Each day had one letter: B. I. R. D. 

Rethinking what’s “possible” when you stop asking for permission.

In my ongoing experiment of seeing the world through a 50mm lens, I took a detour most people wouldn’t expect: bird photography. The first reaction is predictable:

“You can’t photograph birds with a 50mm. That’s insane.”

But I’m not interested in what you can’t do. I’m interested in how you do it.

Video at the bottom of the post.

Street photography is life with edges on it. Movement, gesture, time—everything unfolding in plain sight. Birds are part of that story. Not just “wildlife”, but neighbours in our shared city. Pigeons pacing the pavement, gulls riding thermals over rooftops, sparrows cutting across a shaft of light like punctuation marks. You don’t always need a hardcore zoom to bring birds to you. Sometimes, you let them be right where you are—and learn to see differently. Don’t ask for photography rules. Ask for a new perspective.

Changing the Frame: What a 50mm Teaches You

A long lens isolates. A normal lens connects. 

With 50mm, I’m not sniping details from far away—I’m participating. The frame doesn’t erase the street—it includes it. Lines, light, people, architecture—all of it becomes the stage where birds live their ordinary lives.

And yes, I cheated—twice. Two frames are with a 35mm. I’ll own that. But the spirit is the same: work with what’s in front of you, not with the fantasy of what you “should” have.

Where to Look (Without Hunting)

I don’t “go out to shoot birds.” I walk. I observe. And I notice the places where their paths cross ours:

• Crosswalks and corners: Pigeons reading the city like a map.
• Edges of light: Late afternoon sun becomes a theatre for silhouettes and wings.
• Reflections: Rain puddles are skies turned upside down.
• Rails, wires, and rooftops: Minimalist compositions with rhythm.
• Markets and benches: Micro-dramas with crumbs and conversations.

Working Method (Simple, Not Fancy)

• Move your feet: 50mm is a relationship lens. Get closer (respectfully).
• Pre-focus and wait: Anticipate the arc—a hop, a glide, a landing.
• Light first: Backlight for silhouettes and flare; side light for texture and form.
• Shutter speed: Fast enough to hold gesture (think 1/500–1/1000s).
• Aperture: Open for isolation, stopped down for context (f/2–f/8 depending on the scene).
• Mindset: You’re not “birding.” You’re telling a street story that happens to have wings in it.

Ibis in the centre of Sydney. Sony A7rIV, 35mm f1.4

Bonus Frames at 35mm

A few images in this series are even shot with 35mm, and you’ll spot them easily. They are wider, a bit more atmospheric. I kept them in because they serve the story. The focal length is a choice; the intention is the constant.

What This Taught Me

Constraints are not walls. They’re doors. The 50mm taught me to slow down and read the street as an ecosystem—where a parrot sits on a fence in Sydney, and a seagull takes off on the roof of a car in Rome. It all led to the same narrative.

This isn’t about birds. It’s about attention.
A normal lens makes ordinary moments visible. That’s its superpower.

Leica M9

Don’t ask what a lens can’t do. Ask how you can use it to see. The city will meet you halfway.

If this resonates, I’ve made a short film about the process—how I work, where I stand, and what I look for. Watch it et the end of the post.

Oslo, Norway. Runner followed by geese. Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH

Want more?

Walk with me. Dust off the camera.

Picture yourself at a small café in Rome or Paris—steam rising from your cup as conversations drift between lenses, light, and the stories we can tell with a single frame.

Now imagine the next two or three days spent walking the city with me: learning to notice light before it appears, to compose with intention, and to trust your timing. We’ll shoot, review, and shoot again—growing your confidence and sharpening your eye in good company.

I’ve selected five inspiring places in 2026 for these workshops—locations that reward curiosity and reward patience.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to make time for your photography, this is it.

P.S. Come as you are. Whether you shoot mirrorless, DSLR, or film, what matters is your curiosity and the desire to see light differently.

Sign up today and secure your spot.
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