By Mark Yokoyama
Bird shots: One with the flock
One with the flock is my key advice for photographing groups of birds. Is it a mysterious zen koan, or something more practical? Read on to find out.
Photographing groups of birds seems easy. What could be better than having a whole bunch of birds, right? Consider, however, trying to take a group photo with many people: arranging and rearranging to get everyone in the shot, endless photos until no one is blinking, saying, "One more!" as everyone groans. Photographing groups of birds is like that, but with even less cooperation from the subjects.
Basically, every decision you would make when photographing one bird is compounded when photographing multiple birds. Instead of composing a photo around one bird, you are doing so for several, or many. Instead of waiting for one face to turn the right direction; you're waiting for three or five. It sounds impossible, and sometimes it seems impossible, but a few simple concepts can help get you on the right track.
Start by finding a composition that works. For small groups of two to five birds, look for scenes where the birds fill out the space in an interesting way. They could be arranged on a diagonal line or form a triangle or zig-zag. This is more likely to feel dynamic and lead a viewer through the image. Several birds in a straight line can seem flat and boring. In a situation like that, it can be better to focus on a single bird, or move so you can get a more interesting composition.
If you have a large flock of birds, try capturing it while zooming in to different intervals. You may find that a photo of part of a flock is more interesting than the whole flock. You may also want to look for small breaks in the flock, so you can photograph part of the flock without having partial birds all around the edge of your photo, which can be distracting.
What about one with the flock? It means don't take a photo of a flock of birds. Take a photo of one bird with a flock around it. More than any other tip, this will help make your flock photos dynamic instead of formless. No matter how many birds you see, you still have to focus on something, so pick one bird and build the photo around it. It's the bird that will literally be in focus, and you can wait until it looks at the camera or does something interesting.
This week, try to get yourself to a spot where you can practice taking photos of one with the flock. If you can't, take some time to review your favourite bird group photos and consider why you like them. As always, follow along on lesfruitsdemer.com for more advice and examples on this subject. Also check the site for details about the upcoming Migratory Bird Festival and make plans to join our flock there on October 11.
