You’ve seen them. Those photos where a giant, feathered dinosaur-adjacent creature is staring directly into the lens with an expression that sits somewhere between "I’m judging your life choices" and "I might eat your phone." It's the classic picture of an emu. They are arguably the most photogenic—or perhaps anti-photogenic—animals on the planet.
But honestly, getting a good shot of Dromaius novaehollandiae is harder than it looks. They don't sit still. They’re curious. If you point a DSLR at an emu, there is a 90% chance it will try to peck the glass element within thirty seconds. This isn't just a bird; it's a six-foot-tall ball of chaotic energy wrapped in shaggy, double-veined feathers.
What a Picture of an Emu Actually Tells You
When you look at a high-quality picture of an emu, you aren't just looking at a bird. You’re looking at an evolutionary marvel that has remained largely unchanged for millions of years. Most people focus on the face. That makes sense. The eyes are huge, usually a piercing burnt orange or deep brown, protected by nictitating membranes—clear inner eyelids that act like goggles.
If you look closer at the feathers in a sharp photograph, you’ll notice something weird. Emus have "double" feathers. Two shafts emerge from a single follicle. It gives them that messy, mop-like appearance that looks so distinct in wildlife photography. Unlike flight feathers on a hawk or a duck, emu feathers don't have the tiny hooks (barbicels) that zip everything together. This is why they always look like they just rolled out of bed in a windstorm.
The Lighting Challenge
Getting the light right is a nightmare. Because their feathers are so dark and shaggy, they tend to absorb light rather than reflect it. In a midday sun, a picture of an emu often ends up looking like a giant, black blob with a neck. To get the detail—the blues in the skin of the neck, the individual bristles on the head—you need "golden hour" light or a slightly overcast day.
🔗 Read more: Finding the Right Word That Starts With AJ for Games and Everyday Writing
Professional photographers like Joel Sartore, who runs the Photo Ark project for National Geographic, often use studio-style lighting to capture these birds. In his portraits, you can see the tiny, hair-like feathers on the head that almost look like velvet. It’s a level of detail you just can’t get on a shaky iPhone zoom from twenty feet away at a petting zoo.
Why Do They All Look So Grumpy?
It’s the brow. Emus have a prominent supraorbital ridge. It’s a bony structure above the eyes that protects them from the sun and debris while they’re sprinting at 30 miles per hour across the Australian outback. In a still picture of an emu, this ridge creates a permanent "resting bird face." They look intense.
Actually, they’re just curious. They are attracted to shiny objects. If you’re trying to take their photo, they’re likely trying to figure out if your camera lens is a giant, delicious blueberry.
The Anatomy of a Viral Emu Photo
Most of the emu photos that go viral on platforms like Instagram or Reddit aren't the professional wildlife shots. They’re the "derp" shots. There is a specific angle—shot from slightly below, looking up at the beak—that makes the emu look like a confused grandfather trying to use FaceTime.
💡 You might also like: Is there actually a legal age to stay home alone? What parents need to know
- The "Close-Up": This is where the bird is literally inches from the lens. You get incredible texture on the beak, which is actually quite soft and sensitive at the tip, despite looking like hard plastic.
- The "Sprint": Capturing an emu in motion is a feat of engineering. Their stride can be nine feet long. A photo of an emu running shows the sheer power in those three-toed feet. Fun fact: they are the only birds with calf muscles.
- The "Blue Neck": During breeding season, the skin on the female emu’s neck turns a vivid, turquoise blue. If you see a picture of an emu with a bright blue throat, you’re looking at a lady bird ready to find a mate.
It’s also worth noting that the males are the ones who sit on the eggs. For eight weeks. They don't eat, drink, or poop. They just sit. A photo of a male emu on a nest is a photo of a bird that has lost a third of its body weight. They look haggard, skinny, and incredibly dedicated. It's a side of them the "funny" photos never really capture.
Framing Your Shot: A Technical Perspective
If you’re out in the field—or at a sanctuary—and you want a professional-grade picture of an emu, you have to think about the background. These birds are tall. If you shoot from a standing position, you’re looking down at them, which makes them look smaller and less imposing.
Get low.
Crouching down to their eye level changes the entire perspective. It makes the bird look like the prehistoric giant it is. But be careful. Emus can kick forward. It’s their primary defense mechanism against dingoes. If you’re lying in the grass to get a "low-angle" shot, make sure there’s a fence or a decent amount of space between you and those claws.
📖 Related: The Long Haired Russian Cat Explained: Why the Siberian is Basically a Living Legend
Essential Gear for Emu Photography
You don't need a $10,000 setup, but a few things help.
- Fast Shutter Speed: Even when they aren't running, their heads move in quick, twitchy jerks. You need at least 1/1000th of a second to freeze that motion.
- Telephoto Lens: A 70-200mm is perfect. It gives you enough reach to stay safe but isn't so long that you can't frame the whole bird if it walks toward you.
- Patience: They will ignore you for twenty minutes and then suddenly do something hilarious.
Common Misconceptions Seen in Photos
People often misidentify ostriches as emus in photos. It’s an easy mistake if you aren't looking at the details. An ostrich is much bigger, has two toes instead of three, and the males have stark black-and-white feathers. An emu is always shaggy and brown/grey.
Another thing: if you see a picture of an emu "smiling," it’s actually probably just hot. Like dogs, emus pant to cool down. They open their beaks and flutter their throat muscles (gular fluttering) to dissipate heat. It looks like a grin, but it’s really just a biological radiator at work.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Emu Photographer
If you want to capture your own picture of an emu that actually looks good, follow this workflow:
- Check the Eyes: Use "Animal Eye AF" if your camera has it. If the eye isn't sharp, the photo is a throwaway.
- Avoid the "Flat" Look: Try to get the bird at a 45-degree angle. Side profiles are okay, but a three-quarter view shows the depth of the beak and the texture of the feathers much better.
- Watch the Toes: Don't "clip" the feet in your framing. An emu's feet are its most impressive feature—they are essentially dinosaur feet. Keep them in the frame.
- Lure Them (Safely): Don't feed them junk, but rustling a dry leaf or a blade of grass can get them to tilt their head in that classic, inquisitive "emu pose."
The next time you scroll past a picture of an emu, look at the details. Look at the weird, hair-like feathers, the massive scales on the legs, and those intense, orange eyes. They are a link to a world that existed long before humans started carrying cameras, and every photo is a chance to see that history up close.