Ever wanted to capture stunning shots of birds in flight? We reveal all the tips and tricks for getting great results in this comprehensive tutorial.
A sharp photo of a swooping bird of prey is a real feather in the cap for any aspiring wildlife photographer. But birds in flight are among the most challenging animals to capture with your camera, and such is the reverence for the subject that the term even has its own acronym in wildlife circles – BIF.
As well as a stiff test of your camera gear and technique, the perfect shot relies on a fair degree of luck. But this is all part of the allure of bird photography, and there are a few ways in which you can stack the odds in your favour.
The easiest way to get up close to birds of prey is at a sanctuary or zoo. We went to the wonderful Hawk Conservancy Trust in Hampshire for our avian shoot.
Places like this not only put on aerial displays to which photographers are more than welcome (there were lots of long, grey lenses on show during our visit) but many host specialist photography days and private sessions where you can work with the falconers to get top shots of our feathered friends in flight.
When it comes to setting up your camera and choosing the right gear, there are plenty of techniques you can use, which we’ll look at here. But success doesn’t just rely on the best kit or a prime location; a knowledge of the subject is equally important.
If you know where and when they are likely to appear, you can get into position for the perfect shot. We’ll show you how to anticipate the action and capture bird behaviour at its best.
SEE MORE: Free bird photography cheat sheet
Winging it: bird photography basics
01 Expose correctly
Birds moving from bright sky to dark trees can play havoc with your metering. Use Manual mode so the exposure stays the same, even if the background changes.
SEE MORE: Best camera settings for wildlife photography
02 Track the subject
For solid panning, rather than twisting the shoulders, lock your elbows down then turn at the waist so your torso pivots as one. Or use a tripod and gimbal head.
SEE MORE: Moving targets – how to plot trajectory and beat camera shake
03 Fill the frame
Use a telephoto lens to fill the frame from a distance. A Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM on a crop-sensor Canon EOS 60D gave us a focal length of 640mm.
SEE MORE: How to photograph bathing birds
04 Sharp shooter
Fast-moving birds require responsive AF. The quicker the lens is at focusing and the more focus points your camera has, the greater your chances of sharp bird photos.
SEE MORE: 10 common wildlife photography mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Essential camera skills: Set up your DSLR to capture moving subjects
01 Fast shutter
Moving subjects, long focal lengths and panning cameras mean that anything slower than 1/1000 sec is likely to result in motion blur, so set a fast shutter speed and increase ISO to compensate, if necessary.
SEE MORE: The best shutter speed for every situation (free cheat sheet)
02 Back button focus
Set back button focusing; keeping focusing and shutter separate means you can trigger autofocus with your thumb as you track your moving subject, then use your forefinger to press the shutter at the perfect moment.
SEE MORE: Back button focus made easy
03 AI Servo mode
AI Servo is the predictive focusing mode on the Canon 60D we used for this tutorial. Other cameras will have a similar mode. Not only will the camera’s autofocus continually engage as long as the AF button is pressed, the subject movement will also be tracked and its next move anticipated.
SEE MORE: Bird photography tips: how to shoot pin-sharp pictures of birds of prey
04 High drive
A high-speed drive rate helps improve your chances of getting the perfect shot. The camera will fire continuously while the shutter button is held down, giving you a sequence of frames to choose from.
SEE MORE: Wildlife photography made easy: simple techniques for pro-quality pictures
05 Tripod
Telephoto lenses can be difficult to handhold, and longer focal lengths increase chances of shake. A tripod will help. A gimbal head is ideal for following movement fluidly, but a video or pan/tilt head can be a good substitute.
SEE MORE: How to photograph flocks of birds – 5 ideas for creative images
Set up your telephoto lens for birds in flight
There’s more to telephoto zooms and primes than just a long reach…
01 Engage the focus limiter
Most super-telephoto zoom lenses have a focus limiter switch, like this, on the barrel that will lock off the closest part of the range. This helps to prevent ‘hunting’ while focusing on a distant subject. So if you know your subject isn’t going to get close, limit the focus range.
SEE MORE: DSLR Lenses: 7 questions photographers must ask about their next piece of glass
02 Set up stabilization
Some lenses have two or three IS modes. Mode 1 is for standard stabilization in all axis, while Mode 2 detects the panning motion of the camera and doesn’t correct stabilization in the direction of movement, so is better for birds in flight. Mode 3 only engages stabilization during exposure.
SEE MORE: What is image stabilisation? A layman’s guide
03 Use the hood
A lens hood is a must when you’re pointing your camera skyward, as it keeps the front element shaded to prevent flare fogging your shot. Some newer hoods, like the one on our Canon 100-400mm lens, have a handy side window through which you can adjust filters without removing the hood.
SEE MORE: Common mistakes at every shutter speed (and the best settings to use)
6 more ways to capture bird behaviour
Learn how to anticipate the action and find the best angle
01 Where’s the wind?
Birds of prey rely heavily on the direction of the wind for flight. They’re happier flying into the wind as this gives them the uplift they need to keep steady. Position yourself upwind to capture them head-on.
02 Take-off and landing
A moment before bigger birds land they spread their wings and softly swoop to the ground, which is a good time to try and capture them. Again, the wind plays a part as they prefer to take off and land into the breeze.
03 Bird portraiture
At sanctuaries and zoos birds can be photographed when perched. Approach this as you would a typical portrait. Focus on the eyes and shoot wide open, and the background will slip into beautiful blur.
04 Pre-focus on a spot
If you can anticipate where the bird is likely to swoop (such as for food in the falconer’s hand or a fish in a pond) try composing and pre-focusing on that spot, then shoot continuously as they enter the frame.
05 Include the surroundings
When composing a shot, think about the background. A plain sky can look bland, so try to shift your angle to include land or trees; a hint of the surroundings adds context to the shot and helps to ground the subject.
06 Lighting
Sunlight from behind works particularly well during take-off, as it filters through the bird’s wings for a beautiful backlit effect. And a low sun can add warmth to the scene for a more atmospheric shot.
SEE MORE: Wild animal portraits – the best settings and techniques for close-up photos
Common mistakes photographing birds in flight
Some of the biggest pitfalls of bird photography – and how to avoid them
Cropped feathers
When framing your shot, it can be tricky to judge the wingspan of the bird in flight, so take extra care not to crop off any outstretched feathers.
Focus jumping
Watch that your focus doesn’t accidentally jump onto the background, rather than the subject. Setting your camera to AF Point Expansion can help prevent this.
SEE MORE: How to capture pictures of birds of prey
Underexposure
A small subject on a bright background will fool your camera into underexposing. To expose for the bird, dial in exposure compensation or use Manual mode.
Background cages
Watch out for cages, sheds and signs of enclosure while tracking birds in flight – your composition will usually be better off without them.
DoF too shallow
A shallow depth of field might result in a sharp tail but soft eyes, so consider sacrificing a stop of ISO for a higher f-number to increase depth of field.
Out-of-focus
A few soft shots are inevitable, but you can increase your chances with the right autofocus settings, a high drive rate and plenty of perseverance.
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