Photography of animals in Wildlife
Just close your eyes for a moment and try to imagine what the essence of wildlife photography can be. You are bound to see mesmerizing images of lions or cheetahs in action.
That’s because this photography class is all about capturing and captivating you! If you have a passion for photography and like to be immersed in nature, live and not wild, wildlife photography is the perfect choice for you.
There are several key factors that will play a major role in shaping each image while attracting you to “kill”. You simply can’t take your camera and go straight into the game reserve to shoot a wild animal. You will have to learn and not learn. The results, once out of your camera, are well worth the wait despite the difficult but thrilling process involved in capturing the game.
There are a few commandments you must follow when photographing wildlife and these are: develop skills that will help you track a tiger through 100 square miles of woodland.
1) Tracking is important for the perfect shot, and you can do this by tracking footprints and droppings.
2) Patience: Patience is a great virtue and if you want a great picture you will have to wait. Don’t forget that you are on their territory!
3) Eye contact: One of the important rules of wildlife photography is: never attempt to make eye contact with larger, more dangerous wildlife like lions, cheetahs, leopards and even wild animals.
4) Time: Time is synonymous with wildlife photography. If you are not present at the right time, you will definitely miss the opportunity. You can achieve timing perfection by applying watch-and-wait theory.
5) Proximity: Do not get too close to predators as their behavior can be erratic and dangerous. If you use a DSLR with a telephoto lens, you can even photograph wildlife from a distance.
6) Clothing: During the shoot, it is recommended to wear clothes with earth tones rather than camouflage.
7) Movement: Wildlife responds to movement and even the slightest movement can frighten neuros like deer and zebras. Sometimes you also need to “stalk” your subject, like a predator stalking its prey.
Now that you know the different aspects of wildlife photography, all you need is a good camera. Any camera that offers the following is a good choice:
This camera must provide automatic manual override. The camera must have an autofocus option as well as a manual focus option.
The camera must allow you to set the required shutter speed and aperture.It must also have a remote mechanical unlock option.
Your camera must have a wide-angle lens starting at 28mm and going up to 70mm or 105mm. It should also have a telephoto zoom from 70mm to 100mm and be capable of reaching 300mm.
Some other necessary accessories are a polarizing filter, a heated filter (81A or B), a UV filter, a lens hood and a camera bag.
Once you have your camera and lens ready, it’s a good idea to start in your backyard to try before you start getting serious about wildlife photography. Don’t forget to enjoy your “shoot“!
To get good photos of animals and birds, you’ll have to learn how to quickly set up and frame your photos. Waiting to go out into the desert to learn these tricks is not a good idea. What I find very helpful is practicing on cats and birds in my yard or local park.
You learn to anticipate their behavior and react quickly to get the right shots. Here are some tips on how to best photograph animals and birds in the wild.
Practice photographing moving targets. Learning to pan through moving targets will allow you to take breathtaking photos with a sense of speed.
Bring your camera and prepare for unexpected encounters. Make sure that the camera battery is fully charged and that there is enough film or memory available.
Before going to an area, learn about the animals and birds commonly found there. Learn all you can about these animals and birds. This will help you know where to look for them and what types of behavior to expect.
Learn to walk and move gently and practice staying in your position so that your presence does not startle or threaten the animal.
Learn to observe everything around you with all your senses. With a little practice, you’ll gain the ability to perceive small movements, unusual colors or sounds, or even smells that can alert you to the presence of an animal or bird even when They are well camouflaged.
I can’t believe how many times I see people walking past wild animals without noticing them. Hiking with awareness of your surroundings greatly enhances your experience.
Basically, a telephoto lens is indispensable. It brings you a little closer without scaring the animals. Using a tripod isn’t always necessary, if there’s enough light you can shoot at a fast shutter speed to eliminate shake. Some telephoto lenses have shake reduction technology but are significantly more expensive.
When photographing animals and birds, make sure that the focus on their eyes is as sharp as possible.Shoot small animals from a lower angle.
The best time of day to see and photograph wildlife is early in the morning and before dark. This is when wildlife is usually at its most active and the lights are most spectacular.
Try to keep the sun behind you so that the light hits your subject directly.
Using all these tips will help you improve your nature photography. The most important thing is practice, practice, practice and don’t forget to have fun
