A Bird In The Hand

Alan Murphy’s practical tips for better bird photography.

- Jack Neubart

GROWING UP IN LONDON, ENGLAND, Alan Murphy developed a fascination with birds at an early age. That enthusiasm followed him as he moved to the United States as an adult, but took an interesting tern (pun intended) once he settled on this side of the pond. Confronted with an entirely fresh catalog of bird species, he took the only logical tack he could to learn the new birds that surrounded him. He borrowed a camera and some lenses so that he could photograph them for later identification. Only problem: the lenses weren’t up to the task, so he outfitted himself with better gear suited to his flighty subjects. And along the way, his passion for bird photography not only took flight, it soared. Murphy’s also learned a lot about how to take great photos of birds in a variety of shooting situations. Here’s some of his expert advice on better bird photography.

1. BE PREPARED 

When photographing birds, Murphy leaves little to chance. Whether shooting on his own or conducting his year-round bird photography workshops, he follows several guiding principles that ensure success each time he sets out. For starters, he never steps out the door without first doing his research about the birds he plans to photograph in a specific area, then he observes them in the field to gain an understanding of their behavior. Concomitant with that is a certain amount of planning and preparation, leaving room for the unexpected.