How to Photograph Raptors From a Car
If you want to get close to birds of prey, your best bet may be a mobile blind.
After retiring from a job teaching high school biology, Ron Dudley took his love of natural history to the field. He now spends most days photographing raptors from a Ford F-150 in his home state of Utah.
Using your vehicle as a mobile blind has distinct advantages, he says. 鈥淏irds are much, much less afraid of a vehicle than they are a person on foot, and so you can get much closer.鈥 Rather than use a specialized beanbag to support his camera lens, Dudley hacked a pool noodle鈥攕litting it down its length, covering it in duct tape to keep it from squeaking, and fitting it to the truck鈥檚 window frame. He also built a lens caddy for his console that holds the camera securely over rough roads but enables him to lift it out in an instant.
Shooting from a window limits the angle of the shot, but that鈥檚 nothing some 鈥渃reative driving鈥 can鈥檛 solve鈥攁nd it helps to have side mirrors that fold forward out of the way. Dudley also eschews any ride with a diesel engine (too much noise) or daytime running lights that can't be turned off. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 be surprised at the things that go into my choice of a new vehicle,鈥 he says.
Here are more of for using your own mobile blind:
- If you have a tripod, bring it along for those situations that require it.
- You don't need a pickup truck鈥攕mall cars work fine and have the advantage of a lower shooting angle for birds on the ground or in the water.
- If possible, always turn the engine off before shooting. Vibrations from a running engine can contribute to soft shots, particularly with long lenses.
- If you wish to avoid making enemies for life, do not get out of your vehicle while near other photographers shooting birds from their own vehicles. Even cracking your door open will often flush birds.
- You鈥檒l be spending lots of time with the windows open so dress accordingly. Shivering makes photography a challenge.
- Don鈥檛 breathe on the viewfinder in cold weather, or you鈥檒l have to wait for the condensation to evaporate before you can see through it again.
- Open windows provide access to insects, and nothing can ruin great opportunities with birds faster than mosquitoes, horse flies, deer flies, and biting gnats (no seeums). Stash bug repellant in the door pocket.
Follow these tips, and you might just capture a photo like this: