Edition 47: Summer 2009

With long legs, vivacious curves and an impeccable dress sense, flamingos should be the perfect photography models. As Tracey Rich and Andy Rouse explain, things aren’t always as they seem.

Flamingos – exotic, flamboyant, increasingly rare and, above all, pink. The word flamingo is Portuguese for ‘red goose’, an apt approximation for someone looking at first glance. These odd creatures are found in some of their greatest concentrations in East Africa’s Rift Valley.

Despite their vast numbers, some five million in total, two of the six flamingo varieties are on the verge of being globally threatened. According to Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust research, the lesser flamingo – the species most regularly seen in areas of the Rift Valley – has declined by some 20 per cent in the last 15 years. The reasons are complex, potentially involving numerous aspects: climate change, poisoning from heavy metals, disease and the bird’s unvaried diet of blue-green algae.

Due to this, in recent years the vast swathes of pink, which were so familiar in the 1990s throughout the lakes of the Rift Valley, from Lake Natron to Lake Bogoria, have become more fragmented and less predictable. For the photographer, it only emphasises the importance of timely photographic opportunities.

With bizarre behaviour complementing their spectacular looks, flamingos would seem to be perfect subjects for your photography. However, capturing them well with the lens can be difficult. First of all, photographing large groups of similar coloured animals or birds presents as many frustrations as it does new and challenging opportunities. Doing justice to such awkward and yet distinctly beautiful birds is another dilemma. The key to yielding satisfying results is to think differently.

Keeping your head down
Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, 100-400mm lens, ISO 200, 1/250th at f6.3
Whenever you have a large number of subjects, whether wildlife or not, you are likely to get patterns developing; and when the creatures you are photographing are, at first glance, all the same, these become even more obvious. Flamingo actions are highly coordinated, almost moving in a similar fashion to a shoal of fish. Why? To maximise their efficiency at capturing their food resources, and perhaps also to stop themselves bumping into each other! This is a bonus for photographers as it means that small groups of the birds will be all pointing in a similar direction at any one time – this helps to create those interesting shapes and patterns that will make your images stand out. Keep your eyes out for them. Although the feeding masses lend themselves to horizontal and landscape style images, don’t forget to turn your camera around and shoot portrait as well; these are tall, elegant birds that work well in a portrait format, with their sinuously curving necks and long stilt-like legs.

Flamingos in the mist
Canon EOS 1Ds MKII, 70-200mm lens, ISO 400, 1/250th at f11
Often the weather conspires against photographers. Instead of taking one look outside your tent and returning to your bed, get up and get out. The dramatic effects of the changing light, and the way you can harness it to create something out of nothing may well surprise you. In this case, the early morning mist soon burnt off, its remnants adding depth and mood. You’ve nothing to lose.

Coming in for landing
Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, 100-400mm lens, ISO 200, 1/500th sec at f5.6
As filter feeders, flamingos have to constantly strain the soupy waters of the Rift Valley lakes to suck up the algae they survive on. This means an almost constant ‘heads down’ position, which, in the melee of bright red legs, can make capturing the birds’ features difficult. Look out for those periodic moments when one surfaces in order to find its bearings. With patience and practice, you’ll be able to predict when it might happen. Likewise, as in this case, try predicting their movements in flight to freeze the action. A mid-range depth of field is a good start, alongside a zoom lens that will allow you maximum flexibility. 

Not always a love-in
Canon EOS 5D, 500mm lens, ISO 100, 1/250th at f8
Flamingo flocks not only give you a great chance to capture the birds’ quirky nature, but they also present you with chance encounters of the mammalian kind. At Lake Nakuru, spotted hyenas have developed a taste for flamingos, actively hunting them along the water’s edge. Regularly scan the horizon and watch out for sudden movements or flights of flamingos, as they may well be signalling the presence of a hyena.

Pro-photographer’s tips
There are some animals or birds that really should be shot in colour – flamingos are one of them. Pink is the defining characteristic of flamingos, and as such it should be the integral part of the story your picture is telling. Wear old clothes. With all those flamingos eating algae and shrimp-like creatures, there is plenty of guano around. You have been warned! Spend some time concentrating on individual birds. This sense of focus will allow you to make a simple decision regarding how much or how little of the surrounding birds you bring into your composition. It will also most likely show you something about their behaviour that you hadn’t expected to see. With so many birds moving here and there, focusing on individuals can reduce temptation to shoot at anything and everything.