Nikon photographer snaps rare bird feared extinct

A member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and the Ocean Artists Society, Tom is a conservation storyteller, documenting environmental stories above and below the water for prominent organisations including WWF, WCS and the UN. He explains how he primed his Nikon Z8 with a 20fps burst mode and set the autofocus to bird subject-detection and a wide focus area.

“I primarily use a photojournalistic approach, documenting what is happening at a specific moment in time,” explains Tom. “Photographing the New Britain goshawk, my shutter was set to 1/1,000 sec, my aperture to f/7.1, and ISO 560. My White Balance was on Auto, and I always photograph in RAW to preserve as much detail as possible to allow for easy adjustments during the editing process. Normally, I don’t crop my images much, but the Z8 is an incredible camera that gives me that ability when required, thanks to its large sensor. The goshawk image had to be heavily cropped as the bird was very far away, even with the 800mm, but, thanks to the Z8, that was possible with the image still maintaining great quality.”

While he’s used to photographing a vast array of wildlife, Tom, who is based in Fiji, but originally hails from Germany, freely admits to being an “enthusiastic birder” and shares this advice.

Use a lightweight telephoto lens with good VR

“Birds are hard to spot if they don’t sing or move among the branches. So, scan the canopies looking for movement, unusual shapes or colours through the viewfinder using the largest telephoto lens you can get your hands on, as more focal length allows you to get closer to the bird. I really love the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S for that reason, but I’m also hugely grateful for its fantastic VR, as it allows me to record handheld video and photograph at much lower shutter speeds. The autofocus is fast, and the image quality is superb, and I love the fact that it’s comparatively light, as I already have so much gear. I’m grateful for every kilo I can save!”

Bird subject-detection AF

“I mostly use the bird subject-detection autofocus mode on the Z8 coupled with the Auto-area AF or the Wide-area AF mode. I was incredibly happy when Nikon announced its bird subject-detection – it’s a real gamechanger for birders! It’s increased my success rate considerably! I also programme my FN1 button to switch to 3D Tracking. I tend to switch between these two modes while looking at the bird through my viewfinder.”

Composition is key

“I like to make sure I have at least one photo as close-up as possible, showing the details of the respective species and another showcasing the animal in its environment for context. It’s always a good idea to think about the rule of thirds: placing your subject slightly towards the left or right of the centre of the image, depending on where the bird is looking towards. Avoid having the bird look out of the frame. So, if the bird is looking to the right, you want to place it left from the centre, looking towards the empty space as opposed to the other way around.”

Frame with bokeh

“With a long lens like the 800mm, you have the opportunity to create wonderful bokeh effects by finding a composition where leaves or branches are in the foreground. By placing enough distance between the bird and the foliage, you can create a beautiful, natural and soft framing.”

Use speed to your advantage

“With all wildlife, keep your shutter speed relatively high to avoid motion blur. While there are exceptions to that rule, it’s generally a good idea to follow the 180° rule: keeping your shutter at least twice the amount of the focal length of your lens. Also, photographing at 20fps per second helps to capture those rare behaviours, but be warned – you’ll get a lot of images!”

Scrub up on your bird knowledge

“While you may only see some species in a fleeting moment before they are gone, others return to the exact same branch. This knowledge can absolutely make the difference in the field. Even if you can’t read up on a species beforehand, it is always worth observing any animal’s behaviour for a little while and adjusting accordingly. Be patient. I cannot even begin to express how many hours I have spent in the wild looking for birds or other animals without success! It is important to not give up.”

Practise with everyday birds

“Practising as much as possible before going out in the field, and getting used to the equipment is imperative, as often you have very little time to get the picture. Start by taking photos of common birds, such as pigeons and sparrows, as they’re more used to humans. You can practise following their movements while looking through the viewfinder and learning how to use manual focus. Although I use bird-tracking autofocus, I switch to manual focus when there are too many branches or leaves obstructing a clear view.”

Kit up 

“On expeditions such as this one, I have to be ready for everything and anything. Working in the tropics under extreme heat, boat journeys with a lot of salt water, thunderstorms and extremely high humidity is very tough for the equipment and sometimes for the mind, too. The Z8 is an incredible camera. With a large sensor, burst rates of up to 20fps (great for wildlife photography, including birds), very strong video capabilities with autofocus and weather sealing, it’s the perfect fit. I am extremely impressed by the durability of the new Nikon Z range and can wholeheartedly say I have put the gear through some extreme tests in the field, whether in the rainforest in Papua New Guinea, driving on boats in extreme weather in the Solomon Islands or photographing in near torrential rainfall in Fiji. So far… zero problems!”

The early bird…

“With bird photography, or any wildlife photography, it’s important to wake up early. While you can photograph a variety of animals during the day, the chances are often much higher early in the morning as many animals are more active and, thus, easier to spot and photograph.”

Tom Vierus’ kitbag:

Two Nikon Z8s (one always with the NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S, the other either NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S or NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S), NIKKOR Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S, NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, NIKKOR Z 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 VR S, Z TC-2.0x and Z TC-1.4x, Aquatica underwater housing for the Nikon Z8, Kraken lights and strobes, two tripods and gimbals.