Impact of Visual Direction in Bird Photography

There are no rules in photography that cannot be broken. Direction in images is one of them. Most photos have some direction. A picture of a person looking to the right, for example, directs attention to the right.

When I was learning to design magazine layouts, a lot of emphasis was placed on the direction of images accompanying text or graphics. Images were supposed to guide the reader’s attention to where you wanted it to go.

Most images have a directional flow, and you can guide the viewer’s attention using this. Sometimes, the goal is to create balance in the image so that the viewer’s eye lingers. At least, that’s how I see it.

Guillemots are an extreme example of a subject with strong direction. Their heads are like arrows pointing to where they are looking.

Three guillemots, all looking in the same direction, can lead the viewer’s attention right out of the frame.

On the other hand, three guillemots, where two are looking left, and one is looking right, can create a sense of balance that holds the viewer’s eye within the image.

Guillemots looking in opposite directions create a certain balance, as does when they look straight ahead. Similarly, two guillemots and two puffins looking in opposite directions can also form a sense of equilibrium.

These reflections of mine about balance and direction in images are well-known concepts in all areas of design. The direction within images, especially in bird and wildlife photography, plays a significant role in determining which photos are suitable for a project or worthy of inclusion in my portfolio.

Photographing guillemots can be challenging. They usually live in the middle of cliffs or on rocky slopes, which are difficult to access.

With some luck and the right spot, it’s possible to photograph guillemots with a clean background and foreground. When photographing these birds, I try to simplify the composition as much as possible. Anything that complicates the foreground or background draws attention away from the subject. Sometimes, the environment can play a role, but other times, I’m trying to capture their behavior, and in those cases, I prefer to keep the composition simple.

Common Guillemots perched on a ledge move their heads back and forth in all directions and constantly shift their posture. Capturing balanced images with an interesting composition is an enjoyable challenge.

This remarkable bird is incredibly similar to penguins, but there is no relationship between them. Guillemots are related to puffins and razorbills.

Guillemots appear to be black and white in overcast weather or shade. But when the sun shines on them, you can see a light brown tone in their plumage.

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