Crested Tern In Flight…. it’s all a blur!

Photographing a Crested Tern in Flight with Intentional Camera Movement

Capturing the elegance of a Crested Tern in flight can be a challenge, however I wanted to inject some creative energy into my shot.

Using Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) is a fantastic way to transform a simple bird-in-flight photo into something dynamic and artistic.

ICM involves deliberately moving the camera during the exposure to create blur and motion, adding a sense of fluidity to images. I used a very slow shutter speed and was also moving the camera to allow enough time for the bird’s movement and camera’s motion to blend together.

To ensure I got the best result, I used a 500mm lens to try and fill the frame with the bird as much as possible but still be sure to give the view that the bird is flying through the sky! It’s challenging though!!!

The resulting image shows a mass of motion, with a streaked, abstract subject and background that contrasts beautifully in black and white, with the subtle amount of detail showing the outline of the bird.

ICM adds a unique touch to bird photography, turning a static moment into an impressionistic piece of art, full of energy and movement.

To read more about ICM and see further examples of my fave ICM images click the link below.

https://jillianmitchellphotography.com/2025/03/22/what-is-intentional-camera-movement/