My bird photography journey has taken place over the better part of twenty years, starting with film and transitioning to the digital age. As I look back over the years, I marvel at how rudimentary my knowledge of birds and bird photography was at the beginning, and I am proud of how much I have learned since then. You can follow this same path and enjoy the rewards along the way.
The most important aspect of this whole activity is the process, the actually “doing” of it. When I am engaged in photographing birds, nothing else matters to me. It’s all about getting the shot. Whatever “zen” is, that’s it. All of your cares wash away, you don’t worry about yesterday or tomorrow. All there is is the now. And in a funny way, I think this is how the birds think as well. Of course, the birds are busy foraging for food and making sure a predator does not attack them, but beyond these immediate concerns (which are significant), I believe there is a part of bird psychology that is observant and even playful, especially when interacting with me.
Part of the challenge, then, in taking a great bird photograph is to capture that emotional element of the bird’s life and how the bird is interacting with the photographer. As in all great art, it is the emotion that counts. If there is no emotional reaction to a work of art, then all the technique in the world is of little significance. What gives the backyard bird photographer an edge over the photographer of birds in wilderness areas is that the birds in your backyard are familiar with you, they are your friends, even your family. They have been living next to you for years, and in many ways, they own your abode as much as you do. They get up in the morning as you do, and retire at night not far from where you sleep. It’s no wonder that a great bird photograph taken in your own yard can rival a bird photograph taken anywhere in the world, and by anybody. So I encourage you to take advantage of your own natural surroundings and experience the zen of bird photography as I do.
Hello, and best wishes to Jean-Jacques Naudet. This excerpt is from the introduction to my new book for Skyhorse Publishing, due out in May 2014. The seven photographs here are samples that the publisher asked for the cover just a few days ago. I thought it would be nice to share them and the spirit of bird photography with your audience.
Mathew Tekulsky is the author of “The Birdman of Bel Air,” a column at www.nationalgeographic.com featuring essays about his birding experiences. His bird photographs have been published in field guides and have been displayed in galleries and museums. He is currently working on a book for Skyhorse Publishing entitled Backyard Bird Photography: How to Attract Birds to Your Home and Create Beautiful Photographs.
Age: 59
Nationality: USA
Place of residence: Los Angeles, California
