Birds in Flight in Photographs and Stained Glass
The artistic dimension of birds in flight
There’s an aesthetic quality to an image of a bird in flight that is usually missing in the standard shots of stationary birds taken and used for ID purposes. It certainly requires skill and considerable patience, mixed in my case with a fair degree of luck.
Patience and luck
In the case of the Black Redstart, I was focussed a long time on the bird hawking for insects. The luck element came into play when I saw that I, as well as the bird, had captured the insect.
I had set up to photograph the Starlings in all their winter beauty at their roost. The Herring Gulls flying in provide a super addition to the shot.
Knowing where to see what
Large raptors flying close and at eye level can be a stunning sight. In Monfragüe, in Estremadura, Spain, the Griffon Vultures have colonised spectacular cliffs cut by the Tejo River. On the opposite side of the river are perfect viewing points to see the birds launch themselves from the nest sites. This Griffon passed within metres of where we were standing.
Stained Glass Artistry
It was shortly after moving into our flat that we came across Martina Gavan’s website. We were looking for a splash of colour and interest for the bathroom and hall, and thought stained glass might help. Martina is a local artist who specialises in design with glass. Living near the sea has allowed her to capture the near perfect “jizz” of the ubiquitous Herring Gull, and their prominence in the Hastings landscape.
Martina designed and installed a set of windows that continue to give us a huge amount of pleasure. The magic of stained glass is in the way the colours glow, and in sunshine, throws this changing light into the house. Combine this with artistry and imaginative design, and the result is a dynamic and living piece of art.
The next project
A year or two later we again asked Martina to design two glass door panels, and Martina suggested we used some of our “birds in flight” photos as the theme. We sent the following:
This photo is of a Marsh Harrier over the reed beds that separate the RSPB Dungeness reserve from the Dungeness Nuclear Power Station. The shot was taken in the evening, and catches the mirky greyness and austerity of the backdrop. There is something captivating about seeing such a beautiful bird framed against this rather somber scene.
In contrast to Dungeness, these two Marsh Harriers, mere dots in this shot, float across the autumnal colours of the Spanish plain. The photo was also an evening shot taken near to our camping spot near Mérida in Central Spain. We watched the pair quartering the fields throughout the evening and following morning. In this photo, it is the richness of the colours that is captivating. https://woodcockwood.com/marsh-harrier-identification-features/.
And finally, we gave Martina several shots of Common Buzzards in flight. For us they are the archetypical European raptor – beautifully marked, elegant, and highly adaptable. This is one of the pair from Woodcock Wood https://woodcockwood.com/buzzards-at-the-nest-part-2-fledging/.
Martina’s Brief:
Buzzards, Harriers, Dungeness Power Station and the colours of Spain into two small door panels – hmmm some brief!
Undaunted, she drew up designs, which we discussed. She showed us glass samples, and the result are these two superb panes.
The photos of the windows and door of course don’t do justice to the wonderful vibrancy of the individual pieces of glass, but they do illustrate the fine crafting of the scenes.
If you feel inspired, take a look at Martina’s website: https://stainedglasshastings.co.uk