I regularly see comments - especially in the Avian Gallery - congratulating someone for GREAT LUCK in getting a certain shot.
I guess there is a small degree of pure luck - it's not raining today (my only day off) , I didn't forget that lens, didn't get a flat tire - but getting great bird shots is NOT luck!
The reality is that really good bird photographers have often spent years learning bird behaviour, identifying species, learning the quirks of their cameras (and then they get a NEW camera and start over) , learning where birds hang out, and how to to skulk up on them so they don't fly (and they often do, anyway, and it is always AWAY from you) ) ...
They study tide-tables, sunrise and sunset times, refer to TPE, know the local lakes and coastlines, ask local people.
They have formed a network of friends who know where local birds are, and keep in touch.
They drag around big heavy cameras and bigger , heavier lenses, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, hats, and sometimes anti-anaphylaxis injections.
They spend hours on their feet, trudging thru and laying in, swamps, brambles, poison ivy/oak, and bird poop, in wet socks and heavy boots.
They keep an eye on the local birder's forums to learn of rare or interesting spottings.
They have learned, and continue to learn, at least acceptable Photoshop skills.
They study other people's work and learn from them.
They gladly accept comments and suggestions about their work, and learn from that.
They study other's images, to see what works and can put into words what they like about an image , learn good composition, the importance of BG, and make useful comments.
They have developed some modicum of patience, waiting for that damn bird to......fly, land, preen, mate, grab prey, move from behind that branch, or come back.
It's much the same with photography of things OTHER than birds. Each area requires a different set of skills, learning, and patience, and has little to nothing to do with "luck."
So, don't wait for "good luck" or expect "good luck" - Do your homework, researching, listening, learning, and learning more. This is not to dissuade people just beginning - Continue to learn and progress in your skills in all these areas, and you will see great personal progress even if you have little experience. It just gets better and better.
But do understand that you make your own "luck" and great images have a great deal of prep and behind them.
Well put, Sandy. I learned MANY years ago about flat having to just be there to earn the luck. During my Drag Racing days unless you were actually at the track you never had any luck sitting at home talking about it. The preparation for being there and taking advantage of the possible luck was days spent behind the scenes in preparation for those events.
Not one thing changed for me when I moved into the photographic world. You must be under full attack to make your own luck in the field.
Posted by Bill Chambers on April 25, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Excellent commentary, Sandy, and so very true. I'm not a birder but the same applies to other areas of photography as well. You can't have good luck on a sunrise shot unless you bother to get your rear-end out of bed at 4:00 or 5:00 am in order to get there and set-up by sunrise, etc. As in most areas of life, you make your own luck.
Posted by Reno DiTullio on April 25, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Yup, being at the right place at the right time...isn't luck. Or, as I think Weegee (Arthur Fellig, infamous street photographer) once said, "F8 and be there."
Discussion
3 repliesI regularly see comments - especially in the Avian Gallery - congratulating someone for GREAT LUCK in getting a certain shot.
I guess there is a small degree of pure luck - it's not raining today (my only day off) , I didn't forget that lens, didn't get a flat tire - but getting great bird shots is NOT luck!
The reality is that really good bird photographers have often spent years learning bird behaviour, identifying species, learning the quirks of their cameras (and then they get a NEW camera and start over) , learning where birds hang out, and how to to skulk up on them so they don't fly (and they often do, anyway, and it is always AWAY from you) ) ...
They study tide-tables, sunrise and sunset times, refer to TPE, know the local lakes and coastlines, ask local people.
They have formed a network of friends who know where local birds are, and keep in touch.
They drag around big heavy cameras and bigger , heavier lenses, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, hats, and sometimes anti-anaphylaxis injections.
They spend hours on their feet, trudging thru and laying in, swamps, brambles, poison ivy/oak, and bird poop, in wet socks and heavy boots.
They keep an eye on the local birder's forums to learn of rare or interesting spottings.
They have learned, and continue to learn, at least acceptable Photoshop skills.
They study other people's work and learn from them.
They gladly accept comments and suggestions about their work, and learn from that.
They study other's images, to see what works and can put into words what they like about an image , learn good composition, the importance of BG, and make useful comments.
They have developed some modicum of patience, waiting for that damn bird to......fly, land, preen, mate, grab prey, move from behind that branch, or come back.
It's much the same with photography of things OTHER than birds. Each area requires a different set of skills, learning, and patience, and has little to nothing to do with "luck."
So, don't wait for "good luck" or expect "good luck" - Do your homework, researching, listening, learning, and learning more. This is not to dissuade people just beginning - Continue to learn and progress in your skills in all these areas, and you will see great personal progress even if you have little experience. It just gets better and better.
But do understand that you make your own "luck" and great images have a great deal of prep and behind them.
Just my 5 cents (inflation
Sandy
Not one thing changed for me when I moved into the photographic world. You must be under full attack to make your own luck in the field.