Stuck in a photography rut? Feel like you're taking similar photos every time and it's all getting a bit boring? Tempted to put the camera down for a while?
DON'T GIVE UP! You just need a little creative challenge to get inspired and try something new to make things fun and interesting again. In the video below, I mention 20 different shots to aim for, scroll down for the list 👍
Here are 20 creative bird photography ideas to inspire you and help you push your creative boundaries! See how many you can check off the list or create a body of works showcasing one idea with a common theme.
Before I dive in....are you an intermediate level photographer? Can you help me with a photography survey? Read more HERE (opens in new window so you can come back to this page).
1. Silhouette at Sunrise/Sunset
Capture birds against a colourful sky during golden or blue hour. Incorporate the landscape, making sure you pay attention to everything in the frame to find a nice balance between the elements 🙌
2. Reflections
Photograph birds near still water to highlight their reflections, creating symmetry and balance. In this shot I used two techniques, shooting through the grasses to soften the surroundings and enhance the reflection. I have a tutorial on this specific technique HERE.
3. Motion Blur
Use a slower shutter speed to create a sense of motion as the bird flaps its wings or takes off. Try a full motion blur like our damp Rainbow Lorikeet shaking off below - or a partial one - perhaps just blurring the wings, which is a great way of adding movement.
4. Close-Up Portrait
Get a tight shot of a bird's face or intricate feather details. The key to success is a razor sharp image taken at fairly close range that really shows off the amazing detail in the feathers or eye. Don't be afraid to crop nice and tight if your shot is really sharp.
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5. Birds with Food
Capture a bird mid-hunt with prey in its beak or talons, or feeding on fruit, bugs or berries for a dynamic, storytelling shot. It's worth getting to know your bird and seeking out local feeding grounds. As I'm writing this blog, I'm checking almost daily for Gang Gang Cockatoos, due to return to feed on berries at my local wetlands at this time of year.
6. Abstract Patterns
Focus on feather patterns, wing shapes, or flocks creating dynamic forms in the sky. Or play up a repeating theme within the landscape or setting, such as a fence line, branches or even wire like this Flycatcher caught in 'jail'.
7. Backlit Glow
Shoot birds with the light source behind them to highlight their feathers with a golden or halo-like glow. It doesn't matter if you lose detail in the shadow side, but keep those highlighted bits crispy sharp!
8. Birds in Snow or Rain
Photograph birds braving the elements, emphasising their resilience in harsh conditions. If you can find an undercover spot with a view, you can get some great shots in rainy weather. I was sheltered under a picnic gazebo to catch this Swamp harrier looking less than impressed 😄
9. Eye-Level Perspective
Shoot from the bird's eye level, creating a more intimate and relatable shot. Getting down low to birds on the ground is perfect, but I appreciate not everyone's knees are happy about it! If this is a problem for you, trying moving to an elevated position, when you can shoot downhill or into trees that are closer to eye level.
I take a lot of shots from my back patio on the second floor, where I'm looking directly into a large gum and some powerlines, where I snapped the Nankeen Kestrel below. I often look for elevated positions or lie down on the ground when I'm in the field.
10. Interaction Between Birds
Capture unique moments like courtship, feeding chicks, or territorial disputes. It can take extra patience to get shots like this. I find it's helpful to really be still and quiet, and allow the birds to continue their natural behaviour.
11. Birds in Urban Settings
Find birds interacting with man-made structures for a contrast between nature and urban environments. Don't be afraid to be different and incorporate fence lines, buildings, and even unusual components - like this crazy-looking old airport marker cone that I found this Kestrel perching on!
12. Minimalist Composition
Highlight your bird with a clean, uncluttered background for a striking minimalist effect.
Many high level bird photographers ONLY shoot clean backgrounds, but to be honest I find that a bit boring after a while. Although it does show off the bird completely free from distractions, it can lack in story-telling which I feel is an important part of bird photography and takes a shot to the next level.
If you going to go minimalist, be bold with it! I like to use strong colour to further enhance the effect.
13. Birds in the Landscape
Place birds within a wide landscape to tell a story about their environment. This is ideal if you don't have much zoom on your lens and it's an art form all in itself! I have another blog post on the small-in-frame-technique HERE.
14. High-Key Exposure
Overexpose your shot slightly for a bright, airy feel while still retaining key details.
I have a short tutorial on how to create high key shots HERE.
15. Birds and Their Shadows
Focus on a bird's shadow for an intriguing and artistic take on traditional shots. This a fun one to try when the light is a little on the bright side and you have big strong shadows to play with.
16. Nesting Behaviour
Capture the process of birds building nests, laying eggs, or feeding their young. These are always popular shots on social media, as people love to see glimpses of the life of birds. But please be mindful of disturbing nesting birds and keep a safe distance, especially if there's chicks in the nest.
17. Interaction with Other Animals
Look for moments where birds interact with other species, like a heron fishing for frogs on the classic 'bird-on-cow' shot. As it turns out, even I haven't cracked this one yet! So now it's on my list. In the meantime, here's a completely unrelated shot of a Butcherbird eating my pizza 😆
18. Flock Formation in Flight
Photograph a flock in synchronised motion, creating a dramatic and dynamic image. This can be surprisingly challenging, with getting the right balance between the juxtposition of the birds and some space around the image desirable elements.
Speaking of space, you might be interested in my post on understanding visual weight.
19. Dramatic Lighting
Use side lighting or spot lighting to create depth and drama in your shots. If you can achieve it 100% in the field, post processing using layer masks can do the job. That's how I took the shaded sections of this Gang Gang Cockatoo shott, and deepened them to black to create another technique from the Old Masters - 'chiaroscuro'.
I will be producing a video tutorial on using masking and how to get a perfect mask in the coming months, so either subscribe to my newsletter (button below) or to my YouTube channel for notification.
20. Unusual Angles
Experiment with creative angles, such as shooting directly overhead or from beneath a flying bird.
I find it's helpful to go out with intention to create a particular shot if you are feeling a bit lacklustre about your photography. It gives you something to focus on, rather than just wandering around hoping you'll run into a bird - although I do enjoy this as well at times!
Having a direction of where you're trying to head - and checking off a goal - confirms you are definitely moving forward with your photography and helps you to feel inspired to keep going!
Happy Snapping! xx Sonia
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