After ensuring that I’m at eye level, (this often means lying down in the dirt!) I wait for the bird to look towards me.

Yeah, I know, sometimes it seems like you’re waiting forever, but it’s worth the wait.

Images where the bird is looking away from you rarely work.

My first shot of this Peregrine Falcon just didn’t work…               Neither did the second…   So I waited…   And I waited…             Until it moved its head a little.   What makes it work? Eye contact – making it more intimate and giving a sense of connection.

The head should always be facing towards you a few degrees. If you’re photographing birds, they’re constantly rotating their head so if you’re patient you’ll soon get a shot with a good head angle.