by David Jonathan Cohen
In the last five years, I photographed birds in parks and wilderness on three continents. Here are five things I learned.
Use the light. Where are the sun, the clouds, the shadows, my lens, and the bird? In a photo of a downy woodpecker, I see a sequel to days of rain, sleet, grey, and snow: a soft, bright, translucent light that cherishes every feather. Time flies – and so do birds. When the light is good, every moment counts.
Keep your focus. I scan the brush, trees, water, and sky, and look for motion, flight, ripples, or a splash. When I began, I deluded myself that stepping softly might allow me to come closer to birds. Now I know better. The birds see me long before I see them. Now I move quietly, stand quietly, and listen quietly to concentrate. I am looking for a bird and its eye.
Seeing patterns takes time. A great blue heron, a great egret, and a belted kingfisher each toss a fish in the air before swallowing it. Each bird wants its fish headfirst so the bones can slide down its gullet. It took months for me to recognize the pattern. It took more months before I saw that birds engage in aerial combat over prey one captured and another wants. Recognizing migrations took me years. To see a roost or nest to which a bird returns after I spook it, or the circuit a bird traces and retraces, may take me hours. Seeing the patterns brings better odds of making a photograph I want.
Look around you. Sanibel Island, Florida, and its Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, sparked my passion for photographing birds. Sydney, Cairnes, Port Douglas, Darwin, and Kakadu National Park confirmed it. My admiring comment about birds on Oahu brought a veteran birder’s gentle response: “You’ve got some pretty nice birds where you are, too.” He meant, “You’re clueless.” He was right. I had to go to Oahu to start to see my backyard. Pileated woodpeckers, northern flickers, downy woodpeckers, barred owls, brown thrashers, brown cowbirds, American goldfinches, Carolina wrens, robins, cardinals, house finches, starlings, and sparrows of endless variety all pass through.
Photos recall memories that put things in perspective. Editing my pics from an outing shows me the bad (some), the mediocre (most), and the memorable (one in maybe ten thousand). Regardless of quality, the images hone my eye for next time. They bring me back to the light, the focus, the patterns, and the setting. When things are grey, bad, or ugly, a memorable image, like a memorable melody, can conjure up a magical reminder. There is more than this moment. There was that moment. With luck, time, patience, and a willingness to look, there will be again.
Text and photos © 2019 David Cohen, davidcohenphotodc.com
Sarah says
Thanks for this beautiful explication of how you approach photographing birds, and for these carefully chosen details, which cast light on the intimate story of your arduous, patient, rewarding, and years-long practice for us readers.
David Cohen says
Sarah, thanks for your generous response! I appreciate your taking the time to read, look, and comment!
Pat Kasdan says
Thanks for capturing these superb views of birds!
David Cohen says
Pat, thanks for your kind comment!
Fran says
These are AMAZING! I love them especially because I love watching the birds at my feeder. Keep them coming!
David Cohen says
Fran, thanks for your kind words AND encouragement!
Sonia says
David –
your exquisite talent at carpe diem shows off in your visual, technical, rhetorical and poetic prowess. I am lucky to have one amazing exemplar hanging in my home.
David Cohen says
Sonia, thanks for looking and responding! I’m honored to have done that photo, and honored you show it!
Bill Mills says
Thanks for sharing the benefits you have found photographing birds. I admire the results of your work.
David Cohen says
Bill Mills, thanks for your kind comment!
Alison says
Gorgeous photos, gorgeous prose. And I love the wisdom-filled ending! Great work, Dad. ❤
David Cohen says
Awww…thanks, Ali!