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How to Photograph Birds in Flight: Techniques and Settings
How to Photograph Birds in Flight: Techniques and Settings
by Keenan Hursh
There are many “iconic shots” in each style of photography that many photographers strive to achieve. Types of images that we have likely all seen before and that stand out from the rest.
In the realm of landscape photography, perhaps this is the well-known sun star on the horizon or maybe a long-exposure waterfall image where the water appears to be soft and glowing. Or maybe it’s a perfectly positioned milky way galaxy on a moonless night when it comes to astrophotography. Whatever it may be, these iconic images hold their allure for good reason, and it can be very enjoyable and educational for photographers of all levels and backgrounds to pursue them.
One great example of an iconic shot in the world of wildlife photography is a beautifully framed, properly exposed, and razor-sharp image of a bird in flight. Nature and wildlife photographers far and wide are consistently drawn to the challenge and allure of capturing these images.
Photographs of birds racing through the air not only encapsulate the beauty, grace, and freedom of these magnificent creatures in their natural environment but also present a mesmerizing subject for photographers to capture. The ability to freeze these fleeting moments through photography allows us to appreciate the intricate details of wing movements, the curvature of feathers, and the focused intensity in a bird's eyes as it navigates the open skies.
For anyone who has attempted this, you know quite well that a seemingly simple task can be very difficult to achieve. There are so many factors that come into play and your timing and technique need to be up to speed. But just because it’s difficult that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
In today’s article, we’re going to dive into everything you need to know to achieve stunning images of birds in flight. From camera settings to techniques and best practices, we’ll cover all the basics and get you ready to get out there and captures some great images for yourself. Let’s get started.
In the realm of landscape photography, perhaps this is the well-known sun star on the horizon or maybe a long-exposure waterfall image where the water appears to be soft and glowing. Or maybe it’s a perfectly positioned milky way galaxy on a moonless night when it comes to astrophotography. Whatever it may be, these iconic images hold their allure for good reason, and it can be very enjoyable and educational for photographers of all levels and backgrounds to pursue them.
One great example of an iconic shot in the world of wildlife photography is a beautifully framed, properly exposed, and razor-sharp image of a bird in flight. Nature and wildlife photographers far and wide are consistently drawn to the challenge and allure of capturing these images.
Photographs of birds racing through the air not only encapsulate the beauty, grace, and freedom of these magnificent creatures in their natural environment but also present a mesmerizing subject for photographers to capture. The ability to freeze these fleeting moments through photography allows us to appreciate the intricate details of wing movements, the curvature of feathers, and the focused intensity in a bird's eyes as it navigates the open skies.
For anyone who has attempted this, you know quite well that a seemingly simple task can be very difficult to achieve. There are so many factors that come into play and your timing and technique need to be up to speed. But just because it’s difficult that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
In today’s article, we’re going to dive into everything you need to know to achieve stunning images of birds in flight. From camera settings to techniques and best practices, we’ll cover all the basics and get you ready to get out there and captures some great images for yourself. Let’s get started.
The Difficulty of Capturing Birds in Flight
Photographing birds in flight is very technically difficult for many reasons. Even advanced photographers who have been capturing great wildlife images for years often struggle. Here’s why:
One of the main things that makes it quite difficult to pull this off is that birds often fly quite fast and not always in a perfectly straight line. In order to stay in the air, they must generate enough lift with their wings which means they have to move forward in the air at a minimum speed that can be hard to keep up with when looking through your camera. And they might be moving up and down while flapping or choose to fly in any given direction at any moment in time. Sometimes a bird might be flying in a nice straight vector, but this often isn’t the case and you’ll need to be ready to quickly move your camera to keep up with them.
Another factor that makes this even more difficult is that photographers are often photographing birds through lenses with high focal lengths such as telephotos and super-telephotos. This is nice because you can get closer to your subject but makes it even harder to track their movements, keep them in the frame, and keep them in focus.
And on top of that, if you combine the fast movement of birds in flight with higher focal lengths, your camera settings will need to be just right so that you can actually capture a sharp and clear image. If your shutter speed is too slow, you’ll get a blurry image, and if it’s too fast you’ll likely be overcompensating with ISO leading to a noisy image. You’ll also want the right aperture to isolate your subject from the background allowing the viewer to focus on the bird you’re photographing.
