Posted by Madcat II Interesting... on the subject on getting too close, I posted my pics on a european site and found out about this... In Uk, you actually have to apply a licence before you are allowed to approach a bird... I wonder if NSS will take similar action??

AFAIK, locally you do not need to apply for a license to approach birds, and NSS does not have such rulings. But I also wonder if NSS might want to implement such rulings in the future to protect whatever few species we have left. Perhaps NSS members can clarify (I think there are a couple who do frequent this sub forum).

[Garion]

Originally Posted by joeyao Unlikely to happen here...habitats are being destroyed in the name of progress and economic development...nature is given very low priority.

Very sad but true. Add to the list housing developments and such. By the time the garment realise it (if it ever does) it will be TOO LATE....

[calvinlo]

Originally Posted by Harlequin Well one of the best methods is to use hides/blinds. It can be a portable hide, camouflage clothe covering your body or a car.

Hi Harlequin, thanks for the tips. What you've said is so true.

Lately, I'm beginning to realise this too. The trick is not to get the longest zoom len (since they are never long enough, and cost a bomb ), or to go near them (sure way to scare them away ), but to hide yourselves where they normally appear and wait for them to slowly approach you.

[skfoo]

Nice shot!

[MountainMan]

My personal prefered method of a "hide" is a vehicle. Works many many times but am restricted as vehicular access is most of the time very restricted for natural places. The biggest challenge I find is shooting forest birds. It hard to just stay put at one place in a hide and pray for a bird wave, and lighting is always a big big issue, unless flashed photography. Hence ability to identify fruiting tree that the fruit eating birds like is a good way, or looking for nest is another.

Well, the truth is no matter how hard we try, bird photography WILL alway cause stress to the birds. If you really don't want to spook the birds.... stop shooting them. That is what happened to me. I stopped shooting them for some time. But I guess we are really a lesser evil spooking them for the sake of getting photos to let the greater public appreciate them and hopefully be aware of conservative needs; then big brother that is so rampant in clearing more land to build houses, offices, industry, golf courses, etc. for our rapidly growing population.

Sorry for being cynical. I just go tired of "fighting" and started accepting reality.

[Fred]

Very well said, couldn't agree more!

[CYRN]

A question... I've came across books where the photog use baiting as well as the approach mention above... is it being practiced locally?

[MountainMan]

Theoretically possible, especially for the fruit eaters, and it has to work with a hide too. But here comes the big question again... are we disturbing nature by feeding the birds? Are we really giving them their correct diet? Will we cause more harm. You can argue that birds are birds and not monkeys, and hence the problems resulting from humans feeding the Long Tailed Macques in the nature will probably not arise... but it's just our intuition. The truth is we really don't know if we are doing the right thing.

Well... somebody else bigger than us are clearing their habitats faster than we can say Cheeze anyway, so what the heck!

[harlequin2902]

Hi Harlequin,

Any special tips for approaching Raptors perched high on dead tree tops overlooking open plain ?

Will a sniper-style ghillie suit help (assuming if I can get one that blends well with grassland) or is there a better alternative (I'm tracking them on foot, carrying all my equipment with me as I move as it is not possible to get a vehicle into the shooing location)

[Garion]

Originally Posted by harlequin2902 Hi Harlequin, Any special tips for approaching Raptors perched high on dead tree tops overlooking open plain ? Will a sniper-style ghillie suit help or is there a better alternative (assuming I'm tracking them on foot, carrying all my equipment with me as I move as it is not possible to get a vehicle into the shooing location)

Use a portable hide? Or if possible, shoot from a vehicle as a hide as he had mentioned. Ghilly suit is for those super hard core one, just take care u dun get mistaken as sniper by local armed forces.

Can selfmade your own "ghilly suit" by using several pieces of camo cloth sewed together, though not the same thing but at least it conceals ur shape and allows u to blend in with surroundings.

[harlequin2902]

Originally Posted by Garion Use a portable hide? Or if possible, shoot from a vehicle as a hide as he had mentioned. Ghilly suit is for those super hard core one, just take care u dun get mistaken as sniper by local armed forces. Can selfmade your own "ghilly suit" by using several pieces of camo cloth sewed together, though not the same thing but at least it conceals ur shape and allows u to blend in with surroundings.

How big/heavy is a portable hide ? Any pictures of those you guys are using ? The location that I speak of is pretty deep in, and you need to walk for 20-30 mins just to get there. No way of getting a vehicle in there either

[s_wrx]

chngpe01 did an MO sometime back for both CS and NPS..

here's a link: http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?p=595627

it weighs a little, but extremely portable.. takes abit of skill to fold it back though.. and pls remember to bring alot of water when in these hides, they dehydrate you like no other! it can be a bad day at the sauna...

[starrynight]

Thanks for all the information and discussion. really benefit from it
cheers to u guys!!

[Clown]

i think will die from the heat..

[wkcheah76]

Some people will go to all extent to get that coverted shot, imagine 4 WoN guys walking SBWR with the suit on!!! hheheehehhe the purple heron will make a nest on our heads! Oh yah, maybe following Jame's flow, we'll catch fire! Man getting crazy bec of the heat...