Semipalmated Plover (Alex Mody)

I recently photographed shorebirds for a weekend in Conneaut, Ohio. One thing that I learned very quickly was that it's all about perspective. The quality of the images I made when lying on my stomach in the mud are far superior to those from a more "comfortable" angle. Many people, myself included, feel that soft and out of focus backgrounds are often ideal for bird photographs. By getting down to ground level, I was able to render the background out of focus, just as I desired. Don't be afraid to experiment, though, because good photographs are possible from many angles. Remember, there are no rules. As a young photographer, it's even more important to understand that so we don't develop any habits that may restrict our horizons!