"The Wild Art of Wildlife Photography Blog
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Photography of portraits and lifestyle photography. Photo editing, and so on.
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Quick Links
- What Is Wildlife Photography?
- Wildlife Photography Ideas
- Equipment
- How to Photography Wildlife
- Wildlife Photography Techniques
What Is Wildlife Photography?
When you think of photography for wildlife, you might think of images of roaring lions and majestic elephants on The pages of National Geographic. They certainly count, but wildlife photography encompasses far more. The goal is to capture every kind of animal within their natural environment, from the butterflies in your garden to squirrels that roam parks in cities to the moose you spot while camping.
Ideas for Wildlife Photography
Before we go into how to capture wildlife photos, we'll review several beautiful images.
Wildlife Portraits
Wildlife Action Shots
You need to keep an eye on the animal for a long time in order to get a good action photo and it's totally worth it.
Wildlife Interaction Photos
One animal can be great however, capturing two animals interaction is much better!
Black and White Wildlife Photography
Take away all the color, and allow the eye to focus only on the action as well as the narrative.
Macro Wildlife Photography
Frogs and insects are perfect models for macro photography. They can take close-up photos of tiny things to make them appear larger in comparison to what they actually are.
Equipment
In order to take high-quality photographs of animals, you'll need an expert camera, the long lens and some other pieces of equipment.
Camera
Investing in a great DSLR or mirrorless camera can help you take the perfect photo at just the right moment. Find something that has:
- A high frame-rate: A frame-rate of minimum 8-10 frames per second will allow you to use burst mode and capture sharp photos of swiftly moving subjects.
- Excellent auto-focus It's not going to be easy or have the time to manually focus on your subjects, so this is crucial.
- Weather sealing: Rain or shine, extreme heat or cold Your camera must be able to withstand any weather condition and continue working at its top.
Telephoto Lens
As with all genres of photography, it's great to have an assortment of lenses available, but when it comes to wildlife photography, you can't be without a telephoto lens.
Telephoto lenses feature the longest focal length, which permits you to focus on your subject from far away. It is particularly useful for wildlife photography because most of the time, you won't be able to get physically close to wildlife. Certain species are prone to being frightened and will disappear quickly before you've had a chance to photograph them. Some are just too risky to get close to.
Another good reason to invest in a telephoto lens is that it gives an extremely sought-after blurred background, also known as "bokeh". It will help separate your subject from the background and make it stand out.
Telephoto lenses are available in an array of focal lengths. Anything over 60mm is as a telephoto lens. However, they can go all the way to 800mm. The longer the lens, the more expensive it tends to cost, so choose the length that you are able to manage. If you're on a tight budget, think about purchasing an older lens that has a good selling value.
Tripod
Weather Gear
Do not be scared to venture outdoors in rainy weather. Use this as an opportunity to snap some amazing photos. However, you must make sure to invest in top quality gear to protect you from the elements. It is essential to wear warm clothing, a raincoat as well as rain boots and the like. Make sure to safeguard your camera and lens, and also. Even though it's weather-sealed the addition of a rain-proof cover would not hurt.
Blinds and Camouflage
How do you capture wildlife?
Every genre of photography has their own ideal techniques. Learn how to utilize setting, lighting, and composition, to enhance your chance of taking the most stunning photographs of wildlife.
Camera Settings
There are three main settings that will help you take sharp, well-exposed photos:
- Manual Mode
Before shooting, familiarize yourself with the elements of the triangle called exposure, namely aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. You should also know the way they interact to allow light into the lens of your camera.
With wildlife photography It is crucial to have total control over your aperture. It will decide your depth of field along with the shutter speed. This can help you capture sharp pictures of animals that are moving quickly. If you're using manual mode, you'll be able to set both of these settings, while the camera automatically adjusts the ISO (its sensitivity to light) to compensate.
- Continuous Focus
Animals don't stay still for long, so you'll need to track them with your camera until you're prepared to get the shot you want. Continuous focus allows your camera to keep the subject in focus while you monitor it.
- Burst Mode
For fast-moving animals like birds or squirrels, you can use burst mode. This lets you capture 8-10 per second (or more depending the frame rate of your camera), so you never lose a moment of beauty.
Lighting
Alternatively, you can shoot in a cloudy day when the clouds can act like a diffuser to the sun. Just keep in mind, when you're photographing animals or birds swimming in the waters, overcast conditions could make the water appear dull and dark.
Composition
If you see an animal, you won't have to take a long amount of time trying to figure out composition. That being said, keep these basic tips in your mind and make an effort to follow them when you're able:
Make Space Where the Subject is looking
In the case of an example, if it's facing the right, make sure it looks like there's room for it to move towards that direction. If not, your photo will seem sloppy and cramped.
Eliminate Any Distracting Elements
Make sure the animal is the focus of the photo--remove any distracting branches or tree trunks from the foreground and utilize a low depth of field to blur out the background.
Get Down on Their Level
If you're shooting or capturing a chipmunk for instance, lie down on the floor and place your camera at their eye in the same direction.
Try to Get Eye Contact
The most stunning photos feature the animal looking directly at the camera. If that's not possible, try to keep the eyes visible and in focus.
Create a Story
Close-up portraits are fantastic however, you could create a narrative by zooming in and capturing certain aspects of the animals' surroundings, showing them in motion, or perhaps capturing two animals interacting with each other.
Wildlife Photography Tips
Photography's technical elements aside, here's some additional tips for taking your most beautiful wildlife photographs.
Learn to Know the Animals
Do a bit of study prior to going out shooting. Being aware of the diverse species that you may encounter as well as their behaviour patterns and how comfortable they are with humans can help you better anticipate their actions.
Be patient and persevere
Professional wildlife photographers sometimes have to wait for weeks in order to capture an ideal shot. If you're determined and patient, you'll not mind spending long hours sitting and waiting or crossing a creek to get an ideal perspective. The effort you put in will pay off at the end.
Always be ready
The nature of photography can be unpredictable and you have no control over how the wildlife behave. It is therefore essential to know your camera well Practice changing settings frequently and remain ready to capture the perfect shot whenever the chance arises.
Test It For Yourself
Start small and see whether wildlife photography is for you. Just bring your camera to your next hiking or camping adventure. You never know who you'll meet!
Start Photographing Wildlife Today
Masterclass Ultimate Field Guide to Wildlife Photography