Bay Area Bird Photographers — Past Programs
Bay Area Bird Photographers — Past Programs
Below are the topics covered in past meetings of the Bay Area Bird Photographers (BABP), along with links to the presenters’ photo galleries.
Art in Bird Photography
by Sreedhara Alavattam (note that Parham Pourahmad has a scheduling conflict and so will not be presenting this time)
Description - Bird photography is a captivating blend of art and nature, where the photographer tries to capture fleeting moments of avian grace and beauty. In my bird photographs, I strive to translate the essence of avian beauty into compelling art by capturing the subtle nuances of their forms and behaviors. I focus on the interplay of light and shadow and compose each shot to frame their natural grace and movement. My goal is to turn fleeting moments into timeless art, inviting viewers to experience the delicate and often overlooked splendor of the bird world through my lens.
Strategies for Successful Bird Photography
by Chris Johnson
A discussion of strategies and tips for successful bird photography, including predictive behavior, increasing the odds, timing, scouting locations, planning for a shoot, shooting a location, and dealing with shy species.
Jason Tanner
Birding in Alameda County
Alameda County offers numerous parks rich with birds and other wildlife. Jason will discuss his favorite spots and key birds to be found therein.
Jason has been birding for over a decade, almost entirely in Alameda County. He occasionally documents his sightings with a camera he kinda, almost knows how to use. He's a member of the Fremont Birding Circle and currently leads their monthly birding walks to a variety of locations within thirty minutes of Fremont.
Bring Your Own Photos (BYOP)
Bring Your Own Photos (BYOP) - is a biannual event that every bird enthusiast is eagerly looking forward to. It's an engaging and interactive way for members to share their passion for birdwatching and photography. Several members have shared their photographs that they have taken in the past year. We encourage discussion after the presentations and request people to share their stories, passion and tips so we all can collectively grow.
Capturing Wings: Young Bird Photographers Soaring High
by Valerie Wong and Rajan Rao
Today's young photographers are not just capturing images; they're connecting with nature through their cameras. Their passion goes beyond mere snapshots; it's a testament to their commitment to conservation and appreciation for biodiversity. In this digital age, where screens often dominate attention, these young photographers offer a refreshing perspective, encouraging others to look up, explore, and marvel at the wonders of the world around them and help preserve it. They remind us that nature is waiting to be discovered and cherished by all who dare to take a few minutes to explore. Two such artists are going to share their passion with us.
Creative Bird Photography
by Ray Hennessy
What makes an artistic bird photo different than just a standard documentary bird portrait? I’ll be discussing and showing all the methods I use such as light, space, bokeh, getting close, capturing action and using hides to create unique bird photos that are a joy to look at. I will be sharing nearly 200 photos captured over the past 10 years that show these different methods in practice and discussing more in depth how I implement the techniques while shooting. Be ready for a wide variety of unique and different bird photos!
Heaven on Earth: Soaring with Awe-inspiring Birds of Costa Rica
by Hita Bambhania-Modha
In July 2023, I spontaneously decided to visit Costa Rica, the place that was on my bucket list for a long time. I did not expect much as I was going for the first time, and that too during the rainy season! To my surprise and delight, however, the trip turned out to be incredibly joyful and deeply fulfilling. Costa Rica’s varied landscape, abundant diverse life, mesmerizing sights, sounds, and overall atmosphere made me feel more alive than ever before and literally made Costa Rica feel like heaven on earth.
Ethical practices to effectively photograph wildlife - a young photographer's journey
by Pranav Adya
Hi Everyone! My name is Pranav Adya, and I am from Palo Alto, California. Currently, I am a Senior at Palo Alto Senior High School (PALY). In my free time, I like to play video games and basketball, and hang out with friends. I live a fairly active lifestyle and love to be outdoors. Along with this, I am part of my high school's robotics team, FRC Team 6036 Peninsula Robotics. During the second semester, we design, build, and program an industrial-sized robot to compete with other teams. I spend countless hours at school doing this and absolutely love it! One day I hope I can use the skills that learn from robotics and my wildlife photography/conservation skills to help out the
environment. My dream location to photograph birds and animals is the Pantal Regional of Brazil!
Backyard Bird Photography (setup and basics)
by Bruce Finocchio
Bruce plans to focus on backyard bird photography, set-up, and basics and show some images that he has taken in my backyard in the past. For the program's second half, Bruce will continue with the theme of bird blind photography only from my Ramrod Ranch perspective and show the images he has taken there. More education, less of a travelog type program.
Zoom Lenses for Bird Photography by Shravan Sundaram
This presentation will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of zoom lenses for bird photography. Zoom lenses offer many benefits such as flexibility, excellent image stabilization, and portability. Mastering the zoom lens allows one to capture compelling, professional quality bird photographs without breaking the bank.
Birds of Placer County by Jerry Ting
Placer County is one of the most resource-rich birding areas in Central Valley and Sierra Nevada with a land of 1500+ square miles of grassland, woodland, river, lake, forest, and mountain. The overall number of species might not be as impressive as most of the Bay Area counties, but Placer County has its own share of specialties that can easily catch any birder's eye. Nonetheless, if birding alone cannot satisfy your craving for nature, the breathtaking landscapes surely will do.
As a bonus, Jerry will also briefly talk about his trip back to Taiwan and the birds there.
This April we have a repeat of our very popular bring your own photos (BYOP) night. These bird photos could be from anywhere in the world. The only caveat is that the photos should have been taken between Jan and March 2023. We are looking forward to seeing some amazing images, so please join us on Zoom.
From easy Bay Area Birding to difficult backyard birding
by Peter Shen
