Discover The Best Shooting Mode For Bird Photography

If you have dipped your toe into the world of wildlife photography and photographing birds, you know how difficult it can be. Photographing birds provides a lot of challenges and requires solid problem solving skills. In today’s article, we are going to discuss how to photograph birds and which shooting mode is the best for capturing our feathered friends.

Understanding Bird Behaviors

If you truly want to become a better bird or wildlife photographer, it starts with becoming more familiar with their behaviors. This, of course, will require you to research the species of birds found in your region. Learn about their behaviors. When are they most active? Where do they like to nest? Where do they like to hang out? What do they like to eat? The questions go on and on.

There is definitely some luck when it comes to capturing amazing photos in wildlife photography. We are at the mercy of wildlife to do something interesting at the same time we are photographing them. But it’s strange how many more opportunities we get when we have a better understanding of their behaviors. (do you sense the sarcasm?)

Here are a couple of books I would recommend on birds that will help to understand their intelligence and behaviors. Both are written by author, Jennifer Ackerman.

Genius of Birds

The Bird Way

Understanding Your Cameras Shooting Modes

For the purpose of this article, we are assuming you’re photographing birds with some sort of DSLR or mirrorless camera. And it doesn’t matter if you are using an APS-C or full-frame camera.

Let’s first take a look at the various shooting modes cameras offer us.

“P” Mode (Program Mode)

Program mode is essentially an automatic mode. Based on the amount of light present in your shooting environment, the camera will set your shutter speed and aperture to arrive at a correct exposure.

“A” Mode (Aperture Priority)

When using aperture priority mode, the photographer selects the aperture value. The camera will then auto select a shutter speed based on your aperture setting and the amount of light present in the shooting environment.

If you’re new to photography, aperture provides multiple functions in photography. It’s used to allow less or more light into our camera and it’s used creatively in controlling our depth-of-field. Below is diagram of how apertures impact our images.

If you're just learning about aperture and feel confused, don’t sweat it. Most people are confused by aperture in the beginning because it works opposite to how you think it would work. Let’s look at the top row of the image above. Small apertures such as f/2.8 actually provide a large opening allowing a lot of light into the camera. This can be helpful when photographing in darker environments; however, it also provides a very shallow depth-of-field. This can be used creatively to isolate your subject and make them “pop” from the background, but it also means you have little room for error when it comes to focusing.

In wildlife photography, we are typically using apertures between f/4 - f/11. Your minimum aperture will largely be determined by your lens and what apertures it offers. For example, I use the Sony 200-600mm (f/5.6 - f/6.3) lens. This is considered a variable aperture lens. When photographing a subject at 200mm, I’m able to use an aperture of f/5.6, but as I zoom in to 600mm, the minimum aperture will change at certain intervals during the zoom range.

Because birds move so quickly and often erratically, using an aperture of f/4.0 - f/11 can help a lot when it comes to getting good focus on your subject.

“S” mode (Shutter Priority)

When using shutter priority mode, the photographer selects the shutter speed. The camera will then auto select an aperture value based on your shutter speed setting and the amount of light present in the shooting environment.

Shutter speed is another component of getting a proper exposure. Slower shutter speeds (i.e. 1/60) allow more light into our camera and can assist with getting a good exposure; whereas, using a faster shutter speed (i.e. 1/2000) will limit the light coming into the camera.

Shutter speed is also a consideration when it comes to photographing a static vs. moving subject. Generally, shutter speeds of 1/250 - 1/1000 are used for static birds. And shutter of speeds of at least 1/2000 are used for moving/flying birds. Take another look at our diagram below and note how shutter speeds impact our photos.

“M” Mode (Manual Mode)

Manual mode, the most feared mode of newer photographers. In manual mode, the photographer controls every aspect of capturing images; shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc. There are many professional photographers out there that will tell you “only real photographers shoot in manual mode,” but I won’t tell you this. I do think you should learn manual mode for two reasons:

1. Manual mode gives you the most creative control over your images

2. Learning manual mode will make you a better photographer

I recommend forcing yourself to use manual mode during practice of all your static subjects. Eventually work your way up to moving subjects. But before you have a panic attack thinking you need to learn manual mode for wildlife photography, you don’t.

Manual mode is certainly an acceptable method for wildlife photography, but I believe it’s one of those situations where we are working harder, not smarter.

What’s The Best Shooting Mode For Wildlife Photography?

Shutter priority.

One of the most important aspects of wildlife photography is getting sharp images. Shutter priority will allow us to use appropriate shutter speeds for the subject we are photographing.

I want you to set your camera to “S” mode and then I want you to make one other change to your camera settings.

Set your ISO to “Auto ISO.”

After setting your camera to “S” mode and setting your ISO to “Auto ISO,” you are left with only 2 settings you need to change while photographing birds:

1. Shutter Speed (obvious)

2. Exposure Compensation

Take a look at the camera below. This is the camera I use for my wildlife photography - the Sony A7R5.

What Is Exposure Compensation?

Exposure compensation is a quick way to adjust your cameras exposure by decreasing or increasing the brightness of your image. Let me provide you with a few examples of how this us useful in wildlife photography.

Low-Light Situations

If you’re out photographing around sunrise or sunset when the light quantity is quickly fading, exposure compensation can be increased to make your image brighter. This will allow you to use faster shutter speeds.

Bright or White Birds

In the photo above of this beautiful Great White Egret, I generally decrease exposure compensation to -2 or -3. If the white feathers become too bright, we will lose all detail in them and the bird will be a big white mass. In order to preserve detail in the feathers, decrease your exposure compensation.

Summary

When it comes to shooting modes, shutter priority is my mode of choice. It limits our responsibilities and it’s a smarter way of using our camera when faced with the challenging task of photographing wildlife. As you become a better photographer and gain more confidence, you will be able to use shutter speed to create unique photos. You will learn how to get your subjects face perfectly sharp, but show motion in their wings. This will up your photography and create more interesting, and dynamic photographs.