The Green Bee Eater: A Bird Photographer’s Perfect Starting Point

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by Avanish Dureha

A bird flying in the air AI-generated content may be incorrect.

If you’re just stepping into the world of bird photography, the Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis) might just be the perfect subject to start with. Vibrant, agile, and delightfully photogenic, this little gem taught me essential lessons about bird behavior, camera techniques, and the joy of being out with nature. Whether you’re holding a camera for the first time or honing your skills, here’s why the Green Bee-Eater deserves a spot on your photography bucket list.

Why Green Bee Eaters Are Photography Gold

Easy to Find, Hard to Ignore

Finding Green Bee Eaters isn’t a challenge—they’re abundant across Asia and Africa, thriving everywhere from open grasslands and scrublands to suburban edges. What I love most is their preference for exposed perches: telephone wires (Less photogenic), slender branches, fence posts, and rocky outcrops. No need to crawl through dense undergrowth or wait hours in a hide!

A bird on a branch AI-generated content may be incorrect.

(Pro tip: While they love telephone wires, I usually avoid photographing them there for aesthetic reasons.)

Natural Models

These birds are inherently photogenic. Their plumage showcases a stunning palette of emerald greens and turquoise blues, complemented by warm chestnut tones on the head and throat. Those distinctive elongated tail streamers and piercing ruby-red eyes create natural focal points that make every frame compelling, regardless of the background.

Predictable Yet Dynamic

Green Bee Eaters strike the perfect balance between activity and predictability. They’re constantly in motion—diving for insects, socializing with their flock, or engaging in aerial displays—yet they consistently return to favorite perches after each hunting expedition. This behavior gives photographers multiple opportunities to capture action sequences, feeding behaviors, and social interactions.

Understanding Their World

Two birds on a branch AI-generated content may be incorrect.

The secret to exceptional bird photography lies in understanding your subject’s behavior. Green Bee Eaters have taught me invaluable lessons about patience and observation.

Hunting Patterns: These skilled aerial hunters primarily target bees, wasps, dragonflies, and other flying insects. They employ a “sit-and-wait” strategy, launching from their perch with remarkable precision to snatch prey mid-flight before returning to process their catch—beating larger insects against their perch to remove stingers.

A couple of birds flying in the air AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Social Dynamics: Bee Eaters are inherently gregarious. You’ll often observe them engaged in mutual preening, communal sunbathing, or simply roosting together in tight formations. These social behaviors provide excellent opportunities for storytelling through your lens.

Seasonal Behaviors: During breeding season (typically coinciding with the onset of monsoons), these birds excavate tunnel nests in sandy banks or earthen walls. Witnessing their courtship rituals, nest construction, and chick-rearing activities offers photographers a complete behavioral narrative to document.

Technical Approach: Camera Settings and Techniques

1. The Art of Approach

Successful bee eater photography requires a blend of stealth and patience. I approach slowly and deliberately, avoiding sudden movements that might startle the birds. Often, I’ll establish a position and simply wait. Once they recognize you’re not a threat, they resume natural behaviors, allowing for intimate, unstaged photographs.

2. Mastering Light

The “golden hours” shortly after sunrise and before sunset transform these already colorful birds into living jewels. During these times, their iridescent plumage catches and reflects warm light beautifully. I also experiment with:

  • Side lighting to emphasize feather textures and depth
  • Backlighting for dramatic silhouettes
  • Overcast conditions for evenly diffused lighting that renders colors accurately without harsh shadows

3. My Equipment Setup and Camera Configuration

My Go-To Gear: I shoot with an OM System OM-1 paired with a 300mm f/4 (Effective focal length 600mm due crop factor) lens or a 100-400 (200-800) f5-6.3—a combination that’s become my trusted companion for bee eater photography. The OM-1’s lightweight body makes handheld shooting comfortable during long sessions, while the 300mm f/4 provides excellent reach with outstanding optical quality.

Focus System: The OM-1’s AI Subject Detection set to “Bird” mode with eye focus priority is a game-changer. This system locks onto bee eaters with remarkable accuracy, even tracking them through complex flight patterns. The eye detection ensures tack-sharp focus on the most critical part of the bird, and it rarely misses—even when the birds are moving quickly between perches.

Pro Capture Mode: This is my secret weapon for capturing perfect takeoff shots. Pro Capture starts recording images before you fully press the shutter, storing them in a buffer. When a bee eater launches from its perch—which happens in a split second—I already have those crucial pre-takeoff moments captured. It’s revolutionized my ability to get those explosive departure shots that would otherwise be impossible to time.

Shutter Speed:

  • Flight photography: Minimum 1/1600s (often pushing to 1/2000s for sharp wing detail)
  • Perched subjects: 1/500s to 1/800s to freeze small movements
  • Pro Capture allows me to use slightly slower speeds since I’m capturing the entire sequence

Aperture:

  • I typically shoot wide open at f/4 with my 300mm, which provides beautiful background separation while maintaining excellent sharpness
  • The lens performs exceptionally well at maximum aperture, so there’s no need to stop down unless I specifically need more depth of field

ISO Philosophy: I prioritize getting the shot over pixel-peeping perfection. The OM-1 handles noise exceptionally well, so I don’t get carried away worrying about ISO settings. I’d rather capture a compelling moment at ISO 1600 than miss it entirely trying to keep ISO low. A great image with some noise beats a perfectly clean image of nothing!

4. Compositional Strategies

A bird on a branch AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Strong composition elevates good bird photos to great ones:  

  • Rule of thirds: Position the bird off-center for dynamic balance
  • Environmental context: Include habitat elements that tell the bird’s story 
  • Negative space: Use clean backgrounds (blue sky, blurred vegetation) to isolate your subject
  • Action and interaction: Capture behavioral moments—feeding, preening, territorial displays, parent-chick interactions

5. Ethical Photography Practices

A bird flying over a plant AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Respect for your subjects is paramount:

  • Maintain safe distances, especially near nests
  • Never use flash photography with wild birds
  • If birds show signs of stress, retreat immediately
  • Avoid disturbing natural behaviors for the sake of a photograph

Overcoming Common Challenges

Size Limitations: Use the longest focal length available (300mm minimum recommended). When working with shorter lenses, focus on environmental portraits that showcase the bird within its habitat.

Flight Photography: This skill develops with practice. Use continuous autofocus, anticipate flight paths, and shoot in burst mode to increase your success rate. Practice panning techniques to keep moving subjects sharp against blurred backgrounds.

Busy Backgrounds: 

Change your shooting angle or use wider apertures to achieve better subject separation. Sometimes waiting for the bird to move to a cleaner perch is more effective than trying to fix a cluttered composition.

What I Learned Beyond Photography 

A bird sitting on a branch AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Photographing Green Bee Eaters taught me more than just camera skills. These birds improved my patience, observation abilities, and respect for wildlife. I learned to read their behavior, predict their movements, and understand how light and weather affect both the birds and my photos.

Perfect for Beginners 

Many bird photographers start with common, accessible species like Green Bee Eaters. These birds are forgiving when you make mistakes and very rewarding when you get it right. As your skills grow, you’ll move on to more challenging projects like capturing action shots or detailed feather patterns.

Your photography will evolve from simple documentation to artistic storytelling that shows both the birds and your own growth as a photographer.

Every photo teaches you something new. Let Green Bee Eaters guide you into bird photography and see where your passion takes you.

The Dhole: India’s Forgotten Apex Predator

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A Personal Journey Beyond the Big Cats

– Avanish Dureha

I’ll admit it—I might be a bit judgmental, but I’ve noticed something about India’s wildlife photography community: we’re absolutely obsessed with tigers and leopards. Don’t get me wrong, I love every moment I spend in our jungles, national parks, and on safaris. But my heart lies with the countless other magnificent creatures that call these forests home—the ones that often get overlooked in our quest for the perfect big cat shot.

Last year, I joined a wildlife expedition to Kabini in Karnataka. As expected, the entire group was tiger-crazy, and all anyone could talk about was “Blackie”—the famous melanistic leopard (black panther) who calls Kabini’s Nagarhole National Park home. While they were all focused on this elusive cat, I had my sights set on a different apex predator entirely: the dhole (Cuon alpinus), also known as the Indian wild dog, Asiatic wild dog, whistling dog, or red dog.

Meeting the Real Rulers of Nagarhole

The dhole is truly one of nature’s most remarkable predators, yet it remains largely unknown to most wildlife enthusiasts. These incredible animals are about the size of a German Shepherd but carry themselves with a distinctly fox-like grace. The Kabini dholes I encountered sport a beautiful rust-red coat—likely adapted to their specific habitat—with striking lighter patches of white or yellowish tones adorning their throats, chests, bellies, and upper limbs.

What immediately struck me about dholes is how perfectly designed they are for their role as hypercarnivores. Their broad, domed skulls house shorter muzzles than most canids, and here’s a fascinating detail: they have only two molars per side of their lower jaw, unlike the three found in other canids. This specialized dental structure makes them incredibly efficient meat-eaters. Their rounded ears and piercing amber eyes, combined with their slender, almost cat-like limbs, create a unique appearance that seems to blend the best traits of gray wolves and red foxes.

Ancient Legends and Modern Misconceptions

India’s rich mythology embraces every creature, and the dhole holds a particularly dramatic place in our folklore. Unfortunately, it’s not always flattering. These remarkable animals have earned fearsome nicknames like “red devil,” “devil dog,” “jungle devil,” and “hound of Kali.” Their reputation as relentless hunters has deep historical roots—you can find dhole-like creatures depicted in the Bharhut stupa from as early as 100 BC, shown chasing spirits or people up trees.

This fearsome reputation has persisted through the centuries, with several ethnic groups in India viewing dholes with superstition or outright fear. Even Rudyard Kipling contributed to this image in his “Red Dog” story from The Jungle Book, portraying them as aggressive creatures feared throughout the jungle.

But here’s what I’ve learned from my time observing these animals: their reputation is both deserved and misunderstood. Yes, they’re incredibly effective predators, but they’re also highly social, cooperative, and surprisingly gentle with their own kind.

The Social Fabric of Dhole Society

Watching a dhole pack in action is like witnessing a masterclass in cooperation. These animals live in packs ranging from 2 to 20 individuals, sometimes even more. What fascinated me most was discovering that dholes don’t follow the strict dominance hierarchies we see in other pack animals. Instead, their society is built on cooperation and genuine affection—I’ve watched them play together, nuzzle each other, and engage in face-licking sessions that seem more like family bonding than dominance displays.

Unlike many other canids, multiple females in a dhole pack can breed, which speaks to their remarkably egalitarian social structure.

The Language of the Pack

One of the most captivating aspects of dholes is their complex communication system. These are incredibly vocal animals, and spending time with them is like listening to an ongoing conversation in a language you almost understand. They use whistles, chattering, clucking, and various other sounds to coordinate hunts and maintain pack cohesion in dense forests. Their distinctive whistling call is so characteristic that “whistling dogs” has become one of their common names.

Masters of the Hunt

Dholes are diurnal hunters, meaning they’re active during the day—perfect for wildlife photographers like me who prefer not to stumble around in the dark! I’ve been privileged to observe their hunting strategies, and it’s absolutely mesmerizing. They target medium to large-sized ungulates like deer and wild boar, and occasionally take on even larger prey like gaur calves.

What sets dhole hunts apart is their incredible coordination. The pack works like a well-trained tactical unit, encircling and harassing their prey, often driving it toward water to exhaust it. During one memorable observation, I watched the pack leader communicate orders through whistling sounds, and the entire pack responded like a synchronized fighting unit—no chaos, no confusion, just pure efficiency.

Once they make a kill, the feeding process is remarkably organized. They begin eating quickly, sometimes even before the prey is fully subdued, but what impressed me most was their approach to food sharing. This is truly communal dining at its finest: pups get priority access to kills, adults regurgitate food for both pups and nursing females, and infighting at kills is extremely rare. The tolerance they show each other during feeding is something that would make many human families envious.

A Voice Unlike Any Other

Here’s something that really distinguishes dholes from their canid cousins: I have never heard a dhole bark or howl. This silence sets them apart dramatically from domestic dogs and wolves, making their whistling communication system even more remarkable and unique.

The Conservation Challenge

As I reflect on my experiences with these incredible animals, I can’t help but feel a sense of urgency. Dholes are classified as endangered, and their populations continue to decline across Central, South, and Southeast Asia. While everyone’s attention remains focused on tigers and leopards—both important conservation priorities—we’re overlooking one of nature’s most sophisticated social predators.

My time in Kabini taught me that there’s so much more to discover in our forests beyond the big cats that dominate our wildlife photography feeds. The dhole represents everything I love about wildlife observation: complex behavior, intricate social structures, and adaptation strategies honed over millennia.

Perhaps it’s time for India’s wildlife community to expand our definition of “apex predator” photography. The dholes are waiting, whistling their ancient songs in the forests, ready to share their stories with anyone willing to listen.

The author is a wildlife photographer and naturalist with a passion for documenting the world around him as also lesser-known predators and their complex social behaviors.

The Rule of Thirds vs. The Fibonacci Spiral for Composition

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In the art of photography, it’s the harmony of visual elements that creates a memorable photo. Two fundamental techniques often discussed to achieve this are the Rule of Thirds and the Fibonacci Spiral. Both of these techniques serve as powerful tools to guide composition, leading viewers’ eyes to a specific point in an image. However, they vary in usage, execution, and situations where they can be applied effectively. Let’s take a detailed look at both of these techniques and see how they compare.

The Rule of Thirds: Simplicity in Action

The Rule of Thirds is one of the most recognized composition principles in photography and visual arts. This technique divides the frame into a 3×3 grid, with two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. The idea is to position the important elements along these lines, or at the points where they intersect, to achieve balance and engage the viewer more effectively.

The Rule of Thirds is easy to understand and apply. Many modern cameras and smartphones even come with a grid overlay feature that helps with this technique. By moving away from the center, the photograph gains more depth and interest, which generally provides a more pleasing result. The Rule of Thirds is especially effective in landscapes, portraiture, and still life photography.

However, as with any rule, there are exceptions and instances where breaking the Rule of Thirds can result in a more compelling composition, such as symmetrical scenes or those where a centered composition provides more impact.

The Fibonacci Spiral: Nature’s Rule

The Fibonacci Spiral (also known as the Golden Ratio or Golden Spiral) is a more mathematically derived method for composition based on the Fibonacci Sequence, a series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. When applied to visual arts, a spiral is created, starting small and growing larger in a counter-clockwise direction following the Fibonacci sequence.

This spiral gives photographers a tool for aligning the composition to draw the viewer’s eye through the image in a natural flow, often leading to the image’s primary subject. It’s seen as a ‘natural’ composition rule because the Fibonacci sequence is found throughout nature, from the spiral of galaxies to the patterns in flowers and shells.

The Fibonacci Spiral is often used in more complex scenes where the elements lead the viewer’s eye in a spiral to the point of interest. This can often create a more dynamic, engaging image. The technique is highly beneficial in landscape photography, street photography, and instances where there are natural lines or curves in the scene.

The Rule of Thirds vs. The Fibonacci Spiral

So, how do these two composition principles stack up against each other?

Ease of Use: The Rule of Thirds is undoubtedly simpler to use, especially for beginners. The Fibonacci Spiral, with its more complex pattern, can take a bit more effort to apply correctly. The Rule of Thirds is straightforward to visualize, and many cameras provide support for it with an optional grid overlay.

Flexibility: While the Rule of Thirds can be used in virtually any photograph to improve its aesthetic appeal, the Fibonacci Spiral provides a unique perspective that can offer an additional layer of visual interest to a photograph. However, not all scenes lend themselves to the Fibonacci Spiral, making it less universally applicable than the Rule of Thirds.

Nature vs. Structure: The Fibonacci Spiral is a pattern frequently seen in nature, making it a perfect match for photos aiming to replicate natural growth or movement. On the other hand, the Rule of Thirds, with its straight lines and intersections, lends itself well to more structured, balanced images.

Conclusion

In summary, both the Rule of Thirds and the Fibonacci Spiral offer valuable guidance for composing photographs. Neither is objectively better than the other; rather, their effectiveness depends on the specific context and the photographer’s creative intent. The beauty of photography lies in the freedom to experiment and explore, so don’t be afraid to use both rules, break them, or even combine them to create your unique vision. As the saying goes in photography, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

Understanding Computational Photography in Smartphones

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Smartphone photography has come a long way since the early days of grainy, low-resolution images. Today’s smartphones are equipped with advanced cameras that rival even some professional equipment. The secret behind this remarkable transformation lies not just in hardware improvements but also in the rise of computational photography

What is Computational Photography?

Computational photography refers to the use of software algorithms to enhance or create images. Unlike traditional photography, which relies primarily on optical and mechanical processes, computational photography leverages the power of digital computation to process images in ways that were previously impossible. This approach allows for features like HDR (High Dynamic Range), portrait mode, and night mode, which enhance image quality and expand creative possibilities.

Key Features of Computational Photography in Smartphones

HDR Imaging:

High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging is one of the most common applications of computational photography. By capturing multiple exposures of the same scene and merging them into a single image, HDR enhances the details in both bright and dark areas. This results in a more balanced and visually pleasing photograph.

Portrait Mode and Bokeh Effects:

Smartphones use computational photography to simulate the bokeh effect, which traditionally requires a DSLR with a fast lens. By using depth data from multiple cameras or sensors, smartphones can create a background blur effect, making the subject stand out. This feature, often marketed as “Portrait Mode,” is a favorite for portrait photographers.

Night Mode:

Low-light photography has always been challenging, but computational techniques have made it more accessible. Night mode captures a series of images at different exposures and then merges them to reduce noise and improve detail. This results in brighter and clearer images, even in dimly lit environments.

Super-Resolution and Image Sharpening:

Computational photography can also enhance the resolution and sharpness of images. Techniques like super-resolution combine data from multiple images to create a higher-resolution photo. Image sharpening algorithms, meanwhile, can enhance edge details, making the images appear crisper.

AI and Machine Learning:

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are integral to modern computational photography. Smartphones can now recognize scenes, objects, and faces, adjusting settings in real-time to optimize the shot. For instance, AI can enhance skin tones in portraits or boost colors in landscape photos.

The Impact on Photography

Computational photography has democratized high-quality imaging, making it accessible to everyone with a smartphone. It has also expanded the creative potential for photographers, offering tools and effects that were once exclusive to advanced photo editing software.

However, it also raises questions about the authenticity of images. As software increasingly takes over the image-making process, the line between a captured moment and a digitally enhanced creation becomes blurred. This evolution challenges photographers and viewers to reconsider what constitutes a “photograph” in the digital age.

The Future of Computational Photography

The future of computational photography looks promising, with advancements in AI and machine learning leading the charge. Future smartphones may offer even more sophisticated image processing capabilities, such as real-time 3D scene reconstruction or augmented reality (AR) enhancements. As technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for creative expression in photography are bound to expand even further.

Conclusion

Computational photography has revolutionized the way we capture and perceive images, making high-quality photography accessible to everyone. As smartphones continue to evolve, the boundary between hardware and software in photography will blur even further, pushing the limits of what’s possible. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a casual snapshooter, understanding these technologies can help you make the most of your smartphone camera and take your photography to the next level.

By embracing computational photography, we open up new creative avenues and redefine the art of capturing moments. As we look to the future, it’s clear that this technology will continue to shape the landscape of photography, offering exciting possibilities for both photographers and enthusiasts alike.

Tips for Using Shadows in Photography

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Photographers tend to pay a lot of attention to light. In fact, we often think of light as one of the most important aspects of photography. On the other hand, shadows may seem to be less important – simply a lack of light. This would be a major mistake — for light is nothing without shadows.

Shadows are not simply a dark mass that borders the light. Rather, shadows are an entity as alive as the light. It is the shadows that shape the light, draw attention to the light, and integrate with the light to produce striking photographic opportunities. If we are to reach our full potential as photographers, we must think as much in terms of mastering the shadows as we do of mastering the light. This article details five uses of shadows in creating dynamic photos.

  • Contrast and Drama
  • Focus
  • Directing the Attention
  • Revealing Form
  • Revealing Texture
Contrast and Drama

One of the most powerful uses of shadows is for the creation of contrast to produce a dramatic effect. People’s attention is automatically drawn to areas of high tonal contrast. However, tonal contrast can not occur without shadows. Thus, it is the interplay of light and shadows that creates the attention grabbing contrast. An example of this use of shadows would be a dramatic sunset where the sun punches through gaps in the clouds creating areas of light which are surrounded by dark areas where the cloud cover is heavy.

Focus

Shadows can be effectively used to focus a viewer’s attention. The shadows help focus the viewer’s attention by removing detail from the less important parts of the image. An example of this would be a dramatic portrait that uses light to illuminate the eyes of the subject but allows the rest of the face to fall into deep shadow. The shadow would help to hide the detail of the face. Thus, the viewer’s attention would be drawn to the eyes of the subject.

Directing the Attention

Shadows can be used to direct the viewer’s attention. This is because shadows often have a shape. When a shaped shadow points to the center of interest in a photo, the shadow will direct the viewer’s attention to the center of interest. Conversely, the shadows can surround an area of light that points to the center of interest. In either case, the photo is strengthened as the center of interest is reinforced by the use of shadow.

Revealing Form

One of the most common uses of shadows is for revealing form. This often involves the sun, at a low angle to the horizon, casting long shadows across the terrain. Any irregularities in the shape of the subject or terrain will be magnified. An example of this use of shadow would be a low sun casting long shadows across sand dunes just before sunset.

Revealing Texture

Similar to revealing form, shadows can be used to reveal texture. Again, this often involves the sun, at a low angle to the horizon, casting shadows across the subject or terrain. The main difference is that the photographer moves in close to emphasize the texture of an object rather that the form. An example of using shadows to reveal texture would be using setting sun to emphasize the ripples in the sand of a beach.

Summary

Photographers are often urged to learn to read the light. However, reading the light is only half the challenge — one must also learn to read the shadows.