Wildlife photographers can be considered the most patient bunch. Not only do they have to wait for the creature to "strike a pose", they often have to suffer the wrath of heaven and the elements.

Beasts on the land may be easier to approach and stalk, but what about our feathered friends? A slight noise or action may put them on alert, and before you know it, they've taken flight and gone out of the frame. Fret not. Here are some simple tips to help you get better pictures.

What you'll need:

Superzoom point-and-shoot with at least 15x zoom or

dSLR with telephoto lenses of at least 200mm

Tripod

Oodles of patience

1) Take observation post
Before you start clicking away, it is best to have an understanding of the species of birds that reside in the area you intend to shoot in. Getting a good grasp of their behaviors and habits will help you know when to press the shutter and where the best place would be to position yourself. This way, you save yourself the hassle of moving around, which may disturb the creatures.

2) Getting your focus right
Usually, a half-press on the shutter button will focus on the subject and the optics will lock on to it. Be aware that if you or the bird shifts slightly, you'll have to refocus, which involves releasing and half-pressing the shutter again. This will let you get sharper images.

3) Shutter speed
As most birds fly at a fast speed, use a higher shutter speed to freeze their movements. Motion blur caused by the flapping of wings is usually affected by slow shutter speeds. So try using a speed of 1/250 second or faster to catch the action.

4) Go closer
While using a telephoto lens will bring the subject closer to you, some species of birds are not scared of your presence. One example is the hummingbird. As long as you don't make sudden actions or loud noises, this species is usually quite comfortable with you around. If you are lucky, you might even get a shot of your subject hovering and feeding on nectars.

5) Show the environment
As with our tips on taking good portraits, showing the environment the birds are in is a good idea, too. This will give a better perspective on the size of the animal as well as its habitat.

Wildlife photographers know they shouldn't litter or disturb the fauna while shooting them, so bear that in mind. Damaging the place the birds live in may drive them away, depriving you and other shutterbugs the chance to take pictures of them in the future. Bring a small bag to place your litter in and dispose of this properly later on.

Picture credit: morgueFile

Tags: DSLR, Bird, optics, Tripod, environment