Mastering Bird Photography - by Marie Read (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Mastering Bird Photography: The Art, Craft, and Technique of Photographing Birds and Their Behavior, acclaimed bird photographer and author Marie Read shares techniques and stories behind her compelling images, offering fresh insights into making successful bird photographs, whether you're out in the field or in the comfort of your own backyard.

In this richly illustrated book, you'll learn how to be in the right place at the right time and how to obtain tack sharp portraits. Marie then teaches you to take your skills to the next level in order to capture action shots, illustrate birds in their habitats, and portray birds in evocative and artistic ways.

Building on basic technical topics such as camera choice, lens choice, and camera settings, Marie reveals how fieldcraft, compositional decisions, and knowledge of bird behavior contribute greatly to a successful bird photograph. Captions for the over 400 images contained in the book provide details on the equipment used, as well as camera settings. Throughout the book, bird behavior insights provide bird photographers of all skill levels a wealth of essential insider information that will help you produce images that stand out from the crowd.

Topics include:

• Equipment and accessories
• Focus, exposure, and light
• Composition and creativity
• Bird photography ethics
• Capturing bird behavior
• Storytelling images
• Action and in-flight shots
• Backyard photo studio
• Weather, water, and mood
• Top bird photo sites in North America
• Basic image editing
• And much more!

Foreword by Tim Gallagher, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Living Bird magazine.

About the Author

Wildlife photographer and author Marie Read is renowned for her exquisite bird photographs that combine beauty with impactful storytelling. Widely published during her 30-year career, her images have been featured nationally and internationally in magazines, books, calendars, websites, educational exhibits, and product packaging.

Marie's articles and photo essays have appeared in such publications as Living Bird, Bird Watching, Nature's Best, and Wild Planet. Her images have won awards in Share The View International Nature Photography Contest (Grand Prize 2017), Nature's Best contests, North American Nature Photography Association Showcase, Audubon Photography Awards, and Festival de L'Oiseau. She has authored or co-authored several books about birds and their behavior, including Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds.

Marie lives with her husband in the Finger Lakes Region of central New York, where she has cultivated her own property for many years to create a haven for the local birds.