Inspiration | - Part 11

Bird Photography Can Inspire You. Birds are one of the most fabulous subjects you could photograph. People have been photographing birds for centuries. Bird's beauty is inspiring; their flight is magnificent to watch. Photographing birds can bring a sense of joy and wonder to any photographer. There are all kinds of places you can photograph birds, just look directly into your backyard or what about your local park. I happen to live in an area where there are a lot of wildlife refuges and bird sanctuaries. Within 20 miles of where I live in San Diego, California, I can photograph birds in hundreds of different backdrops. If you're just starting out in bird photography, you can use bird feeders like the ones you see your neighbors yards. You can use feeders for hummingbirds or seed-eaters at your neighbors' seed feeders. Don't forget to look up in your neighborhood trees. Several birds eat the seeds or bugs directly out of the trees. I have several hanging up in my yard, and it helps when practicing my skills. Bird Photography Is Adventurous. I can think of many reasons why you should become a bird photographer. One of the reasons I love it is because I love the outdoors. I love to be out in the sun around the trees in the desert, the rivers, the lakes, the forest, it all brings me a lot of pleasure. The comradeship you'll find from bird photographers and birders is tremendous. I've met people from all over the world who love photographing birds. They are incredibly passionate about seeing birds, sharing their presence with others, and protecting birds, so they are around for younger generations. Being a bird photographer is not glamorous, trust me on that. It takes a lot of dedication, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. A lot of hard work goes into being a good bird photographer. It takes patience and knowledge, like knowing the birds that you're photographing. You end up spending a lot of time studying the birds you want to shoot. I found one of the benefits of being a bird photographer, some people may see it as a negative, and it's called danger! Some of the habitats you'll have to go to will be in remote areas such as jungles tropical lands, which can be quite dangerous. Some of the subjects you'll photograph can be quite dangerous themselves, and certain situations can become hazardous. Remember, you're not dealing with domesticated animals. Wild animals are totally unpredictable. I find that a great benefit it makes me feel alive when danger is present. If you are just getting started, simply get out there and start watching the birds and enjoy your environment. When you see a bird perched on a limb, begin to take pictures. Using these pictures, you can learn more about your camera and the bird you are photographing. Earning A Living From Bird Photography. Earning a living from bird photography can be extremely difficult but very rewarding. There are a lot of ways to make a living from bird photography. One of them is supplying your images to stock agencies like Istockphoto. You could also sell your photographs on websites like Redbubble or Fineart America. You can create an ebook about bird photography and sell it on sites like Amazon. Another way to earn a living from your bird photography would be the craft fair markets. It's a great way to start making sales and get you some exposure. I've done this myself, and I recommend starting out in the holiday season for the arts and craft show marketplace. You'll have to invest in some inventory, but it's a great place to start. Living In The Moment. For me being a better photographer has helped me to live in the moment. When I'm out in the field photographing birds, I'm there, I'm not thinking about the past or the future, I'm in the moment with the birds and nature. It gives me a sense of joy and laughter. I'm not thinking about anything else but the bird and me and my camera. Over the years, I've discovered living in the moment is what can bring joy to your life. This is my form of meditation. Documentation Of Rare Birds. One of the many joys for becoming a bird photographer would be the documentation of birds. We are losing a lot of our bird's overtime, and just being able to document a rare bird is a great benefit to society. As I talked about earlier, documenting birds that we're losing to a variety of things like global warming, oil drilling, and windmills is a sad thing. I think it would be worse if there were no documentation of the impact global warming is having on birds and other wildlife. Imagine traveling the world to document the life of birds. Wouldn't it be an incredible life to have now? Sharing Your Passion. I enjoy the feeling of sharing my pictures with loved ones and friends. It is probably one of the most significant reasons why you should become a bird photographer. My friends and I have shared information, like using the Audubon app to call in a Painted Bunting. I thought I would never get a photo of a Painted Bunting. I remember the joy I had in my heart when a friend of mine told me how excited her mother was with a picture I gave her. It was a photograph of a Dickcissel in flight. She hung it up in her living room, and all her friends and family wanted to talk about it. It was the photograph of the Dickcissel I had taken and given to her as a gift. Birds Are Everywhere. Another great reason to become a bird photographer is you'll be able to photograph birds at all times of the year and in all types of weather. Whether you're photographing the birds coming through the Pacific Flyway during the winter. When they're heading back through the Pacific flyway up north for the summer. You'll have a chance to photograph birds all of the time. That is the great thing about being a bird photographer, you find many birds you can only see a short time in the year. So it is exciting to go out and get that photograph because you might not see that bird again, and then still, it may be back a couple of times in one year. Its Better Than Seeing A Shrink. I've also found another great benefit of becoming a bird photographer is, it is incredibly therapeutic. You get out in nature, and you will find the troubles of the world just disappear, and you will forget any difficulties in your life. It is not just the act of photographing the birds that is very therapeutic; it's the sounds of nature that are incredibly peaceful. Not only will your body benefit from the exercise, but your mind will also benefit. The number one reason you should be a bird photographer. For the love of spending time with the birds. The joy of being in the moment while you're looking through your view viewfinder is terrific. There are so many benefits from being a bird photographer like the exercise and the solitude. The number one reason is your health. Conclusion Why should you become a bird photographer? If for no other reason, it will be good for your health. The joy of sharing your bird photographs with family and friends is incredibly exciting. Sharing birds others may never have seen up close is very gratifying. Being a bird photographer may sound glamorous, maybe even prestigious. We'd all like to think like that, but it is a tough career choice to be a bird photographer. Will you be able to pay all your bills, have a beautiful home, do you think you are just going to work 8 hours? You may think you may become famous and travel the world, having the best of everything, well it is possible. It takes a lot of hard work and patience. But it can be done. You could be an award-winning bird photographer or maybe even perhaps have a career with National Geographic. All of those things are possible as a bird photographer, it takes a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work, but it is possible. So go out there and become the best bird photographer you can be.