Bird Portrait Photography: Six Soft-Background Frames

Bird portrait photography is a subtraction exercise. First, pick the bird. Then remove everything else: the clutter behind it, the branches in front of it, and the second thing competing for your eye. As a result, what is left is a bird, a little light, and a background so soft it turns into colour.

Here are six frames where that worked, from cedar waxwings in summer to a common redpoll in the snow. Each was shot long and wide open, or close to it, and the bird sat well away from whatever was behind it.

Six bird portraits, one bird at a time

Photographing a bird portrait feels a lot like working with a model, except the model never takes direction. First, you slow down, pick a spot, and wait for the head to turn just right. If the bird shifts, you shift with it, a step left, a little lower, until the light catches the eye and the best angle lines up. Then you hold your breath and hope it stays put for one more frame. Still, in all my years of doing this, not one bird has ever complained about not getting its best side. Instead, they just sit there looking perfect from every angle, and I am the one who has to find it.

Bird portrait photography: cedar waxwing perched on a thin branch with green leaves behind — A cedar waxwing on a thin branch, its crest and black mask sharp against soft green.Cedar waxwing →

Bird portrait photography: wilson's snipe perched on a fence post against a soft green background — A Wilson’s snipe on a fence post, the long bill and striped back clean against the blur.Wilson’s snipe →

Bird portrait photography: male brown-headed cowbird perched on top of a weathered post — A male brown-headed cowbird on a weathered post, the glossy head catching the light.Brown-headed cowbird →

Simple perches, soft light

Notice that each of these birds is on a simple perch, such as a thin branch, a weathered post, or a bare twig. Because the perch is plain, the eye goes straight to the bird. Meanwhile, the soft colour behind it does the rest, so nothing pulls attention away from the feathers and the eye.

Bird portrait photography: mourning dove perched on a bare branch against bright blue sky, soft pink breast — A mourning dove on a bare branch, soft pink breast against open blue sky.Mourning dove →

Bird portrait photography: common redpoll with a red cap and rosy chest perched on a snow-dusted crabapple branch, Manitoba — A common redpoll on a snow-dusted crabapple branch, red cap and rosy chest in focus.Common redpoll →

Bird portrait photography: black-capped chickadee perched on a curved black metal arc against a deep green blurred background — A black-capped chickadee standing watch on a curved black perch, with a deep green blur behind.Black-capped chickadee →

How to improve your bird portrait photography

Most of it is distance, not gear. A long lens at a wide aperture shrinks the slice of the scene that stays sharp, but the real gain comes from the gap between the bird and its background. Therefore, move until the nearest clutter is as far behind the bird as you can manage. Also, keep your own position low and square to the bird, so the eye lands where you want it.

The settings for each frame are listed under the photo, and they tell a simple story: long focal lengths, wide apertures, and shutter speeds fast enough to freeze a small bird on a windy day. Because the background does so much of the work, choose it before you choose the bird. Then wait for the bird to arrive in front of it. For example, a bare branch against open sky or a distant row of trees will melt away far better than a busy hedge.

Every one of these species has its own page with more frames and a Manitoba sightings map. If you enjoy bird portrait photography, start at the Manitoba birds hub, and for current sightings near you, check eBird or Birds Canada.

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