Bird Behaviour

The chaos of feeding vultures can be very difficult to photograph well. I see so many images where the composition is poor and the image very confusing for the viewer. Not so in this case. The tight composition has been expertly pieced together and brilliantly captured the rather gruesome behaviour of these birds. The position of the two birds’ heads is perfect; they are close together and at complimentary angles and placed at the intersection of the thirds. The curvature of the neck of the right-hand bird holds the right side of the frame in and leads the eye where it needs to go. Everything is perfectly sharp and well exposed. There is beauty in the disgusting!

Gannets are such charismatic birds and this image is a great representation of their gregarious personalities. I see many images of gannets in flight as they are very easy to take during the summer months from numerous boat trips out to breeding colonies. But to capture interaction between two birds in this way is something that makes an image stand out from the crowd. This is all about the position of the two and the obvious squabble between them, the two bills open in mutual protest. I love the position of the heads, the bodies slightly contorted as they forget flying and concentrate on their confrontation. These moments happen in a fleeting moment and this is well captured. Technically, the shutter speed is sufficient to capture the motion without blur, essential to make a shot like this work, the exposure has taken into consideration the whites which are easy to blow out, and a sufficient aperture and focal length combination has allowed enough depth of field to keep both birds sharp. A photograph that reminds me of my own experiences of these birds on Shetland.

As a judge, you always have to have the category brief at the forefront of your mind when going through the entries, of which there were a good number in this contest. Many of the entries were beautiful photographs, but did not really feature behaviour as the central theme; not the case with this image. Technically, this photograph is very solid and the post-processing is skilled, the cool tones perfect for the environment where this species is found. It is the timing of this image that is the thing which makes it a winner; it is almost s if the eider had taken on too much and the urchin is getting stuck in its throat. The extended tongue adds that extra bit of drama and interest for the viewer. I’m left asking whether the eider eventually managed to enjoy its meal, or whether its attempt had to be abandoned – it’s not something I’d like to try and swallow whole! A perfect example of a photograph which is all about the behaviour on display.

This image has so many good points. I love the low angle of view, which is essential when working with most birds, but particularly with waterbirds. The behaviour between the birds is the central element of the photograph and the photographer has made a good choice of frame from what must have been a long series of shots. The touch of the male’s beak on the female’s head highlights the connection between the birds, the fact that the female’s head and eye is still visible is critical to make this image work. The lighting is warm and soft, the background smooth and uncomplicated keeping the focus on the subjects. Retaining detail in both the black and white plumage of the male is tricky and skilfully done. The ripples made from the birds create a lovely contrasting central line in the bottom third of the frame separating foreground from background. What really makes the image is the airborne water droplets which add the sparkle and decorate the photography perfectly. The birds are angled away from the photographer slightly, but not a major issue for me.

I have seen a photograph from this series previously and this is an outstanding capture of behaviour that I'd love to see for myself. The position of the birds is beautifully complimentary, the symmetry makes this a very pleasing frame. The warm background colour compliments the warm tones of the birds, the lighter water and cooler tones at the bottom of the photo adding interest and balance. The birds are looking at each other and are perfectly side on to the photographer. I love the fact that the photographer has not been afraid to use a high ISO to enable enough shutter speed and sufficient aperture to get everything sharp. What a shot!

I seen thousands of hummingbird images over the years, most of which are taken using outside studio setups with multiple flashes and purpose made backgrounds. It therefore takes something special to grab my attention and this image did that. There are so many elements that are as near perfect as they could be. The flower has been well positioned, curving beautifully out of the top left-hand corner and curling into the bottom third of the frame. The background has been well chosen for its complimentary colours and is sufficiently far away to add the perfect degree of texture without being at all distracting – too many of these images feature uniformly coloured backgrounds, the resulting images lacking depth. However, it is both the position and interaction of the birds in the frame which complete a very pleasing image. I particularly like the wing position of both, and the fanned tail of the upper bird, the form of the two shaping around the plant perfectly. There is enough separation between the birds, and the bill of the upper bird almost kissing the top of the other’s head is the icing on the cake.

This is a fabulous action shot and shows an awesome predator doing what it does best. Not only is this technically challenging, but to capture an image with such pleasing composition is really quite hard. Well done for choosing the right shutter speed here - so many photographers would have not realised just how fast this needs to be to get everything sharp in an image like this. Symmetry is a word I use quite frequently in these reviews, but symmetry is a big part of what makes things visually appealing. I love the symmetry of this image; the even spread of the peregine's wings and tail, and the prey almost mirrors its predator in the same way. Being clearly able to see the peregrine's tight grasp of its meal and those clear staring eyes has the viewer in no doubt that this is an awesome hunter on top of its game.

