Don's Bird Photography Tips

5 Tips for Great Birding Photos


Photographer Don Mammoser offers advice for capturing eye-catching avian images.
Article by Jenn Gidman

Images by Don Mammoser

Don Mammoser isn't a professional birder, but the Colorado photographer estimates that he has more bird images than any other subject except for travel. "I love bird photography," he says. "I definitely keep my eyes open for them when I'm traveling, but the great thing about them is that they're always around every day, no matter where you are - you can find them in your backyard, a neighborhood park, or in an aviary. They're such a visual and colorful subject."
The new Tamron SP 150-600mm VC USD zoom lens allows Don to take pictures of the nearly 500 bird species just in the Centennial State alone. "When you look at birds through the camera, they actually appear smaller in the frame," he says. "You need a lens with a lot of zoom power. The Tamron 150-600 gives me that extra reach and opens up more bird photo opportunities for me. The Vibration Compensation (VC) feature helps eliminate camera shake, which comes in handy when I'm on the ground to get on the bird's level - there's no using a tripod when you're down in the dirt like that!"
Bird photography can be challenging, but Don offers his top tips below for mastering this ornithological endeavor.

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