Is bird photography the hardest?

I have a love hate with birding. First of all I'm not that good. I love watching birds especially birds of prey. However my keeper rate is LOW!!! Mammals, scenery, even large birds seem like a breeze compared to BIF and small birds.

Do y'all think there are any others forms of photography that are as challenging?

Each photography genre has its own challenges. As you have discovered, the small size, speed, and unwillingness to let humans get close are the major hindrances of bird photography. As for myself, I have no hesitancy going out to photograph birds as compared to the even more challenging genre that is characterized by the subject's expectation of being portrayed with more beauty than natural gifts may provide: the bride.

Birds are tough, they have such small details with more details. it takes a ton of practise to get good at birds and I don't think you ever stop learning

Difficult, yep, but the hardest, I dunno. Landscapes seem more difficult to me and I don't really try them much. I mean it has all been shot, so how do you get a "new" image. With birds, the unexpected almost always happens, that is part of the attraction for me. A famous and successful bird photographer and a wonderful teacher, told me, after one of his seminars: "Mike, there isn't any secret to taking a great bird photograph, you just have to get everything right". I have yet to accomplish that, but I have come close a few times, that's what keeps me going. I have found that traveling to a new location can be a very invigorating experience, as was my recent first trip to Bosque del Apache NWR. This spring I am going to take my first trip to Big Bend NP. I mean, even High Island can go stale after ten spring migrations. Just a thot, try a new spot, one you have never visited.

This is what I mean when I say "UNEXPECTED"

I would much, much rather take BIF photos that to try to take photos of infants and kids. To me there is a skill to getting kids to be in the right position to photograph that you either have or you don't.

mikeivan wrote in post #17376038
...This is what I mean when I say "UNEXPECTED"

A fine illustration of the little known reason that geese and other birds prefer to fly in a "V" formation rather than line astern

I think photographing people is harder because they are able to talk and complain a lot.

O Duane I totally agree, but for different reasons

Astro is pretty tough.

I'll put young kids and little birds at the same level of difficulties > The masochism's level

For me I find bird and bif photography very easy because no matter the results of my shots I totally enjoy being in their company. If I get a good shot great if not oh well I am outdoors, total win.

rwingsfan wrote in post #17377953
For me I find bird and bif photography very easy because no matter the results of my shots I totally enjoy being in their company. If I get a good shot great if not oh well I am outdoors, total win.

I do agree, whatever result > it's an enjoyment, we got what we want, it's fine, we do not it's fine too

Anything that you like, is the easiest and you know the rest.

joedlh wrote in post #17375484
the small size, speed, and unwillingness to let humans get close are the major hindrances of bird photography.

Sounds like the challenges of the Hollywood paparazzi, too!

I started bird photography after coming back from my honeymoon in Kruger Park, S.A.

Back home, I looked around and didn't see any lions or elephants to take pictures of...

So bird photography is easier than big mammal photography, if only because I have some in the area!