Photographing Birds of Prey: The Art of Identifying & Documenting Raptors by Scott Joshua Dere

Author:Scott Joshua Dere
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amherst Media
Published: 2019-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

5-28. Osprey are less bothered by rain than they might appear.

5-29. Rain and dark skies can create a gloomy mood with high emotional impact.

Rainy days can be ideal for photographing birds of prey because they provide soft, even lighting. Many people have a gloomy association with rain and dark skies, so these conditions can also add some mood (image 5-29). In brighter scenes, rain can evoke feelings of freshness and rebirth. The trick is to play on the viewer’s senses and connect with universal themes that affect their thinking.

Capturing the weather in pictures allows us to play on the audience’s empathy by showing the animals (seemingly) in times of peril. This creates a sense of drama and urgency. We want our viewers to feel for these birds that are forced to survive in inclement weather. We want to show the hardships of living in the wild on our planet (image 5-30). Images like these can help viewers forge a personal connection to the wild and a deeper understanding of those with whom we share it.

Even dark clouds can be used to imply stormy weather is approaching. Capturing this immature snowy owl (image 5-31) in the high winds with the dark clouds in the background yielded a dramatic image with monotone coloring that enhances the mood. As the only vibrant color in the whole frame, the owl’s yellow eye makes for a great focal point. The owl is located in the power third of the image (see Rule of Thirds, on page 37) while the bird faces into the photograph, helping the overall composition and flow of the photograph. Notice the almost airy feeling, with the owl’s shape almost like a wind-torn flag.

Puddles of water formed by the rains are great places for birds to find fresh water for drinking and even bathing. In image 5-32, reflections in the still water combined with splashes from the footsteps to make something magical. Keeping tabs on locations where water pools (and the upcoming weather for the area) will increase your opportunities to photograph scenarios like these.

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