Photographer Roy Hancliff is providing a seldom-seen and very intimate view of birds.
“My challenge is to capture birds that move,” he says, noting that he captures the magic of even so-called common birds by setting his camera so it will expose black, then adding several flashes for a duration of a 16,000th of a second to light the subject.
It is a technique the self-taught Hancliff picked up by Googling “birds in flight.”
It is a method that captures extraordinary photographs. And, because his photos are taken at such a high speed, there are often amazing surprises when Hancliff downloads his photos onto his computer.
“I’m taking pictures of something the eye can’t see,” he says. “I take 1,000 photos and might keep one.”
Hancliff and wife Sharon work hard to capture the images, long before the lens cap is removed.
They invite birds into their yard by providing food and water in winter, providing an attractive bathing area in summer and by planting flowers that will attract a variety of birds.
The couple share a laugh as they explain they keep meal worms in the fridge for their feathered friends, some of whom are happy to alight on Hancliff’s shoulders and arms.
The only birds this hobbyist leaves home to shoot are ospreys and bald eagles.
“Birds intrigue him and he wants to share with people a different perspective and how spectacular yard or garden birds are,” says Sharon, who provides administrative and food backup.
That also includes research into the h abits and habitats of the birds Hancliff photographs.
“We’re not birders, so we have to research that,” adds Sharon, noting great teamwork is something the couple have shared in their 25 years of marriage, 18 of them spent renovating and re-selling homes in Spain.
Hancliff, who shot the above photo of an osprey adding to this year’s home, followed a pair from homebuilding to fledging last year.
Continually upgrading equipment and technique, Hancliff has made his work available on Flickr and his website at www.royhancliff.com. As well as photos, canvas prints are also available for order.