BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY 101: Beginners guide for settings, finding birds, tricks, equipment, and more!

Want to take amazing wildlife photos? Check out my new course with 20 modules and over 5 hours of content, no fluff!
journalofwildlifephotography....
Join me for this detailed look at how to start off in the hobby of bird photography. Not only do I explain the fundamentals of how to find and photograph birds, I teach you what time of day to look for birds, how to get closer to them, what settings to use, what to look for in a camera/lens combination, and even how to process bird pics. I'll also share some of my favorite techniques for better and more artistic bird photos.
The equipment I use: www.simondentremont.com/my-eq...
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Website www.simondentremont.com/

[@janetcorkum4597]

I'm only four minutes into this video but already I've learned something : a couple of days ago I saw an Osprey sitting at the top of a dead tree. He pooped and immediately took off. I never put 2 and 2 together until I watched this video, i.e., pooping = takeoff ! Thanks , Simon. Now back to the video. :)

[@simon_dentremont]

excellent!

[@anoopnair988]

In contrast to your experience, i had a completely different behaviour, in my case it was a Goliath Heron, taking off and pooping in mid-air and i had that accidentally captured, and I was like WTH 😂 But yeah, about the video, i learned a lot. Thank you, Simon. 🙂

[@pilkjaer]

I do the same. I first poop and then take off. Doing the other way around is problematic :)

[@georgekibby3522]

Really... this is where you figured it out :-) You never figured it out parking under a tree or power line???

[@maryheinz5138]

Thank you so much...

[@marius.mihai71]

Mr. d`Entremont, you`re not just... one of the best photographers, but also one of the best teachers in photography! Thank you for sharing to us your great experiences!

[@simon_dentremont]

Wow, thank you!

[@busyflyin]

I'm 67 yo and I've been at this for about 3 years now and watch many videos to help me gain skills. Most of what you said in this video is pretty simple, but it's like I've heard all of this for the first time, and I've learn a great deal for you. Thank you for doing this for us!

[@simon_dentremont]

Good stuff!

[@donnajones2332]

Your presentations are perfect! As a retired teacher I love it when presenters speak quickly enough to avoid boredom and you are spot on. Your expertise, your presentation, your vast knowledge, and willingness to share are phenomenal!Thank you so much! Please keep producing these videos… suddenly I’m excited to be retired and able to pursue my love of bird photography because now I have the guidance I needed! ( The transcript is a wonderful addition.. one I’ve Never seen before. You’re covering every learning modality! I enjoyed watching and reading to release some of the information in my mind.

[@simon_dentremont]

thanks so much Donna!

[@debrapeasley2606]

I also enjoyed your video tremendously. I have one request: please introduce yourself in the first sentence or two of the video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Simon.

[@mikedimimd]

I’ve learned more from you in two weeks than I’ve learned from a variety of others in the past 2 years😅 excellent content

[@simon_dentremont]

Great to hear!

[@AprilClayton]

I found myself a a bird sanctuary with only my Sigma 17 mm lens and Sony ZVE1. I had been dreaming of making the trip with the Sigma 150-600 and Sony A7IV. Instead of sulking, I realized Sandhill cranes are so big, the wide-angle could work. I do believe your channel is helping me to focus less on gear lust, and more on the love of photography. I have learned so much about bird and squirrel behavior though photographing them.

[@tomphillips5513]

You are a genius, sir. Even if people don't want to photograph birds, they still learn something from this video, be it the Lightroom editing, necessary equipment, or the camera settings. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise in these videos.

[@FuchsiaShock]

Absolute legend. Demystifying these things and wanting everyone to be able to take good photos.

[@toddbarker7804]

Love how this guy breaks down his clips and makes it sound so simple (of course it isn't and it's a learning process). You can also tell he really cares about the wildlife and is passionate about being a photographer

[@simon_dentremont]

Thanks very much!

[@simon_dentremont]

Todd, I’m working on a video course for wildlife photography. Can I use your comment in promotional material, with attribution?

[@troyeverett8256]

Thanks Simon for sharing your wisdom!

[@azungu1190]

I got my camera for video, and accidentally discovered I’m very interested in wildlife photography 😆 thanks for the incredibly informative video.

[@simon_dentremont]

Good luck!

[@carolyncameron7500]

I love photographing birds but have lots to learn. This was such a concise, practical and helpful video! Thank you for your tips from beginning to end! I’ll be watching for more!

[@TasteBudJunkie]

thank you Simon .. your presenting is very clear and informative. 🙌📸

[@AlergicToSnow]

Masterclass!! Thank you Simon.

[@dominykastr]

This video is absolutely amazing. Thank you!

