A photograph is more than an image—it’s a piece of art suspended in time. It captures light, emotion, and motion, distilling them into something lasting. Some photographs tell stories. Others reveal the unseen. The finest do both—and they endure.

One of nature photography’s most captivating subjects is the Gruccione, or European Bee-eater—a bird whose radiant plumage and elegant flight have made it a favorite among wildlife photographers such as Michael Lovera. Yet the Gruccione is far from an easy subject to photograph. Found along riversides and meadows from late spring to mid-summer, the Bee-eater’s beauty is rivaled only by the challenge of capturing it.

Migratory by nature, the Bee-eater spends winters in sub-Saharan Africa and returns to Europe each year to breed. This long journey across continents makes it a symbol of seasonal change, endurance, and ecological connection—a perfect metaphor for timelessness, motion, and return in visual storytelling.

Its plumage is among the most colorful in Europe, with a turquoise chest, golden-brown back, lemon-yellow throat, and bold black eye stripe. It nests in colonies, digging long horizontal tunnels—sometimes stretching 1–2 meters— into sandy riverbanks or soft cliffs. These nesting sites, often reused year after year, are typically precarious and hard to access, requiring photographers to set up on unstable ground or even in water.

As its name suggests, the European Bee-eater feeds mainly on flying insects such as bees and wasps, which it catches mid-flight with remarkable precision. Before swallowing stinging prey, it performs a dramatic behavioral flourish: rubbing the insect against a branch to remove the stinger. Capturing this moment adds narrative depth to a photo and rewards the patient, observant photographer.

During nesting season, typically between May and July, Bee-eaters establish colonies along exposed slopes or sandy banks. Photographers seeking the most compelling images often work near these sites, building camouflaged hides and enduring long, silent hours in often extreme environments. High temperatures, harsh light, persistent insects, and unpredictable terrain make reliability non-negotiable. 

Gear with Unshakable Stability

On Michael Lovera’s journey to capture the Bee-eater, the Gitzo Systematic Tripod and Gimbal Head proved indispensable. The four-section systematic tripod, combined with the G-lock system, allowed for quick and precise height adjustments and adaptability on any terrain—from riverbanks to uneven ground—while providing excellent stability for ground-level shots, which Lovera noted as a personal favorite.

Rubber articulated feet played a crucial role in maintaining grip on difficult surfaces, including slippery submerged rocks under flowing water. The tripod absorbed shocks and kept the setup steady and secure from the first moment.

Thanks to its fluid movement and total control, the Gitzo Gimbal Head performed flawlessly not only in photography, but also in video work—enabling smooth, shake-free panning without micro-jitters. The ergonomic knobs with superior grip ensured full control, even when wet or in contact with water—a common scenario in wildlife photography where fast reactions are everything.

The carbon fiber legs of the Systematic and the magnesium construction of the Gimbal made the entire system light and easy to carry across long treks and difficult landscapes. For wildlife photographers constantly balancing performance with portability, this combination delivered the perfect compromise between quality and weight.

“In these products, I found the security I was looking for—without giving up anything else—security, stability, or elegance. Gitzo provided the stability I needed to shoot with absolute precision—even when partially immersed in water.”

This article is part of the “Photography That Lasts Forever” campaign by Gitzo. This was a Gitzo adventure with Michael Lovera.

For more information: 

Gitzo 

GT4543LSUS — Gitzo tripod Systematic, series 4 long, 4 sections.

GHFG1 — Gimbal Fluid Head.

Michael Lovera on Instagram

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