And finally, it can be difficult to achieve a nice background that allows the bird to stand out and that isn’t distracting. Part of this definitely has to do with luck when it comes to being in a good position and setting, but by planning ahead and anticipating where a bird will fly you can often achieve a great background.
Photographing birds in flight is very technically difficult for many reasons. Even advanced photographers who have been capturing great wildlife images for years often struggle. Here’s why:
One of the main things that makes it quite difficult to pull this off is that birds often fly quite fast and not always in a perfectly straight line. In order to stay in the air, they must generate enough lift with their wings which means they have to move forward in the air at a minimum speed that can be hard to keep up with when looking through your camera. And they might be moving up and down while flapping or choose to fly in any given direction at any moment in time. Sometimes a bird might be flying in a nice straight vector, but this often isn’t the case and you’ll need to be ready to quickly move your camera to keep up with them.
Another factor that makes this even more difficult is that photographers are often photographing birds through lenses with high focal lengths such as telephotos and super-telephotos. This is nice because you can get closer to your subject but makes it even harder to track their movements, keep them in the frame, and keep them in focus.
And on top of that, if you combine the fast movement of birds in flight with higher focal lengths, your camera settings will need to be just right so that you can actually capture a sharp and clear image. If your shutter speed is too slow, you’ll get a blurry image, and if it’s too fast you’ll likely be overcompensating with ISO leading to a noisy image. You’ll also want the right aperture to isolate your subject from the background allowing the viewer to focus on the bird you’re photographing.
And finally, it can be difficult to achieve a nice background that allows the bird to stand out and that isn’t distracting. Part of this definitely has to do with luck when it comes to being in a good position and setting, but by planning ahead and anticipating where a bird will fly you can often achieve a great background.
Techniques and Tips to Capture Stunning Images of Birds in Flight
So, photographing a bird in flight can be difficult for many reasons, but if you set yourself up for success you can definitely pull this off and capture some really great images. Here’s what you can do to get yourself prepared:
First things first, you’ll need to have the right gear. You’ll want a nice telephoto lens that ideally has some optical stabilization built in so that you can capture an image of a bird that’s either small, far away, or both. You’ll also want a camera that has a good autofocus system that will smoothly and quickly track your subject as you follow them through the sky. Additionally, your camera should be able to shoot in relatively fast burst modes to increase your chances of getting the perfect shot.
Now that you have the proper gear, you’ll need to know how to use it and specifically what settings to apply when you find a bird out in the field. This is one of the most important aspects because even if you have perfect technique and do everything right you won’t get a nice image unless your camera settings are where they need to be. Let’s talk about the exposure triangle.
You’ll need a very fast shutter speed as many birds move quite quickly through the air and move their bodies quickly. On top of that, your lens will be moving quite a bit as well. Having a shutter speed at or above 1/1000th of a second is a good starting point but you very well may need to go even faster in order to freeze all motion affecting the shot. But this is a fine balancing act because as you increase your shutter speed you're reducing the amount of light entering the camera. If you increase it too much, you’ll have to greatly increase your ISO which will add unwanted noise to your image.
And speaking of ISO, I pretty much always shoot on auto ISO when photographing wildlife, especially fast-moving wildlife where I may not have time to quickly change settings before the moment has passed. Many cameras can allow you to set limits while shooting on auto ISO so that your camera won’t go above a certain level. Regardless, make sure you keep an eye on this and ideally keep the ISO as low as possible.
In order to isolate your subject from the background, you’ll need to employ the correct aperture. When I’m photographing wildlife I often shoot with very wide open apertures to decrease my depth of field so that I get nice blurred backgrounds behind my tack-sharp and in-focus subjects. If you’re shooting with a higher focal length this is a good practice as well due to the increased light entering your camera.
And finally, you’ll want to be in the right shooting and focus modes so that you can hold down your shutter button and capture a fast and continuous burst of in-focus images. I almost always shoot wildlife at my camera’s high-speed burst mode and in an autofocus mode that will continuously track my subject.
