Stunning moments of a murmuration of starlings captured on video.
With this film, I wanted to capture something unique. And I’m very excited to finally release this film and I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed experiencing it. I witnessed a truly magical spectacle - a murmuration of starlings in The Netherlands, close to my hometown Rotterdam. A breathtaking dance unfolded before my eyes as an astonishing 100,000 birds came together and performed astonishing acrobatics, weaving interesting shapes in the air. It was as if they were putting on a ballet performance in the vast expanse of the sky. The sound of their flight was incredible and felt like a massive tidal wave of wings being stirred by the gentle wind… As a landscape- and travel photographer, this is what I love most. To be able to experience the natural wonders of the world.
Why do they flock together? And why don't they collide? I have written a blog about The Murmuration of Starlings, in which I answer the four most frequently asked questions about this breathtaking natural wonder. Read it here.
About the movie
The video was captured near a village called Alphen in The Netherlands, on a late afternoon during sunset in January 2021. After several attempts to find the perfect location to photograph them, the birds suddenly started ’dancing’. To capture the shapes, I decided to create a movie with my iPhone 12 Pro Max. If you look closer, you can see a big predator bird chasing them, which creates quick, unique shapes and patterns in the sky, trying to avoid the big bird. After a while, the flock calmed down and became smaller as more and more birds dived down to sleep in the sheltered bushes. The hypnotizing show only lasted for a few minutes and left me speechless. To have been able to actually find them and to capture these stunning moments, felt like a true miracle. A moment I will cherish for the rest of my life, and feeling fortunate to be a witness to this incredible natural phenomenon.
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Video licenses Available
A video license is available to take your projects to the next level. The starlings footage unintentionally went viral (over 4.1 million views on my Instagram account), mesmerizing many people with this magical ‘dance’ of the hunted starlings, and has since then been shared by many big media such as Discover Earth, AD, RTL nieuws, Beautiful Destinations, Apple, Earth, Earthpix, The Ellen Degeneres Show and many more.
Underneath you will find the license rates on my video. All license rates are for non-exclusive licenses (please contact for exclusive license requests). Please note that these rates apply for restricted online usage of your website, newsletter and your presentations. In regards to other usage, custom rates apply. Click on the button underneath or contact me at info@claireonline.nl
Option 1: 30 sec of choice - 1-year video license - 2000 euros*
Option 2: 30 sec of choice - 2-year video license - 3800 euros*
Option 3: 30 sec of choice - 3-year video license - 5400 euros*
Option 4: 30 sec of choice - 4-year video license -7500 euros*
*Sound not included | Non-exclusive | 30 seconds of choice | 4K resolution at 60fps | Usage: website, newsletter and presentations.
Technical information
Total duration Dance of the Starlings: 2.48 minutes
Captured: Saturday, February 27, 2021 - 18:32 pm
Footage Size: approx. 838 GB
Gear Used: Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Settings: 4K, 60fps
Sound: Not included
fine art prints are Available
I offer the underneath collection of fine art prints that are perfect for adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home or office. The images are available as fine art prints in two sizes:
Print on Canson Infinity fine art paper | 20 x 30 cm
Print on Canson Infinity fine art paper | 45 x 30 cm
For purchasing a fine art print, please click on the button underneath or contact me at info@claireonline.nl
Image licences are Available
Images licences are available, for online media marketing usage: web, apps, eNewsletters, e-boards, presentations and social media.
OPTION 1: digital image for marketing purposes - 1-YEAR LICENSE - 250 EUROS p/i*
OPTION 2: digital image for marketing purposes - 2-YEAR LICENSE - 475 EUROS p/i*
OPTION 3: digital image for marketing purposes - 3-YEAR LICENSE - 650 EUROS p/i*
OPTION 4: digital image for marketing purposes - 4-YEAR LICENSE - 850 EUROS p/i*
Non-exclusive | Size: 2500px wide | with photocredits
ABOUT Claire Droppert
Claire Droppert is a photographer whose work celebrates serenity, simplicity, and silence. She is drawn to desolate spaces, landscapes, and open expanses of coastlines. Her focus on minimalistic subjects, combined with her unique editing style results in her signature dreamy, ethereal look. Her images have earned her over 325,000 Instagram followers and her work has appeared in publications, including Discovery magazine, The Huffington Post, Wired, ABCNews, This is Colossal, BOOOOOM, and Fubiz. Find out more here.