How I came interested in bird photography

with thanks to the mandarin duck

I have always enjoyed taking photos as a hobby, but when I moved to New York I was focused on law school and then later, passing the bar. Eventually I started taking daily walks around the Central Park pond and gradually became interested in the birds that spent time there. I noticed a wood duck for the first time and couldn't believe how beautiful he was. My colleagues loved seeing the photos I took at the park on my phone and I realized how much I missed photography.

Not too long after, a mandarin duck arrived at the pond one day and caused a stir. I wanted to take better photos of birds but I had no lens of my own, only a camera body. I began renting lenses to find one that worked well for birding. Meanwhile, I discovered local birders on Twitter. I began taking weekend walks with them, and they were such a welcoming community. Bird photography then lead me to insect and flower photography, and opened my eyes to worlds that used to be hidden to me.