Bird Photography... Head Position

[jprzybyla]

Why is head position important? It captures the viewers attention and draws them into the image. If the viewer feels the bird is looking at them it is a more dynamic image. The eyes are so important. Here are a couple images of a Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk to illustrate the concept.

In this image the bird is looking away, the eye does not capture the viewers attention and hold it.



In this image the bird has turned it's head and is looking towards the viewer capturing and holding the attention.



In this image the bird is looking down away from the viewer, it is a pretty bird but does not capture and hold the viewers attention.



In this image the bird is looking up towards the viewer, the image captures and holds the viewers attention. It says I am looking at you.

[NorthernFocus]

Nicely illustrated.

[bnnrcn]

Thank you very much Very useful information.

[Brownbear]

Thank you for sharing Joe. Very helpful to always keep in mind.

I wonder if the next time you decide to share for the benefit of all if you might provide some examples of birds photographed with simple backgrounds, ie; blue sky or water, blurry bokehs - to address negative space and cropping for the best composition. Just a thought.

[rtbaum]

Just a curious question. Does anyone else trip the shutter for the sole purpose of capturing the bird's attention and achieving the 'looking at you, kid' shot?

[Jeffbridge]

Beautiful captures; excellent series!!

[chauncey]

Does anyone else trip the shutter for the sole purpose of capturing the bird's attention and achieving the 'looking at you, kid' shot?

Absolutely...will also have one of my kids toss a rock to initiate flight for BIF.

[NorthernFocus]

Absolutely...will also have one of my kids toss a rock to initiate flight for BIF.

That's not cool

[Downrigger]

Thanks for the helpful and well illustrated tutorial, Joe.

Just a curious question. Does anyone else trip the shutter for the sole purpose of capturing the bird's attention and achieving the 'looking at you, kid' shot?

Not hardly. 99% of the time for the birds I shoot, the first exposure is followed by the "see ya around - how do you like my profile from behind" shot.

[chauncey]

That's not cool

Lighten up...I didn't mean to infer that the rock was thrown at the bird.

[FootLoose]

Lighten up...I didn't mean to infer that the rock was thrown at the bird.

Do birds crap on you... just to watch you run?

[chauncey]

Does close count?


.

[NorthernFocus]

Lighten up...I didn't mean to infer that the rock was thrown at the bird.

Oh, I'm sorry. Then it perfectly OK for you to interrupt their feeding, mating, sleeping, resting, or anything else they might be up to. They're just birds for goodness sake. So I guess as long as it wasn't thrown directly at the bird and didn't hurt it, then that's fine. They probably need to burn a few extra calories anyway.

Getting back on topic, it's often not desireable for the bird to look directly at the camera. As a matter of fact, few birds look best looking directly at the camera. Owls, eagles, and osprey come to mind as some of the few that do. Most birds that don't have predator's eyes and hooked beaks look better at a bit of an angle.

[deetheturk]

Thank you for sharing this Joe i'm sure a lot of us will benefit from it!

David...

[rtbaum]

Joe- I wish to join David in thanking you for sharing your techniques.....waiting for how you get so close to your birds

[FrankMi]

Thank your for sharing your technique Joe. This thread and the one earlier on camera settings for shooting birds have been most enlightening. I sometime trip over and eventually develop a shooting technique but it is most helpful when someone knowledgeable shares the benefit of their years of experience and defines not just what to do but also why and when to do it.