I fell in love with the subtle pastel colours in this shot, the mixture of tones work so well together and provide contrast in just the right places. The out-of-focus elements in the foreground add a dream-like softness to the edges of the frame, concentrating the viewer's attention on the calling heron. Far too many images have their colours over enhanced, but the light touch here is both refreshing and effective.

Behaviour is on display here in a rather explosive and dramatic way, and that is what drew me to this image. The position of each of the birds is very pleasing, the aggression of the male counterbalanced by the rather demure reaction of the female as she takes flight. I love the addition of water splashes to images like this as they add so much energy to to photographs. I like the selection of shutter speed here, all the important elements are sharp but with some blur to the wing tips to add dynamism.

To do well in competitions requires an image which grabs attention, and this is a great example of that. This is something I haven’t seen before and so well executed too. This has immediate impact; you simply can’t ignore those staring eyes and wide-open gape and you can hear the warning that this bird is emitting! As far as the technical aspects of the photograph go, the point of focus is square on the eyes, and this is just where it needs to be. The mouth is as far open as it can get, the angle of the photographer perfect to capture all the incredible detail in the throat which is the central focus of the image. I also really like the central punk-like erect head crest which balances the composition perfectly. The background is deliciously smooth, the green tones the perfect contrast to the bright iridescent plumage. The horizontal crop is a bold choice but works perfectly. The more I look at this photograph, the more I like it, the sign of a great shot.

To capture a decent image of mating birds is quite tricky. Perhaps it's the rather voyeuristic intrusion into the moment that makes it difficult to pull off. This image really captures the moment, is very skillfully taken and shows great behaviour. It's technically very accomplished with the right balance of shutter speed and aperture so all the right things are sharp. But, it's the colour of the background that really makes it pop out of the screen at you, complementing some of the warm tones of the birds' plumage so beautifully. Nicely done.

There were plenty of Bee-eater images in the contest, but this one grabbed my attention. Technically it is very accomplished with a nice clean background, beautiful lighting, well composed and with all the correct setting employed. It is the position of the birds in relation to one another which really makes it stand out, particularly the animated bird on the right with its ruffled plumage and open beak. The eye contact between the two is also a critical element. I can see this being a candidate for a caption competition!

Courting Great Crested Grebes has to be one of nature' most amazing spectacles and most photographers aim to get frame-filling shots of the action. What I like about this image is that it is given some space to breathe and has given the viewer a bit more of a glimpse into the birds environment. The early morning light really makes this image - I see so many taken in much harsher conditions. The soft light and warm colours add an air of romance to the photograph, perfect to accompany a courtship display. The angle of view has enabled the birds to be framed against the light water which has meant that all the detail of the feathers and crests can be seen and not lost in the darker strip above. The backlit water droplets (or perhaps small insects?) adds a nice touch. Beautiful.

King Penguins are a major draw for those lucky enough to visit the Falkland Islands and they are much photographed. It takes a good deal of skill to create an image like this, and the photographer has done really well with this. Three always works well in a frame, as is the case here. The two birds on the left almost look as if they are holding hands with their flipper wings overlapping each other. Their heads are angled in beautiful symmetry towards the bird on the left, the middle bird reaching out to it with its left wing. The bird on the left is holding its wing out towards the middle bird, but with a slight gap emphasising the separation. Its head is also angled in towards the other two. There is a human-like quality to this and a great sense of relationship for the viewer to ponder. I love the high key approach here which has removed any background distractions and focused all the attention on the subjects. Great shot.

This photograph is taken from a well-known location and I have seen a number of shots from here over the years, but it is the delicate lighting that works so well here. The position of the rising sun has subtly rim-lit the cormorant, the little droplets of water on its plumage, illuminated like little jewels. The position of the bird in the frame is ideal and the timing of the flip and catch of the fish perfect. The fish and beak have clear separation, the beak fully open in anticipation of its meal, the fish nicely curved in perfect synchronicity. There are some backlit water droplets in mid-air which are a nice little touch. The hint of another cormorant in the background might be distracting for some, but I think it adds to the photograph. I also like the bokeh highlights in the bottom part of the frame.