GLOBAL PRO GALLERY
The grey-streaked flycatcher is a migratory bird that visits Japan in autumn. Using a 1200mm equivalent telephoto lens, you can zoom in on this tiny bird without startling it. Location: Japan
Takanori Sugawara
Takanori SugawaraJapan
Born in 1990, Sugawara studied oceanography at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, the University of Norway, and studied seabird ecology at Nagoya University Graduate School. Now a photographer after his education. He actively travels throughout Japan and across the globe in search of birds in different environments. His published books include Zukai de Wakaru Yacho Satsuei Nyumon (Introduction to Wild Bird Photography Illustrated) (Genkosha), Nakigoe Kara Shiraberu Yacho Zukan (Encyclopedia of Wild Birdcalls), and SNAP! BIRDS! He is a member of the Society of Scientific Photography (SSP).
I would like to capture birds just being themselves, and I keep this idea in mind when seeking them out.
The birds of my homeland of Japan are also very important to me, and are close to my heart. The new 150-600mm lens gave me the impression there were new ways to capture the charms of birds I know so well.
At the same time, I want to find birds that make their homes all across the globe. Birds adapt to the environment in which they live. Highly adaptable equipment is a must for capturing them in photos.
For example, birds are visible from extremely limited locations in the thick trees of tropical rainforests. It’s in situations such as these that the OM SYSTEM’s superior image stabilization capabilities allow you to capture shots of a bird hand-held through the tiny gaps between the leaves.
On the islands of Aruba in the Caribbean Sea, the cacti growing right up to the water’s edge drove home just how dry the environment was. Such spots tend to be very dusty, but the powerful OM SYSTEM dust reduction system eliminated any worries about dirt on the sensor when changing the lens.
I think the compact, lightweight OM SYSTEM is a great travel companion thanks to its superior weather-resistant performance. The new OM-1 Mark II features stronger versions of sequential shooting and AI Detection AF, which were popular on the OM-1, making it great for wild bird photography. The 150-600mm lens, which covers a wide range from 300 to 1200mm, is also an attractive option. I look forward to seeing how this setup performs in a variety of environments.
