If you feed birds and usually photograph them from the balcony or kitchen window, the light from the studio flash can give your photos a unique dimension. Here I share some tips and thoughts based on my own experiences.
Normally in my work as a studio photographer, I use studio flashes when lighting my subjects and now that I wanted to try bird photography, of course I had to explore the possibility of integrating studio flashes into photography. I have seen many people use speedlight directly on the camera but I chose to take it a step further. As the birds are familiar with my feeding place at home in the garden, I chose to deploy Elinchrom THREE and Elinchrom ONE studio flashes to create unique lighting.
In situations where the general light is diffuse, either due to dense clouds or shadows, it can easily result in the lighting in the images being flat and boring. A well-placed flash from the side creates clearer highlights and shadows, which gives the bird portrait more character.Be careful not to aim the flash directly from the front to avoid the image being perceived as flat.
In direct sunlight, the contrasts are often strong and the shadows dark. Then the Elinchrom flashes come into their own! Use light shapers such as Rotalux Deep Octa 70cm or High-Performance reflector to even out contrast and highlight details in shadow.
During early morning or dusk, the studio flashes can be used as the primary light source. By adjusting the exposure and keeping the background underexposed, I have complete control over how the birds are lit. Using multiple flashes, with the Rotalux Deep Octa 70 as the main light, gives a studio photo feel outdoors. On the other light sources, I did not have a light shaper.
Battery-powered studio flashes, such as the Elinchrom, have great advantages in terms of battery life, charging time and brightness. When shooting this type of subject, I don't want to risk the flash going into stand-by or turning off after a while, so I go into the studio flash menu and turn these functions off so that the flashes are on for the entire shooting session. Big advantage of Elinchrom THREE and ONE is Active Charging which makes it possible to connect external USB-C power bank which eliminates the need to leave my place to change the battery. This is a clear advantage if you plan a long photo session with animals that are shy. The extended battery life and the ability to work with fast flash intervals is especially useful when you want to capture fast movements and want to maximize the chance of getting the desired poses from the birds.
I usually place the flashes in connection with going out with the bird food. Then I wait a while before I go out with the camera and then the birds have got used to the fact that there are studio flashes at the feeding. Important! Don't forget to start the flashes when deploying so you don't have to walk up to them when you're shooting.
To minimize interference, I use small reflectors or no light shaper at all on the studio flashes. Being careful with the placement and avoiding excessive movements when placing the flashes helps the birds quickly get used to the flash photography. The flash light itself does not seem to disturb the birds at all. On the occasions I use larger light shapers such as e.g. softbox, I often put it out in connection with photography as I don't want it in place too long before (because of its wind catch), which means that some birds choose not to appear then. It's probably more because I was on site a little too tight about my photography.
These thoughts and tips are intended to guide you as you explore the possibilities of bird feeder flash photography. By customizing light shapers and placement, you can create unique and different images of your feathered visitors.
Good luck with your photography!