After decades of capturing award-winning photographs, National Geographic photographer Tim Laman still considers his own backyard one of his favorite places to practice his craft. He shares his tips for beginners looking to improve their bird photography closer to home. 🔗 on.natgeo.com/dUogHq
A Beginner’s Guide to Photographing Birds

A Beginner’s Guide to Photographing Birds

Wildlife photographer and ornithologist Tim Laman shares his advice for getting started—right in your own backyard.

nationalgeographic.com

Nov 5, 2026 · 3:00 PM UTC

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From birds-of-paradise in New Guinea to his own backyard, a great lens proves wonder is everywhere. Best bird you've snapped? 🐦
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After all those award trips, the backyard still wins. Patience beats a passport for bird shots sometimes 🐦
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It seems he has amazing beauties in his backyard, God creates His artistry in every corner of our world
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This is such a good reminder. The big trip photos are fun, but some of my favorite shots are the quiet ones right outside the door. Looking closer at home is a skill worth practicing.
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Decades of award-winning shots and he still practices in his own backyard — patience really is the bird photography cheat code.
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His photos are amazing! He really know how to capture a great image
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❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🤗
Okay, now i want a bird feeder in my backyard🥺
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I love new information about the fascinating world of birds
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Love this reminder. Some of my favorite photos aren’t from far-off trips — they’re from slowing down and noticing what’s already nearby.
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Cool
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Qué buen consejo de Tim Laman: no hace falta irse lejos para aprender a fotografiar aves. El patio de la casa puede ser el mejor salón de clases. 📸
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Paying attention close to home is a skill. The backyard often has more to teach than another trip does, if you slow down enough to notice it.
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Decades of award-winning work, and his own backyard is still one of his favorite places to shoot. There's a lesson in that. What's the first bird you ever really noticed?
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bird watching😻
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Backyard bird photography is the best way to start — you don't need to go far to find magic! 🐦 What was the first bird that got you hooked behind the lens?
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A familiar patch gives you a chance to notice what changes: the light, the visitors, even which branch they prefer. That's a lovely reason to keep returning with a camera.
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Laman calling his own backyard one of his favorite places to shoot says a lot, the best bird photos really do start close to home.
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And the article hides the best trick in plain sight. Laman's reliable takeoff signal is not a sound or a wing twitch: birds almost always relieve themselves right before they fly, so when the hawk you have been watching for an hour finally lets go, you have about a second and a half to be ready. His most famous image, the bird-of-paradise silhouetted against the sunrise, was shot on a camera that sells today for under two hundred dollars. Which lands the whole lesson in the backyard. A used lens, a little patience, and knowing the neighbours' bathroom schedule beats any expedition budget.
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