Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post Search
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

10 Stunning Photos That Capture The Flight Patterns Of Birds By Xavi Bou
User submission
4.3K
28.5K

10 Stunning Photos That Capture The Flight Patterns Of Birds By Xavi Bou

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Ornitographies is a current project with a somewhat distant origin. It was born from the innocent, restless, childhood gaze of the artist, Xavi Bou. The photographer’s admiration for nature, especially birds, arose during his childhood thanks to unforgettable long walks with his grandfather.

Since then, the photographer’s interest in birds has continued to grow, eventually becoming the focus of his project Ornitographies. The series arose from the author’s desire to capture those unnoticed moments and from the interest in questioning the limits of human perception.

More info: xavibou.com | Instagram | Facebook

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Xavi Bou focuses on birds, his great passion, and attempts to capture the shapes they generate when flying in a single frame, making the invisible visible.

Unlike other motion analysis which preceded it, Ornitographies moves away from the scientific approach of chronophotography used by photographers like Eadweard Muybridge and Etienne-Jules Marey. The approach used by Xavi Bou to portray aviary scenes is not invasive; moreover, it rejects the distant study, resulting in organic form images that stimulate the imagination.

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Technology, science, and creativity combine to create evocative images which show the sensuality and beauty of the bird’s movements and which are, at the same time, clues for those wishing to identify or recognize them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Xavi Bou

In Ornitographies, the skill envied by men, the long-lasting shared yearning of flying, is presented to us, extending our visual perception.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Art and science walk hand in hand to create images, which are no longer a single portrait of reality but become a witness of the instants that, for a moment, were past, present and future all at once.

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Ornitographies is a balance between art and science; a nature-based dissemination project and a visual poetry exercise but above all, an invitation to view the world through the same curious and innocent eyes of the child we once were.

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Xavi Bou graduated from Barcelona University with a degree in Geology while also studying at the International Photography Grisart School. During his studies, the artist taught photography on the side. Once he finished his education in 2003, Xavi started his professional career in the fashion and advertisement photography world, as an assistant photographer. In 2009, with his partner Dani Ciprian he co-founded La Crin Studio, a photography retouch studio specialized in big campaigns for national and international brands and magazines.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Xavi Bou

At the moment Xavi combines his retouch work with the development of his personal photography projects. His passion for nature inspired him to projects like this one the focus of his art.

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Exploring the technical possibilities of photography’s borders and having nature as the main subject, the photographer aims to send a message that challenges us to think about our perception, creating a new point of view about our environment.

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Ornitographies was featured in prominent European magazines, like The Guardian, de Volkskrant, Sonntag, The Spiegel, National Geographic and Geo. His project was also exhibited in Holand, the United States, and Spain.

Image credits: Xavi Bou

Xavi is still working on this project and researching for the next one.

ADVERTISEMENT

28Kviews

Share on Facebook
You May Like
Popular on Bored Panda
Start the discussion
Add photo comments
POST
natem avatar
Nate M
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was surprisingly interesting! I could look at some of these for a looong time and still be fascinated.

davewalker avatar
Dave Walker
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are great! The first one reminds me of the infamous "Rods" that people thought were aliens living in caves :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amnNgXRK_vo

jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what I was gonna say!!! Just like that. Makes me think the 'rods' were 'something' flying by REALLY fast, like an insect maybe..

Load More Replies...
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is fascinating stuff. It also shows how freakishly efficient particularly migratory birds travel. The flight industry still can learn a lot from biology!

yethica avatar
yethica
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd like this even more if I knew what the different birds were...

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AMAZING. Bird scribble in the skies, poetry in motion. wingbeats in time fused together as one in photographic mastery to let us see what we do not distinguish. Thank you, Xavi Bou, this was thoroughly enjoyable.

niitotachi avatar
Niito
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are so cool, impressive how the seagull maintained such a straight line with it's body while the wings were moving like that. And I love the ondulations and geometry in all these

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing - 5th from last could be a starling murmuration.

wynandcoetzee avatar
Withnail
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very cool! Some of these look like abstract art pieces that I'd be happy to hang on my wall.

steffi_hill avatar
Steph
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! Nature is just so genius - amazing! Thank you for sharing!!

bandmate97 avatar
Cheethra
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nature always has its own secrets, waiting to revealed by people like Xavi Bou

oscarmanos-16 avatar
Oscar Goytia
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does anyone remember when thes flight patterns were mistaken to be "aliens" and were called "rods"

ahnnahnewell avatar
Ahnnah Newell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend looked at one of these pictures and he said "I couldn't imagine that flying over my house during duck season."

collie avatar
Collie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some of these look like they belong in a horror movie

cnbayler avatar
Colin Bayler
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This could have been an interesting article if the author would have let you known what you were looking at.

aahzmanduspervect avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that's all the information that's available. The artist didn't say what kind of birds are in the photographs, so if you need to know that, perhaps you could contact him.

Load More Replies...
morganjeffries avatar
morgan jeffries
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The first picture is majestically patterned. The second is bllagghhh. Like a 3 year old scribbling.

natem avatar
Nate M
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was surprisingly interesting! I could look at some of these for a looong time and still be fascinated.

davewalker avatar
Dave Walker
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are great! The first one reminds me of the infamous "Rods" that people thought were aliens living in caves :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amnNgXRK_vo

jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what I was gonna say!!! Just like that. Makes me think the 'rods' were 'something' flying by REALLY fast, like an insect maybe..

Load More Replies...
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is fascinating stuff. It also shows how freakishly efficient particularly migratory birds travel. The flight industry still can learn a lot from biology!

yethica avatar
yethica
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd like this even more if I knew what the different birds were...

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AMAZING. Bird scribble in the skies, poetry in motion. wingbeats in time fused together as one in photographic mastery to let us see what we do not distinguish. Thank you, Xavi Bou, this was thoroughly enjoyable.

niitotachi avatar
Niito
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are so cool, impressive how the seagull maintained such a straight line with it's body while the wings were moving like that. And I love the ondulations and geometry in all these

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing - 5th from last could be a starling murmuration.

wynandcoetzee avatar
Withnail
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very cool! Some of these look like abstract art pieces that I'd be happy to hang on my wall.

steffi_hill avatar
Steph
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! Nature is just so genius - amazing! Thank you for sharing!!

bandmate97 avatar
Cheethra
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nature always has its own secrets, waiting to revealed by people like Xavi Bou

oscarmanos-16 avatar
Oscar Goytia
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does anyone remember when thes flight patterns were mistaken to be "aliens" and were called "rods"

ahnnahnewell avatar
Ahnnah Newell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend looked at one of these pictures and he said "I couldn't imagine that flying over my house during duck season."

collie avatar
Collie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some of these look like they belong in a horror movie

cnbayler avatar
Colin Bayler
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This could have been an interesting article if the author would have let you known what you were looking at.

aahzmanduspervect avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that's all the information that's available. The artist didn't say what kind of birds are in the photographs, so if you need to know that, perhaps you could contact him.

Load More Replies...
morganjeffries avatar
morgan jeffries
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The first picture is majestically patterned. The second is bllagghhh. Like a 3 year old scribbling.

Popular on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda