Minimalist Bird Photography: Stunning Clean Shots (VIDEO)
Earlier this week we brought you an unconventional beginners guide to minimalist black-and-white photography, demonstrating how restraint and simplicity can deliver landscape images with greater impact. We’re following up on that lesson today with an interesting video that applies these same principles to photographing birds and other wildlife subjects in the field.
Instructor Mario Kilian is a globetrotting German pro with a portfolio full of dramatic imagery of our feathered friends. This concise seven-minute episode describes a straightforward approach for those situations in which less can definitely be more.
Kilian covers a wide range of concerns when minimalism is the name of the game, including gear recommendations, appropriate camera settings, and important shooting techniques. Here’s how he summarizes the video: “Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this masterclass will help you see birds and their surroundings in a whole new way.”
Kilian begins with an overview of the concept that involves eliminating unwanted distractions while emphasizing simplicity and wide-open open spaces in a way that immediately draws attention to birds, whether they’re perched on a limb or on the wing. Techniques include isolating the subject against a plain background like a simple sky or a smooth body of water.
As he says, “minimalism isn’t just about fewer elements in the frame, it’s also about telling a strong story with less.” Put another way, you’ll learn how to capture attention-grabbing photographs of birds that appear clean and intentional. Kilian illustrate his suggestions with a variety of impressive images that you can use for inspiration.
Kilian’s basic point is that negative space can be your best friend for this uncommon approach. That’s because it immediately guides a viewer’s eye and accentuates the key subject of a shot by intentionally surrounding it with emptiness that creates a feeling of calm and focus.
Once the video concludes be sure to visit Kilian’s popular YouTube channel where you’ll find many more how-to videos for increasing your bird photography skills.
And don’t forget to watch the tutorial we mentioned at the onset with a beginners guide to minimalist black-and-white landscape photography—demonstrating how restraint and simplicity can deliver compelling images that stand out from the crowd.
