#8 Shooting: with a camera

We've just returned from another 4 days exploring the Pilliga Forests of northwestern New South Wales. Grahame has morphed into somewhat of a birdman extraordinaire. His persistence and patience is quite remarkable, considering I have known him to be a tad impatient over the years. But he's slowed down and chilled out with age, which is healthy.

Sandstone cliffs of the Pilliga

In an effort to find a satisfying hobby that was challenging enough to provide continued variety and interest, yet not so difficult to be beyond his capabilities, he considered bird photography. What a fabulous choice this has turned out to be.

As our children were growing up, we enjoyed family outdoor recreation including camping, walking, fishing, nature-watching, picnicking and touring, but since our two children have made their own way in life, we've spent more time experiencing the wonders of nature and seeking a greater awareness and understanding of the environment in which we live and travel.

Grahame is preparing for retirement, so he wished to purchase his equipment while still in the workforce, and learn to use it before taking to the road. After research, he decided on a Canon 400D camera body with a 500mm Sigma zoom lens and sturdy tripod. He's still becoming familiar with his gear, but the learning process up to this point has been manageable and productive.

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As a young adult, Grahame was a keen sporting shooter, targeting feral pigs, foxes, goats and rabbits. He scaled down his shooting persuits as family-friendly activities became important, and in later years when the introduction of strict new laws created hassles for gun-owners, he surrendered his firearms.

But the hunting and stalking techniques a shooter develops have once again come into play as a bird photographer.

Previously, becoming familiar with the habits, habitat, capabilities and cunning of the targetted prey was essential for a successful kill. Now, developing an understanding of individual habits and collective behaviour of the bird world plays a vital role in capturing satisfying images.

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Following several hit-and-miss episodes with the camera, Grahame announced "I need a bird hide!"

. . . . . like this

The requirements were: portable, demountable, light-weight, and easy to erect and dismantle. He designed and constructed the frame from 4 extendable tent poles and 2 strips of aluminium angle, and then I set to work making the tent.

It works brilliantly, with all requirements met, but as expected, its assembly is a two-person operation. In time, my handyman husband is likely to design 'marque 2' which can be erected single-handedly, but for now it does its job providing camouflage enabling the photographer to move in close to his subjects.

The hide set up at a waterhole in the Pilliga

Discovering the beautiful and plentiful birdlife of the Pilliga Forests over the New Year break proved an irresistible lure for the budding photographer. Despite the summer heat of northwestern NSW, his logic was to revisit the forests before the waterholes dried up. Sound logic, I agreed, as we were soon to find the puddles gone and the waterholes quickly shrinking.

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While I wandered the bush experiencing the intricate details of individual elements which are all connected in the complex web of life, and absorb the peaceful atmosphere and life-giving sense of wonder that the natural environment provides me, Grahame observed the birds of the bush. He discovered some of the marvels of the bird world from an up-close vantage point, capturing images of some of Australia's stunning birds.

We will share the challenge and excitement, working on problems and improving technique together. Here are a few of Grahame's Pilliga Forest bird shots from January 2008. . . . .

Female Turquoise Parrot (Neophema splendida)

Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)

Double-barred Finch (Poephila bichenovii)


Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)


Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)