How to photograph New Zealand tui

In this post, I’m going to give you a few tips on how to photograph New Zealand tui.
Most of the images used in this post are for sale so you can click on the image to see the full size and additional information.

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New Zealand tūī (correct Maori spelling) were once a relative rarity for those who seldom step foot in our forests and isolated coastlines.
However, in the last few decades, in many urban areas and even city centres, the tui has staged an amazing comeback.
The combination of pest control and the planting of native trees and shrubs by forward-thinking councils has provided food and safety for the tui.
Tui have taken full advantage and invaded to the point that now nearly everyone who has nectar-bearing trees in their back yard also has resident tui. Our city streets and parks are also alive with tui.

Don’t get in a flap, photograph it instead

This is the second post in a series I’m doing called, How to Improve your bird photos.
This series will provide basic tips on how to improve your bird images.

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In this post, we are going to look at how to create images that impact your audience.
There are many ways of adding drama or making dynamic images when it comes to bird photography this short essay is but one of many things you can consider.

Sunshine on a cloudy day.

Not every day out with the camera is going to be a drop dead gorgeous sunny day.
In fact there is a saying “good photographers sleep during the heat of the midday sun ”

Why? because bright, direct sun light, causes some of the worst photographing conditions around.
Ok, I admit it, I made that saying up, but still lol.

So for this article we will look at how to get the best images on those days when the sun hides behind the clouds and refuses to poke its nose out.

Firstly there are some great advantages to taking photos in cloudy, over cast conditions.
whites or highlights don’t blow out, blown out means whites become so bright that the camera cant record any detail, all you get is solid pure white, lacking any fine detail or slight colour variations.

Here is a perfect example of a happy mistake.

Image ID = kāruhiruhi the Pied Shag

I overexposed the above young Pied Shag by at least 2 stops but was able to drag some detail back into the bird with Lightroom.
the background is completely blown out and featureless.
I really like this image but from a technical point of view I blew it big time (pun intended )