Take your Instagram feed to new heights with an inspiring collection of photographers who have mastered the art of capturing birds in flight. These talented artists not only bring to life the grace and beauty of avian movement but also share their invaluable tips and techniques to help you perfect your own bird-in-flight photography. Using cameras like the Sony Alpha 9 III, Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony Alpha 1, they freeze split-second moments and showcase the elegance of birds soaring through the sky. Dive in, follow their journeys and elevate your own photography skills with their expert advice! Tag your own posts with #SonyAlpha for your chance to be featured.
Using cameras like the Sony Alpha 9 III, Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony Alpha 1, see how these photographers freeze split-second moments and showcase the elegance of birds soaring through the sky.
Melissa Groo – @melissagroo
Sony Artisan, iLCP Fellow and conservation photographer Melissa Groo seeks to tell the stories of the natural world through images and words. She's a leading voice and consultant on ethics in wildlife photography and it is her mission to inspire conservation of the animals she is privileged to witness and the habitat crucial to their survival. That’s one reason why the image below is so cool – Groo was with a Crane Trust biologist when they realized this shot was the first documentation of sandhill cranes eating fish. “Why is this important?” she says. “Because it reinforces how the health of the Platte river and riverine system is critically important for the health of cranes.” Groo will be a co-author on a note to be published on this in a scientific journal. She caught the moment handheld with her Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master with the Sony 1.4x Teleconverter. Learn more about the gear she in What’s In My Bag: Conservation Photographer Melissa Groo’s Gear For Ethical Wildlife Photography and get some of the latest tips from Groo from her recent AMA in the Alpha Universe Community Forums.
Matt Kloskowski – @mattkloskowski
Sony Artisan Matt Kloskowski is an excellent teacher in photography and post-processing, hosting a wide variety of workshops and courses for other creators. He also enjoys shooting nature photography. “I’ve always felt that in order to teach about photography, it helps to be out there shooting too. That way, you know exactly the pain point that your audience feels and can better create content to help out.” He took this epic shot of a bald eagle in flight with a fish using his Sony Alpha 1. You can learn more about his complete list of gear in What's In My Bag: A Nature Photographer's Kit For Fast Focus Every Time and learn how he prepares his gear in How To Set Up Your Camera For Bird Photography.
Steve Perry – @backcountrygallery
When it comes to photographing fast-flying birds or mammals, photographer Steve Perry says that’s when he would reach for the Sony Alpha 9 III. He recently took the Sony Alpha 9 III to Africa to photograph wildlife and shares how he captured this kingfisher in flight at 120 frames per second. “This is a really, really fast camera,” he says. “And it basically allows you, when you’re doing a fast animal, to get just about every wing position. So it’s really nice, it can get really granular and you can go in and get that exact moment that you want. I’ve used it for wing positions. One place I’ve used it when you have a bird flipping a fish in the air, you can get that moment right when the fish is between the beak with this much easier than you can with something that’s relatively slower but still pretty fast.” See more about his use of the Sony Alpha 9 III for photographing birds here.
Tom Schillinger – @pxnd.photo
Tom Schillinger is a San Diego-based photographer who says he is, “In the pursuit of beauty.” As you scroll through his feed, you’ll see he’s been successful in his pursuit. Colorful nature, wildlife and landscape images fill his feed, providing a fine art vibe to the world’s natural beauty. We love this moment he captured of a hummingbird in flight feeding a baby during a quick pit stop on the law. He snapped the sweet moment using his Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master lens.
Amber Favorite – @amber.favorite.photography
Amber Favorite is a talented wildlife, landscape and travel photographer whose Instagram feed is flooded with birds in action. Using her Sony Alpha 1 paired with the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G she snapped this colorful image – she says, “About 3.5 years ago, I bought my first camera and chose Sony. Then, I immediately jumped into wildlife photography. One of the species that captivates me most are Roseate Spoonbills like the one pictured here. With their exquisite plumage that resembles fluffy cotton candy, set beautifully against the backdrop of a blue sky, you can’t go wrong. The Sony Alpha 1 proves to be invaluable in these scenarios, by offering superior bird-eye focus in low light conditions, complemented by the versatility of the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G is particularly handy as these birds often fly in close proximity while gathering nesting materials.”
James Sengul – @jamessengul
Climate change is what first brought photographer and videographer James Sengul to document wildlife. He switched to Sony back when he started photographing wildlife and on his Instagram you’ll find a wide variety of bird photos and videos in their natural habitats, many of which are in flight. Check out this video he captured this summer with his Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master that shows a young peregrine falcon buzzing its sibling, and follow him for more stunning close-ups of birds in your feed.
Jake Brass – @jake_brass
Jake Brass is a British nature and wildlife photographer with a master’s degree in zoology with conservation. He often posts behind-the-scenes videos of his time out photographing wildlife, proving that patience and persistence are his best tips for birds in flight. He took this image of a beautiful barn owl flying at sunset with his Sony Alpha 7R III and Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G lens and says, “This lower field allows for photography at eye level with these birds, the sun sets behind this field so they're backlit, creating the most striking contrast between bird and background and really bringing out details in the feathers.”
Karthik Subramaniam – @karthz
San Francisco-based photographer Karthik Subramaniam is a nature, wildlife and landscape photographer. He photographed this stunning image of a dynamic interaction of bald eagles in the snow at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in Alaska. It's the interaction that makes the image so special and so rare, and you can read more as he explains how he was able to capture the shot in Behind The Shot: National Geographic’s Picture Of The Year. He took the shot on his Sony Alpha 1 and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master – follow him to see what he captures with his Sony camera next.
Alex Briere – @alexander.briere
Canada-based Alex Briere is a creative director and photographer who likes to get out and explore the great outdoors with his camera. Captivated by unique landscapes and dynamic wildlife, you’ll find his ability to tell a story through a single frame throughout his Instagram feed. He took all of the images below of majestic great grey owls using his Sony Alpha 7R V camera.