Sometimes the scene in front of you is moving faster than you can react: birds crossing the frame, wings colliding, flocks changing direction and a moment disappearing almost as quickly as it arrived.
At other times, the best photograph comes from doing almost nothing at all. Waiting, watching, and allowing the moment to reveal itself.
That tension sits at the heart of Sony Alpha photographer Georgia Barker's story, Between Chaos and Calm. Photographing gannets at Bass Rock, Barker found herself working in an environment of constant movement, where subject tracking, timing and instinct were essential. In the quieter environment of woodland, the approach changed completely: slowing down, observing and waiting for wildlife to reveal itself.
Georgia Barker | Sony α7R VI + FE 50-150mm f/2 GM | 1/1600s @ f/2.0, ISO 100
It's an idea that feels particularly relevant this autumn at WWT Martin Mere. On 17 & 18 October, the North West Bird Watching Festival will bring photographers and birdwatchers together for a weekend celebrating the spectacle of autumn migration.
Thousands of pink-footed geese are expected alongside species including pintail, wigeon, shoveler and whooper swans, creating some of the most amazing wildlife photography opportunities of the season.
Just a short distance from arriving on site, one of the main hides, Discovery Hide, is bursting with activity. From squabbling godwits on the edge of the water, to families of whooper swans with their juveniles that have made their very first migratory journey, the water is full of personality ready to be captured.
It’s also an opportunity to spend time on the reserve and visit those quieter areas, from the tranquil reedbed walk to the woodland habitat of Janet Kear hide. Here, you can observe behaviours, find details within the wider landscape, and wait for those quieter photographic opportunities.
In other words, Martin Mere, particularly in the autumn, is a place where photographers can experience both sides of the equation: the chaos and the calm.
And this year, Sony Alpha will be there to help photographers make the most of both.
As the festival's activity sponsor, Sony will be running Sony Alpha Wildlife Photo Walks with Sony Imaging Ambassador Terry Donnelly. The two-hour sessions are designed to put wildlife photography techniques into practice in the reserve itself, with opportunities to explore composition, behaviour, timing and Sony's latest wildlife photography technology.
There will also be the chance to meet the Sony team, explore the latest Alpha cameras and lenses and hear more about photographing wildlife in the field. On Sunday 18 October, Sony will host Shooting Wildlife Photography with Sony Alpha at 2pm, giving festival visitors another opportunity to learn from the people behind the technology.
To find out more about the full line up, visit the North West Bird Watching Festival website.
Cover photo credit: Terry Donnelly
