In Snap, we delve into the impact of a single picture, unraveling narratives about the creation of contemporary and historical images.
Admittedly, James Crombie possessed little knowledge about starlings prior to the onset of Covid-19. As an acclaimed sports photographer, his encounters with the short-tailed birds were limited to a singular event when one bird inadvertently found its way into his fireplace while attempting to nest in the chimney of his residence in the Irish Midlands.
“I was always preoccupied with sports, so wildlife never crossed my mind,” Crombie confessed during a Zoom interview. Having covered three Olympic Games and specializing in rugby and hurling photography, the pandemic-induced pause in major events left him with spare time. Therefore, when a friend, grieving from recent loss, suggested observing murmurations of starlings at a nearby lake, Crombie seized the opportunity, equipped with a camera perfectly suited for the task.
“The essence is capturing that split-second moment,” Crombie remarked, drawing parallels between sports and nature photography. “Both require quick shots at high speeds with suitable gear.”
During their inaugural visit to Lough Ennell in County Westmeath in late 2020, they witnessed approximately 100 starlings taking flight before settling at dusk. Subsequently, they revisited the site over multiple nights, selecting diverse viewing spots to observe the birds. This routine served as solace for his grieving companion and sparked Crombie’s deep fascination.
“It evolved into an obsession,” Crombie reflected, having recently released a book showcasing his starling captures. “Each night brought new insights. We figured out their patterns and locations. It grew from there.”
Over a span of four years, photographer James Crombie estimates he visited the lake nearly 100 evenings annually.
A Eureka Moment
The rationale behind starlings forming murmurations remains a mystery, speculated to provide collective defense against predators like falcons. These phenomena can last from seconds to 45 minutes, sometimes involving tens of thousands of birds. In Ireland, starling populations surge during winter as migrating flocks journey from breeding sites across Western Europe and Scandinavia.
Observing the birds shape intricate patterns and abstract forms, Crombie was convinced that with patience, he could capture a distinct shape. After weeks of persistence, he immortalized a moment where a murmuration resembled the leafy crown of a tree by the lakeshore. “That was the shot,” he thought.
Continuing their visits, a pivotal occurrence unfolded around the 50th night.
A video recorded by Crombie’s friend captures the extraordinary moment when thousands of starlings briefly appear as a unified, curved, winged entity reflected on the water’s surface. Amidst the flurry of camera clicks, Crombie excitedly exclaims, “It looked like a bird!”
Seizing this opportunity, Crombie snapped over 60 rapid-fire images, with seven showcasing the striking bird formation. Yet one image stood out
“I knew, once I clicked it, that I had it,” Crombie said, recalling how he returned to his car and saved the photo to various backup locations. “I contacted one or two people straight away and said, ‘I think I’ve got something pretty special here.'” The image quickly went viral online, appearing in magazines and on the front page of a national newspaper, the Irish Times. It has since appeared on a bank’s annual report, a cafe mural in Australia, and the shutter doors of a Norwegian building, according to Crombie.
The photographer said the picture had a huge impact on his career and profile. But it was just the beginning for Crombie. What began as a welcome distraction for his friend (who, when Covid restrictions lifted, “returned to the real world”, leaving Crombie to befriend a local farmer to accompany him instead) became an “addiction” that consumed four years of Crombie’s life and resulted in an estimated half a million photos. Around 200 of the photos appear in his book, “Murmurations,” which combines the mesmerizing forms with close-ups and scenic shots of Lough Ennell. And while he has long been back documenting professional sport, Crombie hopes he might, one day, be able to shoot wildlife full-time.
“I’m still going (to the lake), even though I promised my wife that, once the book was published, the project was finished,” he admitted, arguing that the hobby is more productive than “going to the pub or playing golf.” “There could be a lot worse ways to spend two hours in the evening.” “Murmurations,” published by The Lilliput Press, is available now.
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