Outside of being physically out in the field and taking shots, we can step back and identify several key elements to what being a great bird photographer means.
In this video, professional bird photographer Jan Wegener talks about seven different elements that he believes makes a great bird photographer. These range from knowing your subjects through visual identification and bird calls, to knowing how to post-process images to get the full impact, to being on top of your networking game and using social media.
Possibly more than anything, the act of bird photography is a journey filled with eliminating dead ends and learning what not to do so that eventually all you’re left over with are the things that seem to work on occasion. It’s a mad practice, but for many, it’s also incredibly rewarding when everything comes together. By making note of these seven elements, we can at least bring focus to key elements that make great bird photographers and give us some structure in how we continue learning.
The elements in the video are only the views of one photographer, and you may have a different opinion or additional elements that make for a great bird photographer. Let us know in the comments what you think.