Welcome back! Here are the pictures of country birds and the lessons I learned as I promised.

Don't be afraid.

I was on my belly on the beach. I was concerned I would spook it but crawling on the sand might ruin my camera or lens. If only I approached faster and took more shots, maybe I'd take home a clearer, less noisy picture. - So don't be afraid to try extremes and act like a soldier just to take home your trophy.

A Second Chance

Don't stop looking and waiting even after it's gone. While taking our walk back to the beach parking lot, at least four eyes were skimming through the vegetation for this Kingfisher. Hence, I was awarded a slightly cleaner shot.

Don't be concerned about too much light

Don't forget that viewers' eyes usually notice what's bright first. Lens flare and a little glare are OK, for as long as the subject still pops out. Amplifying yellow in post-production made this crane stand-out instead of blending into the haze.

Observe their behavior.

I have noticed that cranes fly in circles. You spook them and they fly away but they usually circle around. A little bit of patience in waiting is also needed.

Taking these shots in the countryside is obviously easier compared to the city because you're free to move and look for cover. Keep repositioning until you're close enough for a shot.

This one's another heavily cropped photo but the advantage of cropping is you can reframe your shot and make it a bit tighter around the subject.

Adjust the Viewfinder if Needed

Image Source
You want to make sure the lens is focused on the subject. Birds appear usually very small in the viewfinder so it might strain your eyes but using the live view mode (on LCD display) is slow. If the numbers in the viewfinder display are blurry, adjust it properly.

Practice with other (easy but lovely) subjects while on a break

Another advantage of photography in the countryside is it offers a wide variety of subjects, like
Flowers,

Ducks,

Chickens,

And even weeds!

All photos (except the Canon200D) were taken in Nasugbu, Batangas, my Dad's hometown. I have just a few more takeaways to share with you from Nasugbu, so please stay tuned.

Thanks for reading/viewing!

[Credits to the Author of Life]