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Bird photography using studio flash

How to photograph birds with studio flash

Bird photography is very much about timing and waiting for the light to be right in the location you have chosen. Instead of looking for the birds out in the forest and waiting for the weather to be favorable for photography, John himself created ideal conditions to get nice bird pictures at home in the garden.

Learn from his experiences on photographing birds with studio flash.

Talgoxe (Parus major) - Photo John Hagby

Tips for bird photography with studio flash - John Hagby

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.

Video - Bird photography using studio flashes

Equipment and Location

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.

Fågelfotografering med studioblixt

Soft Light and Character

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.

Talgoxe (Parus major) - Foto John Hagby

With Elinchrom THREE

Talgoxe fotograferad utan blixt

Without flash

Meet the sun with lightning

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.

Rödhake (Erithacus rubecula) - Foto John Hagby

Create studio lighting outdoors

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.

Fågefotografering med softbox

Why I chose studio flash over speedlight

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.

Blåmes (Cyanistes caeruleus) - Foto John Hagby

With Elinchrom THREE

Blåmes fotograferad utan blixt

Without flash

Tips for photographing shy 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.

Set-up för fågelfotografering med studioblixt

Conclusion - Use studio flash when photographing birds!

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!

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