On the sandy Adriatic shores of the Abruzzo region in Italy, a 40g bird small enough to fit in the palm of your hand darts at lightning pace between beachgoers. The Kentish plover is a familiar sight for locals, but what many might not know is just how quickly its numbers are declining. Unchecked urban development, together with a relentless exploitation of sand beaches for tourism, have significantly impacted the shorebird's natural habitat, threatening its nesting sites. Renowned wildlife photographer and passionate ornithologist Bruno D'Amicis aims to change that, equipped with the Canon EOS R3 and a Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM lens.
The Canon Ambassador is well known for documenting endangered species in his native Italy with his Canon EOS-1D X Mark III – from wildcats and Orsini's vipers to griffon vultures. He believes photography can play a crucial role in raising awareness, serving as a common language that can draw attention to the plight of the natural world, as well as those making efforts to preserve it.
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Can the Canon EOS R3 keep up with the tiny and lightning-fast Kentish plover?
Moved by the compassion of dozens of volunteers at the Salva Fratino project, coordinated by WWF together with the Area Marina Protetta Torre del Cerrano and the Riserva del Borsacchio, who are monitoring and protecting this species, Bruno was determined to bring the story to light. It's a task easier said than done, though. These diminutive birds are shy and move with incredible and unpredictable speed. Even with high-end DSLR equipment the challenge is immense.
"I'd always dreamt of the perfect backlit picture showing the sand grains raised by the bird's feet," says Bruno. "But the animals outperformed the AF, or the composition was not satisfying."
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Thankfully, this time Bruno was armed with the latest generation features of the Canon EOS R3, including 30fps continuous shooting, advanced AF modes, an improved EVF experience and in-body image stabilisation (IBIS).
Preparing for the shoot
Bruno obtained permission to photograph the protected species through the WWF, who assisted him on preliminary site visits to determine the most suitable nesting site for the shoot. These visits also gave Bruno an idea of the birds' behaviour and an opportunity to observe and document the wider conservation work.
On the day of the shoot, Bruno, kitted out in camouflage, crawled like a marine to a safe distance from the nests and settled belly-down, the weather-sealed camera and lens at sand level to convey the perspective of the nimble shorebirds. Once the light was right, the backlit shot he dreamt of would be possible.
With such skittish and erratic subjects, Bruno needed to be patient and unobtrusive to get close enough to the birds without disturbing them. "Kentish plover chicks are extremely small and very fast, and their parents often keep them safely away from humans. In order to keep my distance and take pictures without interfering with them, I used a Canon Extender RF 2x mounted behind the Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM lens," he explains.
A tripod would not have worked here. With a fixed camera point it would have been impossible to keep track of the subjects as they darted across and out of frame. For flexibility and ease of movement, the only option was to shoot handheld, relying on the image stabilisation in the EOS R3 and his lens for steady, blur-free shots.
The camera in the hand
Although smaller and lighter than many DSLRs, the EOS R3's weather-sealed magnesium alloy body provides high impact resistance and durability, making it just as tough as Bruno's previous camera, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. "The EOS R3 is a perfect size and grip, with great battery life," he says. "Ergonomically, it reminded me of my Canon EOS 3 analogue camera. For me, that extra sturdiness makes it the ideal camera – even over my Canon EOS R5."
Even at a distance from the birds, it was crucial to make as little noise as possible and to stay very still. "I've taken shots before using a mechanical shutter, and the birds jump up at the sharp noise. The silent electronic shutter in the EOS R3 was crucial for getting the shots I hoped for," Bruno says.
The EVF, which applies your exposure settings to preview exactly how shots will turn out, also helped Bruno to remain completely still. "Even small movements, such as lowering the camera to check an image on the rear LCD screen, can be enough to scare the birds," he explains. Thanks to these features, Bruno was able to get just three metres away from his subjects without startling them.
The EOS R3's EVF also proved to be a revelation for panning movements and in low light. "It's so fast in frequency and so incredibly bright that it's almost indistinguishable from an optical viewfinder," says Bruno. "There's no lag, even in really low light. It didn't feel like I was working with a mirrorless camera."
