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Inspiring and Supporting Photographers of Australian Birds

A Special Interest Group of BirdLife Australia        Follow us! IG Glyph Fill  flogo RGB HEX 29      Join Us

  • Buff-rumped Thornbill (Image ID 29954)

    Buff-rumped Thornbill.   Photographer: Emmy Silvius

  • Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Image ID 35323)

    Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater.   Photographer: Linda Unwin

  • Welcome Swallow (Image ID 46347)

    Welcome Swallow.   Photographer: Glenn Pure

  • White-fronted Chat (Image ID 29219)

    White-fronted Chat.   Photographer: Pennie Marks

  • Australian Wood Duck (Image ID 22274)

    Australian Wood Duck.   Photographer: Richard Smart

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The next BirdLife Photography Biennial Conference will be held in Hahndorf, SA, at the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, on 23rd & 24th March 2024.

Visit the dedicated BirdLife Photography Biennial Conference website for details.  Ticket sales are now open.

The final cut-off dates for conference attendance and conference dinner bookings are Saturday 9th of March for the dinner and Saturday 16th of March for the conference itself. No bookings can be accepted after the cut-off dates

BirdLife Photography would like to acknowledge Adelaide Optical Centre and Twin City Cameras for their generous sponsorship of our conference.

This Search facility will search all website content, uploaded documents, and images.  Some content on this site is restricted to BLP members; visitors may not be able to access all the items found.  The search options button on the All Photos page (on the Photo Gallery drop-down menu), and on individual gallery pages, provides more options for searching images only.

Latest Images

Pied Stilt (Image ID 62185)
Pied Stilt
Kevin Brett
Viewed: 25
Australian Spotted Crake (Image ID 62184)
Australian Spotted Crake
Yolande Cozijn
Viewed: 26
Black Kite (Image ID 62183)
Black Kite
Michael Hamel-Green
Viewed: 17
Australian Brush-turkey (Image ID 62182)
Australian Brush-turkey
Keith Wilcox
Viewed: 10
Black Kite (Image ID 62181)
Black Kite
Michael Hamel-Green
Viewed: 24
Common Greenshank (Image ID 62180)
Common Greenshank
Michael Hamel-Green
Viewed: 14
Welcome Swallow, White Wagtail (V) (Image ID 62178)
Welcome Swallow, White Wagtail (V)
Graham Gall
Viewed: 18
Black-shouldered Kite, Red-rumped Parrot (Image ID 62177)
Black-shouldered Kite, Red-rumped Parrot
Graham Gall
Viewed: 14
Banded Stilt, Common Greenshank (Image ID 62176)
Banded Stilt, Common Greenshank
Michael Hamel-Green
Viewed: 15
Welcome Swallow (Image ID 62175)
Welcome Swallow
Rob Solic
Viewed: 14
Peregrine Falcon (Image ID 62173)
Peregrine Falcon
Patrick Booth
Viewed: 16
Grey Butcherbird (Image ID 62172)
Grey Butcherbird
Angela Farnsworth
Viewed: 20
Welcome Swallow (Image ID 62171)
Welcome Swallow
Graham Gall
Viewed: 17
Spotless Crake (Image ID 62170)
Spotless Crake
Graham Gall
Viewed: 15
Tawny Frogmouth (Image ID 62169)
Tawny Frogmouth
Angela Farnsworth
Viewed: 11
Australasian Pipit (Image ID 62167)
Australasian Pipit
Angela Farnsworth
Viewed: 15
Little Pied Cormorant (Image ID 62166)
Little Pied Cormorant
Craig Lakey
Viewed: 18
Little Black Cormorant (Image ID 62165)
Little Black Cormorant
Craig Lakey
Viewed: 18
Tasmanian Native-hen (Image ID 62164)
Tasmanian Native-hen
Angela Farnsworth
Viewed: 10
Papuan Frogmouth (Image ID 62163)
Papuan Frogmouth
Diana Womersley
Viewed: 17
Papuan Frogmouth (Image ID 62162)
Papuan Frogmouth
Diana Womersley
Viewed: 20
Metallic Starling (Image ID 62161)
Metallic Starling
Diana Womersley
Viewed: 15
Metallic Starling (Image ID 62160)
Metallic Starling
Diana Womersley
Viewed: 17
Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Image ID 62158)
Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Michael Hamel-Green
Viewed: 14

Small is Splendid, indeed.  To be honest, there were numerous fine images here that would not have been out of place in the Advanced Level competition.  Technically, in terms of sharpness of focus, accurate exposure, and negligible digital noise, a great many were on a similarly high level, which made my final selections task as difficult, and conflicting, as ever.  But there are of course many other elements that contribute to an image’s appeal or impact, and what my final five do have in common is that they are outstanding in their own, individual ways; my sincere congratulations to each of the respective, talented photographers.

In assessing all of the entries, it was a little disappointing to see so many otherwise-excellent images had been cropped too tightly, either in camera, or more likely in post.  They suffered from needing just a little bit more space, to balance the composition.  Zooming in on a very small bird, essentially making it larger within the final frame, was actually counterproductive in some instances, particularly where in this competition an emphasis is on illustrating just how small yet splendid these subjects are.  Conversely, it was pleasing to see a number of entries that really did use the scale of the bird against the other compositional elements within the frame, very effectively.

Specifically with regard to image format, it was interesting to see some photographers utilizing a square-format composition, and it worked well with a number of the images.  The influence of Instagram?  Maybe.

And so, here they are …

Winner:  Red-browed Finch, by Nalini Scarfe  (Image ID 31333)

Of all my final selections, this image best utilizes different compositional elements to effectively illustrate “Small is Splendid”.  A sense of scale is ably demonstrated with the elongated, diagonal agapanthus stalk being integral to the overall composition, and there exists a nice balance between the finch and the as-yet-unopened flower.  The striking red feathers of the delicate finch contrast against the luminous, iridescent greens, so dominant in this image; such amazing richness in tone and colour!  This bird leaps off the page.  Well, OK, the screen.

Red-browed Finch

Highly commended:  New Holland Honeyeater, by Simon Pelling  (Image ID 31410)

It’s the dynamic, energetic pose, beautifully captured, that really makes this image stand out.  Centrally-composed within the frame, the eye of the honeyeater really draws the viewer in for a closer look.  The sharp bill and spiny leaves compliment each other form-wise, and it doesn’t hurt that the New Holland’s graphic plumage makes it such a damn good-looking bird!  Overall, such a visually-arresting image, one for Simon to be very proud of. 

New Holland Honeyeater

Commended:  Weebill, by  Bill Harding  (Image ID 31245)

One of several excellent images by Bill.  Sharpness on eye and bill, given how tiny a bird it is, is brilliant!  As Bill notes, the autumnal colours in the background really sets this image off.  There were a great many “straight” portraits in this competition, of a similar high level, but this was my pick of them.  Purely subjective, but this Weebill’s pale blue iris, and the remarkably sharp feather detail on the inquisitively-cocked head, swayed my vote.  This bird has real character! 

Weebill

Commended:  Restless Flycatcher, by Cameron Vaile  (Image ID 31342)

A fine environmental and behavioural portrait, with the Flycatcher remaining intent on its hunting, and not on what the photographer is doing.  The square-format of the composition works well, and Cameron has wisely given the Flycatcher plenty of space, avoiding the temptation to crop in tight.  There is a delicate lightness about this image, so appropriate for such a bird, with the fanned tail and wings caught in perfect position.  Quite simply, beautiful.

Restless Flycatcher

Commended:  Splendid Fairy-wren, by Rudi Poulose  (Image ID 31478)

A remarkably stunning portrait, and the dark background provides great isolation of the subject matter.  There is a ridiculously narrow focal plane in play here (note the significantly-softened rear leg), yet the wren remains razor-sharp in focus from beak to tip of tail.  The extraordinary plumage appears almost hyper-real.  This is an impact shot, of an absolute jewel of a small bird.

Splendid Fairy-wren

 

Recent Picks

Grey-backed Storm-Petrel (Image ID 62071)
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel
Chris Young
Viewed: 104
Pink Robin (Image ID 61955)
Pink Robin
Rob Solic
Viewed: 104
Australasian Gannet (Image ID 61793)
Australasian Gannet
Valerie Misa
Viewed: 102
Superb Fairy-wren (Image ID 61802)
Superb Fairy-wren
Shane Little
Viewed: 87
Galah (Image ID 61731)
Galah
Rob Solic
Viewed: 114
Australasian Darter (Image ID 61648)
Australasian Darter
Stephen Garth
Viewed: 118
Plumed Whistling-Duck (Image ID 61612)
Plumed Whistling-Duck
Shane Little
Viewed: 152
Pied Stilt (Image ID 61516)
Pied Stilt
Patrick Kavanagh
Viewed: 135
Australasian Gannet (Image ID 61497)
Australasian Gannet
Stephen Garth
Viewed: 210
Australian White Ibis (Image ID 61471)
Australian White Ibis
Angela Farnsworth
Viewed: 164

CONTACT US

The easiest way to contact us is by emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Our People page, in the About Us section, contains email links to each of the committee members.