Amongst Feathers and Shadows
An unforgettable day with Ben and Lisa Breward of BB Falconry Experiences — and an opportunity to see the remarkable world of birds of prey through a different lens.
A Different Kind of Day
Photography has taken me to some wonderful places over the years. I've stood amongst ancient woodland waiting for the mist to settle, watched the first light creep across distant hills and spent countless hours exploring the quieter corners of the countryside. Usually, it is the landscape itself that draws me outside.
Every now and then, however, an opportunity comes along to see the natural world in a completely different way.
On 14 October, I was invited by Ben and Lisa Breward of BB Falconry Experiences to spend a day with them and their remarkable birds. It was a chance not simply to take photographs, but to learn about the individuals behind the feathers: their names, species, diets, habits and distinct personalities.
From the outset, what stayed with me was the warmth of the welcome and the care with which Ben and Lisa spoke about the birds. Understanding a subject makes the act of photographing it that much more meaningful.
A Gentle Name, an Extraordinary Presence
There is something rather wonderful about meeting a golden eagle named Cuddles. The name might bring a smile, but nothing quite prepares you for the immense presence of the bird itself.
Golden eagles have always made me think of the Scottish Highlands: wide skies, remote mountains and the hope of spotting a distant silhouette above a ridge. Seeing Cuddles so closely offered a very different perspective.
Instead of trying to fit an entire bird into the frame, I became absorbed by the astonishing detail of the feathers, the shape of the beak and the intensity of that gaze. In the sunlight, Cuddles' plumage glowed with rich copper and gold.
Those details inspired Golden Embers, a photograph made almost entirely of feather, light and texture. Sometimes a photograph doesn't need to show everything to say something.
Character in the Shadows
Another bird I was introduced to was Boris, the Russian steppe eagle. Even amongst such an extraordinary collection of birds, Boris gave me another reason to slow down and look carefully.
What fascinates me about birds of prey is how much character can be communicated through something as subtle as a turn of the head or a change in expression. A single glance can transform the entire feel of a portrait.
I found myself drawn towards the relationship between light and shadow. Rather than trying to reveal every detail, I wanted to let Boris emerge gradually from darkness, leaving space for the viewer's imagination.
It is a technique I often enjoy when photographing landscapes: allowing the light to decide what deserves attention, and what can remain unseen.
Colour, Character and Movement
The Harris's hawk was another wonderful subject. Its warm chestnut wings, dark feathers and striking amber eyes stood out against the soft greens of the countryside.
In The Amber Gaze, I wanted the bird's expression and the colour of its plumage to speak for themselves. Nothing complicated, just a little patience and a clean background.
Photographing birds in flight was a very different challenge from waiting for a landscape to unfold. The decisions had to happen almost instinctively: follow the bird, anticipate its path, and trust the camera settings.
The Final Approach shows a Harris's hawk against a great expanse of blue sky. The generous empty space is deliberate. It gives the photograph a sense of freedom and scale without competing with the bird.
More Than Two Thousand Frames
By the end of the day I had more than 2,000 photographs to work through. Some were fleeting moments of movement, some were portraits, and others were quiet studies of light, colour and texture.
Not every photograph was destined to make the final selection. That is part of the process I enjoy: returning to the images afterwards, taking my time, finding the ones that say something and leaving the others behind.
The biggest surprise was how naturally my love of atmospheric landscape photography carried across to birds of prey. I found myself chasing the same qualities I look for in Dale Abbey: thoughtful compositions, interesting light and a little mystery.
“Sometimes, all it takes is stepping outside the familiar to find another way of seeing.”
The Camera & Lens
For The Golden Crown, I used the Fujifilm X-H1 and the Fujinon XF 100–400mm. The longer focal length allowed me to concentrate on the smaller details of Cuddles' feathers and expression.
Photographed in Captivity
All of the birds featured in this collection were photographed during an organised falconry experience, rather than encountered in the wild. That is a distinction I feel is worth making.
There is nothing quite like the thought of a golden eagle circling over the Scottish Highlands or discovering a tawny owl in its natural woodland habitat. Those experiences are different, and I would never want these photographs to suggest otherwise.
What this day offered was the rare chance to observe these extraordinary birds at close quarters, learn from the people who care for them, and appreciate details that might otherwise be impossible to see.
For me, being honest about how a photograph was made is part of telling its story.
Thank You, Ben and Lisa
What stands out most when I think back on the day is not simply the photographs, but the experience itself. Ben and Lisa welcomed me into their world and generously shared their knowledge of the birds, their individual characters and the work involved in caring for them.
Thank you both for inviting me, for your patience with the camera, and for such a memorable day. Meeting Cuddles, Boris, Twit and the other birds has given me plenty of photographs to enjoy — and an entirely new appreciation of the world of falconry.
Landscape photography will always be where my heart lies, but experiences like this remind me that there is so much more waiting to be discovered through a viewfinder.
A small, family-run falconry centre in Derbyshire, offering bird of prey experiences, owl encounters, hawk walks, photography days and more.