The EOS R3 in action
Positioning the EOS R3 at sand level to achieve the same perspective as the birds was a real test of the camera's capabilities. "These birds are very small and extremely fast, and they quickly disappear among the sand ripples, providing a real challenge for the photographer who has to lie on the beach and handhold both a camera and a large super-telephoto lens," says Bruno.
The EOS R3 features Animal AF which includes an algorithm specially to recognise and track birds, and this can be paired with a new Flexi Zone AF which enables you to adjust the size and shape of the autofocus area. This flexibility is particularly useful for small subjects such as the Kentish plover. "Once the Animal AF is locked, nothing gets in the way. Dunes, vegetation – I never lost the subject," says Bruno.
Bruno also found the EOS R3's AF suggestion feature particularly useful, especially when numerous birds were in shot. When using Animal Eye AF, a blue box appears around the eye in focus, while secondary grey boxes appear around any other eyes the camera detects in frame. "With just a touch I could quickly switch focus," he says. "If I had any lack of confidence in one focal point, the camera would suggest another."
As well as the additional AF flexibility and accuracy, the EOS R3's RF Mount also has a 12-pin connection that provides more communication speed and bandwidth between the camera and the Dual Power Focus Drive of the Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM lens, delivering even greater focusing performance. "I was amazed by how quickly the EOS R3 focused on and tracked the birds," says Bruno.
Going off-road with EOS R3
Capturing the dream shot
The greatest test was Bruno's dream shot. Would the birds outperform his kit this time around? Having observed the Kentish plovers' behaviour all day, honing his technique to capture the split-second action, Bruno was ready. And, when the moment came, the speed of the bird was matched by the 30fps electronic shutter of the EOS R3. "Thanks to the fast shutter and the incredible AF of the EOS R3, I could focus on composition rather than technique," says Bruno. "I was blown away when I finally captured the magic moment – a male came directly towards me in wonderful sunset light, with the sand glittering all around it."
The ability to focus in light as low as -7.5 EV meant the EOS R3 was perfect for taking shots of the chicks late in the day, when most beachgoers had left. Bruno again used the Canon Extender RF 2x with the Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM lens to effectively create a 1200mm f/8 lens – a real test of focusing power and accuracy in low light.
"I was amazed to see how well the image stabilisation and the AF of the EOS R3 performed in tracking the running chicks despite the low light conditions," he says. "The images at ISO6400 were super sharp."
All of Bruno's images were shot handheld, and the improved IS of up to 5.5 stops made for consistently blur-free images – and even steady video clips. "I took around 12,000 pictures on the day, and they were nearly all sharp. This gave me a nice problem: just so many images to choose from."
Many locals have an affection for the Kentish plover, and Bruno believes it can be a great ambassador for these threatened shoreline habitats. Working with local conservation groups, he is piecing together a book about the impact of human behaviour on the region's wildlife, and plans to exhibit his work on these scenic shores.
Bruno D'Amicis' kitbag
The key kit pros use to take their photographs
Cameras
Canon EOS R3
A high-performance, high-speed full frame mirrorless camera, marking a new era for sports, wildlife and news photographers. "I was amazed by how quickly the EOS R3 focused on and tracked the birds," says Bruno.
Canon EOS R5
Rethink what you know about mirrorless cameras. The EOS R5 boasts uncompromising performance that will revolutionise your photography and filmmaking.
Lenses
Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM
A high performance super telephoto lens with class-leading portability and performance, the RF 600mm F4L IS USM puts you right in the middle of the action.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
This L-series lens has a reputation among professional photographers as being the go-to zoom lens, thanks to its sharp optics and ability to be used in almost any environment.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
A compact, versatile professional L-series sports and wildlife zoom with 4-stop Image Stabilizer and ASC coating for superb sharpness.
Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM
Fast and wide – the ultimate ultra-wide zoom for professionals.
Accessories
Canon Extender RF 2x
Extend your reach even further with a 2x extender designed specifically for the RF lens system, maintaining image quality and high-speed communication between camera and lens.
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