Bird photography with a difference

An ever-popular genre, bird imagery is almost as old as photography itself. While traditional approaches will always have their place, Gemma Padley considers the work of photographers who are daring to do things differently

- Gemma Padley

Birds have long been a popular subject among photographers. In the 19th century, birds at their nests provided photographers with a more accessible subject than birds in flight, the latter being trickier to capture with the cumbersome and limited camera equipment of the day.

For those who have photographed wildlife in recent decades, birds provide a relatively easy entry point into nature photography, given they are all around us. Observing and in turn understanding the behaviour of garden birds, for example, is a great way to start. You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment, either, although a digital zoom lens that can go beyond 200mm is handy.

Modern photographic technologies and an increase in affordability have made it easier than ever to capture birds. Consequently, there is an abundance of incredible bird photography everywhere you look. The downside is we’ve become so used to seeing photographs of birds we’re perhaps a little jaded.

While there will always be a place for conventional bird photography, there is much to be gained from trying something new, as the work of photographers who are doing things a little differently attests. These image-makers are breathing life into the genre, framing birds in exciting, new and unusual ways, taking conceptual approaches and showing the personalities of the birds rather than just identifying them.