ADVERTISEMENT

Frontals is a series of bird photos I have been collecting for over ten years. When you get the time to take a series of pictures of one single bird, you will always have one or two frontals in between. I realized from the start that they made the birds look completely different. From that moment on, I decided to focus on it and make sure I would have at least one frontal in each series. Some birds start to look like angry birds, some funny or even ridiculous.

Especially waders change completely as they tend to have long bills not visible from the front. I am familiar with the species, but when you don’t know them, frontals can hide extreme characteristics of the birds. In owls and birds of prey, frontals are basically the normal way of looking at you, so they are only fun when they twist their heads. I think only spoonbills are really much prettier when they show their great bill with yellow spots and tufted head.

Frontals also allow you to create unusual compositions, from a photographic point of view. "Less is more" works great with frontal birds.

Enjoy the pictures and I think after seeing the frontals, you can never look at birds in the same way again!

More info: rjvanderleij.nl | Facebook | twitter.com | Instagram

#1

Short-Eared Owl

Short-Eared Owl

Report

Big
Community Member
5 years ago

Owls are absolutely adorable

View more comments
RELATED:
    #2

    Spoonbill

    Spoonbill

    Report

    Eileen Fang
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    f a s h i o n

    View more comments
    #3

    Red-Breasted Goose

    Red-Breasted Goose

    Report

    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    I will trade you 700 Canada Geese for one of these guys. Gorgeous.

    View more comments
    #4

    Black Stork

    Black Stork

    Report

    glowworm2
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    The frontal look makes the stork look as if he left the oven on.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    Great Egret

    Great Egret

    Report

    Red
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    you sure this isnt a Q-tip?

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Great Bittern

    Great Bittern

    Report

    Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Snake?

    View more comments
    #7

    Lesser Black Backed Gull

    Lesser Black Backed Gull

    Report

    littlesaresare
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Nope

    View more comments
    #8

    Marsh Tit

    Marsh Tit

    Report

    Doggo
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    who named this bird?

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Wood Pigeon

    Wood Pigeon

    Report

    Doggo
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    the second picture is elders taking a selfie

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Waxwing

    Waxwing

    Report

    Seabeast
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Now it will fly head-first into somebody's window after getting drunk on fermented berries.

    View more comments
    #11

    Red Kite

    Red Kite

    Report

    Daisy Chain
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    The first is so majestic and stunning, the second looks like my two year old nephew when we tell him no :)

    View more comments
    #12

    Common Whitethroat

    Common Whitethroat

    Report

    Lucie Pang
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    it's like ..john..you got a little boogie

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Hawfinch

    Hawfinch

    Report

    Diana Eriksson
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    That beak!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    Report

    Big
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    So majestic!

    View more comments
    #15

    Long-Eared Owl

    Long-Eared Owl

    Report

    Seabeast
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This one has not got his head screwed on straight.

    View more comments

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Magpie

    Magpie

    Report

    Mary Rose Kent
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Magpies are related to crows and ravens (Corvidae), so you know they’re smart! California’s only endemic bird is the Yellow-billed Magpie.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Robin

    Robin

    Report

    Zophra
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    I love this second one. The bird seems to have some attitude.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #18

    Bearded Tit

    Bearded Tit

    Report

    Julia Atkinson
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    It's a great day for Tits

    View more comments
    #19

    Grey Patridge

    Grey Patridge

    Report

    Lucie Pang
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    when you see your crush:

    View more comments
    #20

    Ringed Plover

    Ringed Plover

    Report

    Carter Brown
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Is it just me or is that bird looking kinda angry?

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #21

    Bluethroat

    Bluethroat

    Report

    Soph the Loaf
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Aww, its little beak is a triangle

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #22

    Eider

    Eider

    Report

    Seabeast
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Eider you like this duck, or you don't.

    View more comments
    #23

    House Sparrow

    House Sparrow

    Report

    Big
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    These birds may be the most invasive species in the world, but man, they are still adorable

    View more comments
    #24

    Water Rail

    Water Rail

    Report

    Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    My eyes after getting out of the poool with no goggles.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #25

    Little Grebe

    Little Grebe

    Report

    Adriana Coppage
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    awwwwwwwww

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #26

    Great Tit

    Great Tit

    Report

    Xander Gonzalez
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Who in the hell is naming these birds! tit birds

    View more comments
    #27

    Black-Necked Grebe

    Black-Necked Grebe

    Report

    glowworm2
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Both shots are adorable.

    View more comments
    #28

    Common Snipe

    Common Snipe

    Report

    SeaShell
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    I'm coming for you

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #29

    Red Throated Diver

    Red Throated Diver

    Report

    Seabeast
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Looks a bit like a loon.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #30

    Oystercatcher

    Oystercatcher

    Report

    Xander Gonzalez
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    the bird or the cow

    View more comments
    #31

    Jay

    Jay

    Report

    Helena Bialecka
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    https://www.boredpanda.com/birds-photography-counting-jays-garden-ruurd-jelle-van-der-leij/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic is this also your post? Great story!

    View more comments
    #32

    House Martin

    House Martin

    Report

    Taylor Bentley
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    looks like a meme

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #33

    Woodcock

    Woodcock

    Report

    Adriana Coppage
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    woodcock really? WHO NAMES THESE

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #34

    Caspian Gull

    Caspian Gull

    Report

    Soph the Loaf
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    It's like he's got red eyeliner!

    View more comments
    #35

    Whinchat

    Whinchat

    Report

    SeaShell
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    Squawk!

    View more comments
    #36

    Curlew

    Curlew

    Report

    Mary Rose Kent
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    North America has the incredibly gorgeous relative, the Long-billed Curlew!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT