Photography by Chris

I visited Bettman Nature Preserve in Cincinnati to photograph birds as it is home to many different species fliting around the many bird feeders that surround the the nature center building.

There’s something magical about winter bird photography—the bright plumage of cardinals, blue jays, and other species stands out against the blanket of white snow, making every shot feel vibrant and alive. With bare branches and fewer leaves on the trees, it was also much easier to spot and track the birds as they moved through the preserve.

However, winter photography comes with its own set of challenges. The overcast sky that day provided beautiful soft light, but it also meant I had to adjust my camera settings to compensate for the lower light levels. Using a wider aperture and a slightly higher ISO was essential for capturing sharp images. Despite compensating for the low light, the long focal length of the lens I was using made far away shots a bit blurrier than I was hoping.

Here are some of my favorite images I captured during the day:

In order to avoid the freezing cold temperatures- I was lucky enough to be able to photograph from inside the of the nature center building. Check out the setup below! It required patience to wait for birds to settle on the feeder- but it was worth it.

All in all, Bettman Nature Preserve proved to be a fantastic winter birding spot. The serene, snowy landscape and the added pop of color from the local birdlife created an ideal environment for photography. If you’re looking to capture the vivid contrast of vibrant feathers against a snowy backdrop, I highly recommend paying a visit—just remember to bundle up and be ready to adjust your camera settings on the fly!