The Art of Bird Photography: How to Compose Stunning Shots That Tell a Story

^{Note: This tip comes from Audubon’s article - How to Compose the Perfect Bird Photo}

When composing a visually appealing bird photo, you should think about what the image will say to people who weren’t there when you took the shot.

If the bird is reacting to something (such as a potential predator or prey), capturing that in the image will include viewers in the action and give them a glimpse into the life of that bird.

Remember that there is no right or wrong answer in art, and the best you can do is find a composition that you find personally satisfying.

Some critical questions are: “Does this scene tell an interesting story about the bird? Does it move or inspire me emotionally or intellectually? Does it make me want to go birding?”

Avoid rationalizing with canned rules; let your visual creativity determine what looks good.

Humans are a highly visual species, and our brains excel at telling us what looks pleasing or when something seems out of balance.

The more you learn to listen to your inner artist, the better you’ll get at portraying birds in a way everyone can enjoy.

Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)