Wild Bird Photography: National Audubon Society Guide

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Tim Fitzharris’s credentials as a bird photographer are top-notch: he
has produced 16 books, 35 calendars, and countless articles on nature
and wildlife photography.

That he knows his craft and can speak with authority on the subject is
demonstrated throughout this book, which comprises more than 100
full-color photos of birds, blinds, equipment, and habitat. The book is
rich with information packed in by numerous means. The text concentrates
on method—camera, lens, tripod, film—and on technical how-to. The
captions identify the birds and the settings and spell out the details
of the specific shot (lens length, aperture, speed, film type, etc.).
All this is further supplemented with generous sidebars on birding
hot-spots (one of which is your own backyard). The photos work with the
text in layering on even more information. A wealth of stunning
full-page shots illustrate composition, light, and other elements of a
dynamic image. These in turn are supported by reproductions of frames of
film from the shoot that led to the specific photo masterpiece. This
latter feature is particularly informative in the chapter on digital
manipulation of photographic images, as it helps the reader understand
how two or more photos can be combined and enhanced using a home
computer for spectacular results.

High-tech know-how and traditional art principles merge in modern bird
photography. Fitzharris is the first of Canada’s many accomplished
bird photographers to help provide amateurs with access to this new
field.