photography series by kathryn cooper maps aerial choreography of starling murmurations

Kathryn Cooper frames the dance of starlings with her lens

Dr. Kathryn Cooper, a British scientist and photographer, bridges the worlds of science and art in her Order series, capturing mesmerizing depictions of starling murmurations. For the past eight years, she has dedicated herself to freezing these dynamic displays into frames, where flocks of starlings move as one fluid entity in the skies over the UK during winter. Her work delves into the mechanics and beauty of these natural phenomena, creating imagery that transcends traditional wildlife photography.

Each year, European starlings migrate to the UK from colder regions of northern Europe, gathering in enormous numbers from November to March. By day, they disperse across fields to feed. At dusk, small groups coalesce into larger flocks, eventually converging at their historic roost sites. These gatherings culminate in spectacular aerial displays, known as murmurations, where the birds weave intricate patterns across the sky. As the flocks twist and undulate, their choreographical movements produce a palpable rush of air and an almost orchestral cacophony of sound. ‘In a flock of starlings, nature has evolved a system that is robust to predation, where many eyes look out for attack, and where risk is shared amongst the group,’ the photographer explains. ‘Remarkably, the group achieves this without any leadership structure, the simple interactions between individuals creating outcomes greater than the sum of their parts.’

images courtesy of Dr. Kathryn Cooper

layered compositions reveal the dynamic behavior of the flock

Cooper’s process is rooted in patience and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. The seasonal nature of her subject matter means she often waits months before seeing the results of her work. ‘It’s a process driven by curiosity rather than the outcome,’ she says. ‘This requires patience and a certain amount of ease with uncertainty that is lacking in today’s world of instant gratification.’

Drawing from her background in complex systems and medical imaging, Kathryn Cooper has developed a unique approach to photographing murmurations. Inspired by the late 19th-century chronophotography techniques of English photographer Eadweard Muybridge and French physiologist Étienne-Jules Marey, the artist captures successive moments of starling movement and overlays them in a single frame. This technique, enhanced by modern digital technology, transforms fleeting patterns into rich, layered compositions that reveal the dynamic behavior of the flock. Cooper’s work emphasizes the fluidity and interconnectedness of murmurations. Some of her pieces combine hundreds of exposures, while others rely on just a few, but all aim to convey the ‘imperfect repetition’ and rhythm inherent in these aerial ballets.

Kathryn Cooper bridges the worlds of science and art in her Order series