Now that we’ve covered the camera settings you’ll need let’s dive into the proper techniques and practices that should be used as well as some other helpful tips and tricks.
Birds, often move quickly and in unpredictable ways. With this in mind, it’s a great idea to practice your handheld camera skills. You’ll have to move your camera and lens in the right direction at the right speed to keep your subject in the frame. And if they suddenly dart out of frame, you’ll have to quickly relocate them before they're gone. To do this, you might have to pull your eye away from the viewfinder to see where the bird has gone and then quickly relocate them again with your camera. These skills might take some time to perfect, but practice makes perfect. I’d recommend getting out somewhere close to home to practice panning, tracking, and keeping an eye on moving subjects while looking through your viewfinder as well as quickly switching between looking up from your camera and back to the viewfinder whenever necessary.
Another trick that will lead to better images, is to reduce the number of distractions in the background. This can often be out of your control or impossible to achieve but by using a shallow depth of field and by anticipating where a bird might fly you can ideally position yourself in just the right location to get a shot where the bird stands out nicely.
You will also want to do everything you can to reduce any unwanted movement. And this goes beyond using lenses and camera bodies with built-in stabilization. By holding your camera in the correct way, stabilizing your body while you track your subjects, and steadying your breath you can greatly increase your odds of capturing a nice sharp image. It’s a great idea to tuck your arms in so that they’re sitting firmly on your torso if you’re standing up. And if you’re a bit lower down to the ground or on your knees you can rest your elbow on your knee to increase stability as well. Once again you'll have to get out and practice these techniques to take full advantage of the benefits they can provide.
And finally, one of the best things you can do when photographing birds is to respect them and make sure they’re comfortable in their own environments. Not only is this the ethical and responsible thing to do, but it will also lead to better photographs. By respecting wildlife subjects and keeping your distance they will act in more predictable and comfortable ways making it easier to capture nice images.
So, photographing a bird in flight can be difficult for many reasons, but if you set yourself up for success you can definitely pull this off and capture some really great images. Here’s what you can do to get yourself prepared:
First things first, you’ll need to have the right gear. You’ll want a nice telephoto lens that ideally has some optical stabilization built in so that you can capture an image of a bird that’s either small, far away, or both. You’ll also want a camera that has a good autofocus system that will smoothly and quickly track your subject as you follow them through the sky. Additionally, your camera should be able to shoot in relatively fast burst modes to increase your chances of getting the perfect shot.
Now that you have the proper gear, you’ll need to know how to use it and specifically what settings to apply when you find a bird out in the field. This is one of the most important aspects because even if you have perfect technique and do everything right you won’t get a nice image unless your camera settings are where they need to be. Let’s talk about the exposure triangle.
You’ll need a very fast shutter speed as many birds move quite quickly through the air and move their bodies quickly. On top of that, your lens will be moving quite a bit as well. Having a shutter speed at or above 1/1000th of a second is a good starting point but you very well may need to go even faster in order to freeze all motion affecting the shot. But this is a fine balancing act because as you increase your shutter speed you're reducing the amount of light entering the camera. If you increase it too much, you’ll have to greatly increase your ISO which will add unwanted noise to your image.
And speaking of ISO, I pretty much always shoot on auto ISO when photographing wildlife, especially fast-moving wildlife where I may not have time to quickly change settings before the moment has passed. Many cameras can allow you to set limits while shooting on auto ISO so that your camera won’t go above a certain level. Regardless, make sure you keep an eye on this and ideally keep the ISO as low as possible.
In order to isolate your subject from the background, you’ll need to employ the correct aperture. When I’m photographing wildlife I often shoot with very wide open apertures to decrease my depth of field so that I get nice blurred backgrounds behind my tack-sharp and in-focus subjects. If you’re shooting with a higher focal length this is a good practice as well due to the increased light entering your camera.
And finally, you’ll want to be in the right shooting and focus modes so that you can hold down your shutter button and capture a fast and continuous burst of in-focus images. I almost always shoot wildlife at my camera’s high-speed burst mode and in an autofocus mode that will continuously track my subject.
Now that we’ve covered the camera settings you’ll need let’s dive into the proper techniques and practices that should be used as well as some other helpful tips and tricks.
Birds, often move quickly and in unpredictable ways. With this in mind, it’s a great idea to practice your handheld camera skills. You’ll have to move your camera and lens in the right direction at the right speed to keep your subject in the frame. And if they suddenly dart out of frame, you’ll have to quickly relocate them before they're gone. To do this, you might have to pull your eye away from the viewfinder to see where the bird has gone and then quickly relocate them again with your camera. These skills might take some time to perfect, but practice makes perfect. I’d recommend getting out somewhere close to home to practice panning, tracking, and keeping an eye on moving subjects while looking through your viewfinder as well as quickly switching between looking up from your camera and back to the viewfinder whenever necessary.
Another trick that will lead to better images, is to reduce the number of distractions in the background. This can often be out of your control or impossible to achieve but by using a shallow depth of field and by anticipating where a bird might fly you can ideally position yourself in just the right location to get a shot where the bird stands out nicely.
You will also want to do everything you can to reduce any unwanted movement. And this goes beyond using lenses and camera bodies with built-in stabilization. By holding your camera in the correct way, stabilizing your body while you track your subjects, and steadying your breath you can greatly increase your odds of capturing a nice sharp image. It’s a great idea to tuck your arms in so that they’re sitting firmly on your torso if you’re standing up. And if you’re a bit lower down to the ground or on your knees you can rest your elbow on your knee to increase stability as well. Once again you'll have to get out and practice these techniques to take full advantage of the benefits they can provide.
And finally, one of the best things you can do when photographing birds is to respect them and make sure they’re comfortable in their own environments. Not only is this the ethical and responsible thing to do, but it will also lead to better photographs. By respecting wildlife subjects and keeping your distance they will act in more predictable and comfortable ways making it easier to capture nice images.
Conclusion
Photographing birds in flight is a gratifying pursuit that combines technical proficiency with artistic vision. It allows photographers to capture the beauty and majesty of these creatures as they navigate the skies. While achieving this “iconic shot” is challenging, with the right equipment, techniques, and patience, stunning and razor-sharp images of birds in flight can be achieved by any photographer.
So, venture into the wild with your camera, embrace the challenges, and let your passion for nature photography soar to new heights as you capture the awe-inspiring beauty of birds in their natural environment. I hope this article has been informative and provided some valuable insights. I wish you all the best of luck the next time you go out to capture images of birds in flight!
Photographing birds in flight is a gratifying pursuit that combines technical proficiency with artistic vision. It allows photographers to capture the beauty and majesty of these creatures as they navigate the skies. While achieving this “iconic shot” is challenging, with the right equipment, techniques, and patience, stunning and razor-sharp images of birds in flight can be achieved by any photographer.
So, venture into the wild with your camera, embrace the challenges, and let your passion for nature photography soar to new heights as you capture the awe-inspiring beauty of birds in their natural environment. I hope this article has been informative and provided some valuable insights. I wish you all the best of luck the next time you go out to capture images of birds in flight!
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Keenan Hursh is a Photographer, visual designer, and creative story teller based out of Bozeman, Montana. He draws inspiration from his frequent excursions into the natural world and always brings his camera along to capture whatever adventures he finds himself in. Keenan is passionate about documenting and sharing fleeting moments from the natural world and focuses primarily on wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography.
When it comes to gear, he primarily shoots digital with his Canon EOS R5 and EOS 6D mark ii but also has several 35mm film cameras that get out every now and then.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images.
Growing up in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, Keenan has developed a deep passion for many outdoor activities. When he’s not out on a shoot or using his camera, Keenan enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, cycling, whitewater rafting, and paragliding. If he’s outside, away from the distractions of society and civilization, he’s in his happy place.
Keenan studied Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver while minoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Since earning his degree in 2019 he was worked with a wide range of clients, companies, and organizations throughout his career. Apart from photography he specializes in content creation, writing, brand development, and graphic design.
You can view Keenan’s portfolio on his website at www.keenanhurshphoto.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
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