A Day Among the Seabirds – Photographing Bempton Cliffs with the OM System 100–400mm
Some places simply overwhelm the senses the moment you arrive. Bempton Cliffs, on the spectacular Yorkshire coast, is one of them.
Long before you see the birds, you hear them. Tens of thousands of seabirds fill the air with an almost constant chorus of calls while the unmistakable scent of a busy breeding colony drifts up from the cliffs below. Looking out across the North Sea, white specks quickly become recognisable as Northern Gannets, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and, if you're lucky, Puffins. The sky is never empty.
As a photographer, it's one of those places where every direction offers another opportunity.
Choosing the Right Equipment
For this trip, I travelled relatively light, carrying my OM System OM-1 Mark II paired with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 IS lens.
For wildlife photography, particularly at coastal colonies, this combination is difficult to beat.
The OM-1 Mark II is designed around speed. Birds rarely wait for photographers, and the camera's advanced autofocus, rapid continuous shooting and excellent image stabilisation make it ideal for capturing unpredictable movement. Even after hours of carrying it around the clifftop paths, the relatively lightweight Micro Four Thirds system remains comfortable.
The real star of the day, however, was the 100-400mm lens.
Because the OM System uses the Micro Four Thirds format, that lens provides an effective field of view equivalent to 200-800mm on a full-frame camera. That kind of reach allows you to isolate birds perched high on inaccessible cliff ledges or follow gannets sweeping gracefully past the cliffs without needing enormous professional telephoto lenses that weigh several kilograms.
One of the biggest surprises for photographers new to this lens is just how hand-holdable it is.
I spent the entire day virtually shooting without a tripod.
The in-body stabilisation of the OM-1, working together with the stabilisation built into the lens, allows remarkably sharp images while remaining mobile enough to react quickly whenever a bird suddenly appears
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At Bempton, mobility often matters more than ultimate stability because the action is happening all around you.
Photograph 1 – A Portrait of Elegance
Sometimes wildlife photography isn't about action. It's about simplicity.
The clean background of the sea isolates the bird perfectly, allowing the subtle cream colouring around its head to contrast beautifully with its brilliant white plumage. The vivid blue eye immediately draws your attention, then follows the graceful curve of the neck towards the long, dagger-like bill.
The longer focal length helped compress the scene while producing a wonderfully uncluttered background.
Photograph 2 – Flight Made Effortless
Photographing birds in flight is one of the greatest challenges in wildlife photography.
Fortunately, Gannets almost seem to enjoy helping photographers.
They glide effortlessly on the coastal winds, often passing surprisingly close to the cliff edge. Rather than frantic wingbeats, they simply bank and soar with incredible elegance.
This image demonstrates why fast autofocus is so important. The OM-1 Mark II locked onto the bird confidently while the lens tracked smoothly across the frame.
Although the effective reach is equivalent to 800mm, the relatively small size of the lens means it remains responsive enough to follow birds in flight for extended periods without fatigue.
Photograph 3 – The Quiet Character of the Razorbill
Razorbills rarely receive the same attention as Puffins.
Yet they possess a quiet elegance all of their own.
Their bold black-and-white plumage creates striking graphic shapes, while the distinctive white line across the bill makes them instantly recognisable.
This bird was resting peacefully among the rocks, allowing time to observe behaviour rather than simply chasing photographs.
Sometimes patience produces stronger images than speed.
Photograph 4 – Life on the Cliff Face
Perched on impossibly narrow ledges, surrounded by sheer drops into the sea below, they somehow manage to raise their chicks in places that appear almost inaccessible.
Photographing these birds requires careful composition.
The surrounding rock becomes part of the story, illustrating just how dramatic Bempton's cliffs really are.
Photograph 5 – A Moment Between Partners
At first glance, they simply appear to be looking skywards.
In reality, this behaviour forms part of their courtship and pair-bonding displays. Gannets mate for life, returning year after year to the same nesting sites and often greeting one another with synchronised movements, gentle bill pointing and ritualised displays.
Capturing behaviour like this always feels more rewarding than simply photographing another portrait.
It tells a story.
Photograph 6 – Looking into the Eye
Standing at a respectful distance, I was able to fill the frame with remarkable detail.
The pale blue iris appears almost luminous against the black facial markings, while every feather around the head remains beautifully defined.
It's easy to understand why so many photographers become fascinated with Gannets after a visit to Bempton.
Their combination of elegance, power and striking colours makes them endlessly photogenic.
Why the OM System Excels Here
There is often a misconception that wildlife photography demands the biggest camera and the largest lens available.
Places like Bempton challenge that idea.
Walking several miles along exposed cliff paths while constantly raising the camera quickly highlights the advantages of a lighter system.
The OM-1 Mark II and 100-400mm combination offers:
Effective 200-800mm field of view.
Excellent in-body and lens image stabilisation.
Fast subject detection and autofocus.
High frame rates for birds in flight.
Weather sealing for unpredictable coastal conditions.
A compact size that encourages you to carry it all day.
Photography isn't simply about image quality. It's about having equipment that allows you to stay out longer, react faster and enjoy the experience without being burdened by heavy gear.
Final Thoughts
Every visit to Bempton Cliffs is different.
The light changes by the minute, the wind dictates how the birds fly, and no two encounters are ever quite the same.
What remains constant is the sheer spectacle of the place.
Thousands of birds filling the sky, dramatic white chalk cliffs dropping into the North Sea, and endless opportunities to observe behaviour that most people rarely get to witness.
For me, that's what wildlife photography is really about. It's not simply collecting pictures. It's spending time immersed in the natural world, learning to watch more carefully, slowing down, and coming away with a deeper appreciation for the wildlife we are privileged to photograph.
If you're looking for a destination that combines breathtaking scenery with some of Britain's finest wildlife photography, Bempton Cliffs deserves a place at the very top of your list. And if you're carrying an OM System camera with the 100–400mm lens, you'll have a combination that feels perfectly at home on the cliff tops.
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