[@cliffbungalow9373]

The Norwegian Blue, beautiful plumage

[@randallbourne2717]

Alright Monty. 😂

[@sashinger5230]

One of the best videos about photography I’ve ever seen, not only regarding shooting birds but in general. Learned so much. Thanks a bunch, Simon! 👌

[@jcaff6963]

Another very worthwhile video. Thank you, Simon.

[@sylviastagg-giuliano6229]

Another fantastic lecture. Thanks

[@indipendentscrambler]

I started watching this video holding my remote with the intention of fast-forwarding. instead, I started to take notes. Your videos are always informative.

[@simon_dentremont]

Glad it was helpful!

[@indipendentscrambler]

I am a newbie here, can I use my m50 mark ii for bird photography?, also I was planning to buy a mount adapter for the ef lens, then saw this viltrox speed booster, is that good? As you mentioned in your video I was firstly going to buy a full-frame camera but instead, I planned to invest more in the lens.

[@melirn7280]

You are an incredible teacher. The best I've seen online. Your explanations and examples make learning so much more fun. Thank you for sharing your expertise to us, and for understanding that we are not in competition, we are helping each other be our best! THANK YOU!

[@murilohenriquebedore84]

Absolute legend. Thank you.

[@peterbowler6524]

Excellent from start to finish. Much appreciated .

[@livelife4471]

You certainly have a way of delivering your message so that it is informative, interesting, and entertaining for me the viewer. Well done and thank you very much.

[@lodewykvangraan8759]

Hi Simon. I live in Namibia in southern Africa with loads of good photo opportunities. I am a complete beginner at 47. Thank you for being a breath of fresh air in the youtube world. There is no pretentiousness or constant selling of some product in your videos and the advice is simply excellent Sir! You have my deepest gratitude for this perfect content.

[@simon_dentremont]

Thanks very much!

[@romy4593]

I have been working on bright sunlight photos for fun and made sure I was taking the bright light on the birds that came at an angle. Today I got such clear photos of a raven on my back fenceline and a Spotted Towhee on the Ivy. I also got an inflight very clear photo of a raven in flight with the back of the bird, both wings outstretched...in the front of ivy. The settings I used were 1/1600 shutter, F6.3 and 400 ISO with a Nikon D5300, 70mm to 300mm Nikkor lens. You can see every feather! So happy I have been watching your videos! I typically use F8 for morning and evening shots of birds. I am improving so fast!! Thank you so much Sir! You are helping so many people up their talent and enjoy this form of art!

[@GandaPrakasa]

Thank you! This is so helpful for newbie bird photographers.

[@chuckmoorehead875]

Thank you so much for making this video. I love the way you get straight to the point and tell it like it is.

[@simon_dentremont]

Welcome!

[@dizzaydrod]

Amazing video, incredible image examples, clear and concise directions. Thank you so much.

[@user-em7no5jm7e]

Very useful and clear, nothing superfluous. Thank you.

[@grahamhughes5996]

I am so pleased I've discovered your channel. I have watched all your videos and found them invaluable, especially this one. I am relatively new to bird photography, approximately 2 years and your content is informative and inspiring. Thank you.

[@simon_dentremont]

You are so welcome! thanks so much for saying so!

[@TheTrakker]

I've just recently stepped into this as a hobby. But of all of the channels I've watched, I believe you break it down best for me. Thank you for making these videos.

[@simon_dentremont]

Welcome aboard!

[@paunixon]

That's a masterclass for everyone. Thanks.

[@user-rp2ws5zt8o]

Thank you. There are many great tips in this video!

[@streetunka]

After using Lightroom for 10 years (mostly for light editing since I shoot mostly news and sports) I've been recently hooked on bird photography and just found out how to mask! hahaha Thank you so much for your videos! Straight to the point :D

[@ramaxey]

Great video! Thanks for taking your time to help us new to the hobby.

[@simon_dentremont]

No problem 👍

[@karenzelle1137]

Thank you SO MUCH for this video! It is filled with tons of practical advice, flawlessly delivered.

[@WoolyJumper5]

Thanks Simon! Great info to help me get started

[@DBest1966]

The definitive guide for bird photography. Thank you for putting the video out.

[@simon_dentremont]

Glad it was helpful!

[@eacun7]

Another master class, thanks!

[@simon_dentremont]

My pleasure!

[@ursulaansbach2244]

So clear and easy to understand. Thank you

[@NoDoSwLa]

I appreciate your content so much. Also the non-competitive fun aspect and not forget about nature in general.

[@eerofi]

My favourite channel on these days... thank you for all the quality content and clear presentation!

[@simon_dentremont]

Wow, thank you!

[@miaomiao8150]

Your photos are extremely vivit and full of details. I am impressed. Your explanation is precise and just to the points without so not nutricious emply words. Hope to see more of your experiences and learn more from you. Thanks.

[@simon_dentremont]

Wow, thank you!

[@robinmay-davis3209]

So helpful! Really packed full of great tips!!!thanks!

[@stogus]

That explanation of metering, exposure compensation at the 15:04.0 mark was perfect. It's applicable in every instance of stark contrast between subjects and backgrounds, tunnels, compositions with framing, etc.

[@mohammadawwad7374]

This is fantastic , Thank you so much , This video shows how much care and effort you give for photographing birds .

[@simon_dentremont]

So nice of you

[@SueFerreira75]

Excellent video - so full of great information. Thank you for your generosity and sharing your wisdom and experience.

[@simon_dentremont]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jaruko_]

Simon, your way of explaining and the noteable experience behind the explanation partnered with the amazing photo's taken made this video very enjoyable to watch! Also picked up some new tips along the way, happy birding!

[@RScottDuncan]

Great content. I'm very new to bird photography and this will help very much. I look forward to watching more of your videos. Thank you.

[@simon_dentremont]

Welcome aboard!

[@rogermaioli]

I just shared this on my Facebook page as the best introductory video on bird photography I've ever seen. It is both very comprehensive and very clear, and it touches on each of its many topics without digressions or unnecessary detail. Also, one doesn't often get a discussion of how to approach birds in videos in this genre. Well done!

[@simon_dentremont]

Wow, thank you!

[@simon_dentremont]

Roger, I’m working on a video course for wildlife photography. Can I use your comment in promotional material, with attribution?

[@rogermaioli]

For sure! Very happy to endorse your work!

[@1WorldPhotographydotcom]

Excellent video. Lots of great info without any fluff.

[@kellynguyen7685]

Thank you for an excellent video! Very comprehensive, easy to follow, great tips and demonstrations/photos! I'm looking forward to going outside and applying these techniques!

[@parenthecoltsenr]

Please share the general meta data alongside the photo when displaying your photos. theyre amazing and those numbers are great insight!

[@tomsdierolf3390]

Simon, I just ran across one of your videos and am hooked and began looking at some of the others. Besides your presentation style and production (I like that you get right to each point but without seeming rushed), you are providing me with both some new tips as well as validating a few things I have found out by myself, but have not seen in other videos yet. Looking forward to your next ones on bird and nature photography! And you may get me interested in astrophotography as well!

[@simon_dentremont]

Awesome, thank you!

[@helios6379]

Invaluable advice presented in a simple, yet effective way. From an aspiring birder: thank you very much, Simon!

[@oris1978]

Big thanks for your GREAT video ！

[@traviswatson6657]

Such a treat! Thanks for the great content and the direction. I just got into photography in September of 2022 and this video has been such a tremendous help. I can see way better results in my photos at this point thanks to your tips and those of some others.

[@0lehowe]

You are the best I’ve seen at explaining photographic techniques. A thousand thanks for making nature photography easy to understand.

[@simon_dentremont]

My pleasure!

[@simon_dentremont]

Leonard, I’m working on a video course for wildlife photography. Can I use your comment in promotional material, with attribution?

[@frankgrau8219]

Great site. You have presented more subtle tips in this video that I have never seen discussed in any other videos. It would be great if you could walk us through your editing process on one of your tougher raw photos from beginning to end. How you handle white balance, sharpening, noise reduction etc.

[@simon_dentremont]

Glad it was helpful! I’m getting a fair number of requests for that, so I expect I’ll do one some day.

[@robgroc7661]

Thank you so much. Lot of very useful information. Especially the resizing tip!

[@theWZZA]

Thank you for this and other videos. They are very instructive, and you are generous to share all that you've learned.

[@Maki-Roll]

This video is amazing! After watching your milky way tutorial, I would love to see a follow-up of this video in the same fashion where you run through the settings you are using for the situation step by step and take us from 0 to bird shooting pro! I think laying out a sort of "guide" and seeing you follow through with it would greatly help us new wildlife photographers take the information in this video and be able to more readily apply it to our own photoshoots.

[@simon_dentremont]

thanks for the suggestion!

[@wolfgangwhyte5571]

Seriously good content. Color me subscribed! (edit: I learned more here in 27 minutes than I did in the last two months watching videos about bird photography)

[@simon_dentremont]

Awesome, thank you!

[@waynesmodels2064]

Wow. What an excellent video. So much GREAT information. Thank you!

[@alanwf8698]

Thank you. This is so useful. It resonates with everything I’ve learned, and taught me some new tricks.

[@petera8742]

He certainly knows his photography and wildlife photography. More importantly he is fantastic at explaining everything in a clear and concise way.

[@simon_dentremont]

Thanks very much!

[@simon_dentremont]

Peter, I’m working on a video course for wildlife photography. Can I use your comment in promotional material, with attribution?

[@petera8742]

@@simon_dentremont You certainly can. You are an outstanding communicator and explain everything so clearly. I have recommended your KZbin channel to many people. Thanks.

[@simon_dentremont]

@@petera8742 thanks!

[@RPPerry1984]

Thank you for sharing your expertise and knowledge with those of us starting out. I was under the impression that if I am to be a "real photographer" I must do so without the use of post processing software, in the same vein of "Real singers don't use auto-tune". I have over 20 years of experience with Photoshop and seeing you use Lightroom for tasteful enhancement is a breath of fresh air!

[@vijaysrinivasan2225]

Thank you so much. Fantastic learning. I’ve just stepped in to wildlife/bird photography. I’ll certainly apply these in my next trip.

[@1mikecs]

Thank you so much. Great video very informative.

[@173jaSon371]

Honestly, this is one of the more well put together videos for bird photography tips that I've watched as someone who still has been birding/photographing for under a year. I think I've been following most of the tips mentioned pretty well aside from the lightroom tips which I'll definitely have to try out! Thanks for the well thought out video.

[@simon_dentremont]

You can do it!

[@jeremyhardy996]

This is the best instructional video I've came across for bird photography by far. I would love to see more instructional content in this format. I look forward to watching your channel grow! Cheers from a fellow east coaster :)

[@simon_dentremont]

Thanks Jeremy! More to come!

[@simon_dentremont]

Jeremy, I’m working on a video course for wildlife photography. Can I use your comment in promotional material, with attribution?

[@jeremyhardy996]

@@simon_dentremont no problem at all!

[@belurbaxi9983]

Great Presentation. Discussed technical issues with clarity.

[@MargitKluthkePhotoSweden]

Thanks for the tips you gave

[@PSYCHIC_PSYCHO]

I am bored with conventional photography subjects; so instead I now photograph farts using a Thermal-Imaging Camera

[@ElaineCollins-of6hh]

This video was very helpful, thank you. Thank you for sharing.Will check out your other ones.

[@tomazzaro3985]

Thank you Simon for the video and the great Tips!!!

[@kwok-penglooi799]

This is such a helpful introductory video. Thank you Simon.

[@NikitaSmelov]

Amazing guide worth several years of experience 🎉

[@rameshkumarthakur8565]

Your videos are really great simple straight forward full of knowledge

[@user-uj9zo5wz4v]

Great video! Thank you

[@scottellner8999]

Wow. Fantastic instructional video. I’ve been taking pictures of birds for a number of years now, yet I learned so much from watching this video. Now I can’t wait to see the others. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. And your awesome pictures too.

[@scarlett20232]

Very helpful for a beginner who finds starting photography intimidating, thank you!

[@tomzethof4099]

Very helpfull information. And also Cristal clear . Thanks

[@Girlandherwhitewolf]

Great video thank you. So many useful tips here i will remember

[@jimwlouavl]

So many great tips in this video for this novice at bird photography. Thanks so much.

[@johanp8391]

Excellent, one of the best instructional videos I've seen.

[@WintryEternity]

Loved it! Thank you and keep up the good work!

[@12Lionheart]

Simon: I just want thank you for sharing your expertise!! 💯

[@elizabethray8880]

Great. Just catching up with your back catalogue.

[@MiaHendriks-ju3xr]

One of the best videos about photography I’ve ever seen, not only regarding shooting birds but in general. Learned so much. Thanks a bunch, Simon!

[@danielmurray3676]

Unbelievable video. Hard to believe this content is free. Thank you

[@edgarbernal7210]

I learned so much esp on shooting birds and lens tips, So helpful! Thank you!

[@mikearcher6239]

Wow….what a terrific tutorial!! I’m sure I will be returning again and again…..thank you!

[@Western-Ranger.]

This guy is amazing, I'm learning so much thanks to this gentleman

[@Dct70s]

thanks for your videos. Very grateful for such creative smart people such as yourself who are out there and even more grateful for your sharing such valuable knowledge and wisdom about birds and creative photography.

[@TR-tz8zx]

I can’t get over how much I’ve learned from your videos! I’m itching to get out to shoot this week to apply this amazing advice. Thank you, Simon!

[@AprilClayton]

You are a generous instructor. Fascinating tips on bird behavior. I was photographing a squirrel this morning who started charging straight for me. It made an interesting photo. He looked aggressive. I only see robins mostly, but sometimes grackles.

[@scottperry476]

What a delightful, informative and stress-free presentation. Thank you so much!

[@RayRiesmeyer]

Awesome presentation. Gives me the inspiration to improve my bird shots. Thanks.