Birds in Flight
Photographing birds in flight isn’t about reacting quickly—it’s about understanding what happens before the wings open.
Most bird-in-flight photographs aren’t won in the moment the wings spread. They’re decided well before that—often while the bird is still perched, watching, waiting, doing very little at all.
Understanding bird behavior is the quiet skill behind consistent bird-in-flight photography. Long lenses, fast autofocus, and high frame rates matter, but they only work when paired with observation. Without it, you’re reacting. With it, you’re anticipating.
This series explores the field techniques that improve consistency in bird-in-flight photography—from reading behavior and anticipating movement to positioning yourself for cleaner light and backgrounds. These lessons are shaped by time spent watching, waiting, and learning in real conditions.
This series begins with behavior.
