Once again the Tweeters discussion about big lens photographers is interesting and poses one question that I'll try to respond to. I'm sorry we had to cancel the photo symposium planned for December that was going to cover bird/photograher topics so we'll just have to try for a reset next year. The following is some information for you non-photographers who are interested in understanding why us big lens folks want to get so close to the birds. It's not meant as an excuse or reason for action, I leave that for others to sort through.


Most bird shooters want the clearest, sharpest image they can get. In order to do that, you have to get as close as you can within the constraints of your lens (I need to be at least 16 feet away with my 600mm lens). I rarely need to get that close (except shooting hummingbirds and sparrows), nor do I usually want to do so because I may want the whole bird in the picture and the larger birds just won't fit when that close. The autofocus on digital cameras uses the lines (differences in contrast) as focusing points. On a white bird like Snowy Owls, finding those lines is very difficult for any camera unless you can get close enough. This is particularly so for the fine white facial feathers which become even more difficult to photograph if there is any movement caused by the wind. If you look carefully at the images posted you will find very few with clear facial feathers around the beak unless they were wet or the shooter very close. In addition to focus problems, all telephoto shots are subject to atmospheric distortion that increases dramatically with the distance from the object being shot, depending on numerous conditions that every shooter should know but many don't. Temperature differentials across water, snow, sandy areas, rocky shores, open fields and wooded hills can have a major impact on the clarity of an image. Dust or fog in the air decreases clarity. Lots of humidity does the same. You can reduce these impacts by shooting when the air is clearest or temperature differentials are the lowest but you can never totally eliminate the effects. However, you can reduce this distortion by getting closer to the object. That's why we want to be as close as possible. This won't resolve the ethical/interaction problems raised but I hope it will add a bit of information to the discussion.


David Gluckman
811 22nd St.
Pt. Townsend, WA 98368
360 379-0360