Photo Blinds can be a very useful tool to set up in your backyard. The purpose of a photo blind is to have a way to hide yourself when you are photographing wildlife. It will keep you from scaring off your subjects and missing out on many great photographic opportunities. Photo blinds can be purchased at outdoor stores or you can improvise something yourself. Several of the pictures in this Backyard Bird Photography series I took through my kitchen window. A photo blind can be a glassed or open window, or basically a tent-like structure in your yard. When using the latter, make sure the sun is behind you. Set up in clear view of bird feeders, birdbaths, or birdhouses, but make sure you are a little distance away. You will need a good telephoto or zoom lens. I shoot with a hand-held camera, but this is a place where a tripod will come in very handy. You can set up your camera on a tripod and focus it at eye level on your feeder or other features that attract birds. Once you have prepared yourself, the next step is to be patient. Keep quiet and watch. The birds will come. This is a great way to work on your photographic techniques, such as composition and focal lengths, and you can do it all in your own backyard.
Blue Jay photo taken through my kitchen window.
