11:29 pm - February 22, 2025
James Crombie, an award-winning sports photographer, found himself drawn into the captivating world of starlings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, Crombie’s work primarily revolved around high-energy sports events, including three Olympic Games, rugby, and hurling. However, with the sudden halt of major sporting events, he discovered a new passion that would change his career trajectory and personal life. What began as a distraction from the isolation of lockdown turned into an obsession, as Crombie became fascinated with the mesmerizing phenomenon of starling murmurations.
Crombie’s journey into wildlife photography began when a grieving friend suggested visiting a nearby lake, Lough Ennell in Ireland’s County Westmeath, to witness the starlings in flight. Despite his lack of knowledge about these birds—his only prior encounter was with one that fell into his fireplace—Crombie brought along his camera, unaware that this moment would mark the start of a new chapter. On their first evening, around 100 starlings took to the sky, forming a small murmuration.Over the next few nights, Crombie and his friend returned to the lake, experimenting with different vantage points and learning the patterns of the starlings. This routine not only provided solace for his friend but also ignited a deep fascination in Crombie. He soon realized that capturing these fleeting moments required the same skill and quick reflexes as sports photography. “You get one split second,” he noted, comparing the two fields. “They’re both shot at relatively high speeds and they’re both shot with equipment that can handle that.”
As the weeks turned into months, Crombie’s interest in starlings grew into an addiction. He began to notice the intricate patterns and shapes formed by the birds in flight, which reminded him of the subtle gradations of paint strokes. Determined to capture a recognizable shape within the swirling murmurations, he spent night after night by the lake, snapping thousands of photos. His patience paid off when, one evening, he captured a stunning image resembling the leafy crown of a bare-branched tree on the lakeshore. He recalls thinking, “I thought that was the shot.” Yet, even this breakthrough didn’t satisfy him; he and his friend continued their nightly visits, driven by a shared sense of wonder and discovery.
Around the 50th night, something extraordinary happened. Crombie’s friend captured a video of a murmuration that looked like a massive, curved, winged form reflected in the water below. In that moment, Crombie snapped a rapid-fire sequence of more than 60 images, seven of which showed the formation. Among these, one image stood out—it captured the starlings forming the shape of a giant bird, a fleeting but perfect moment that would go viral worldwide. The photo not only earned Crombie widespread recognition but also became a defining moment in his career, appearing in magazines, on the front page of the Irish Times, and even on murals and buildings across the globe.
The viral success of the image marked a turning point for Crombie. What had started as a distraction during the pandemic became a full-fledged passion project that consumed four years of his life. He estimates that he took around half a million photos during this time, 200 of which are featured in his book, Murmurations, published by The Lilliput Press. The book combines his most breathtaking images of the starlings with close-ups and scenic shots of Lough Ennell, offering readers a glimpse into the beauty and complexity of these natural wonders. While Crombie has since returned to sports photography, he admits that his love for wildlife photography remains strong, and he hopes to pursue it full-time one day.
Crombie’s journey with starlings not only transformed his career but also brought him a sense of purpose during a challenging time. His story highlights the unexpected ways in which life can shift and the importance of embracing new passions. Even now, despite his wife’s playful reminder that the project should have ended with the book’s publication, Crombie continues to visit Lough Ennell, finding peace and inspiration in the starlings’ nightly displays. “There could be a lot worse ways to spend two hours in the evening,” he says, reflecting on the joy and fulfillment this pursuit has brought him. Murmurations is not just a collection of photographs; it is a testament to the beauty of nature, the power of obsession, and the unexpected paths life can take.