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Wildlife Photography Tips

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Wildlife Photography

Photo Credit: Mia Rose

Wildlife photography offers one of the most challenging and rewarding opportunities to catch nature at its finest.

Using these wildlife photography tips, you can work towards getting that perfect shot that might even earn a little income!

Lighting is Everything

Whatever you are shooting, lighting is a primary consideration. Cloudy days can act as a softening agent when taking photos, since it diffuses the sunlight. It also eliminates shadows that might interfere with your pictures. You will have to adjust shutter speeds and the ISO so the pictures retain their clarity when shooting in cloudy conditions, so be prepared to make those adjustments and be familiar with your camera before going out.

Using Flash

If you have never thought of using a flash outdoors, then you might want to experiment. On bright days, using a flash can be for an alternate reason besides illuminating your subject. You can use it to fill in shadows outside.

* Don’t use a flash in front of glass. See, zoo photography tips.
* Use caution when using a flash around animals.

Anticipate the Next Move

Just like humans, animals are unpredictable. When taking pictures of wildlife, you need to be watching the action taking place in front with you with one eye, while at the same time scanning the surroundings. Many times the action directly in front of you isn’t where you need to be looking.

Always be Prepared

Keep your equipment handy. Memory cards, batteries and your flash need to be accessible. You don’t want to be conspicuous, or you may lose the moment. Many wildlife photographers choose to wear a vest to have pockets handy on the front. This gives you multiple places to store items, and you can still keep your bag with you for larger items.

Capture the Eyes

When photographing any living creature, you need to capture the eyes. This is where the emotion of the picture lies, as they are the “window to the soul” and can convey more in a picture than any words. It draws the viewer in and makes them feel as if they are part of the picture.

Stay at a Safe Distance

When taking photos of wildlife, you want to remain at a safe distance, while still allowing for good shots. You will also want to wear clothing that won’t be a distraction to your subjects.

Use a Telephoto Lens

Shooting animals in the wild is always wonderful, but in the event of taking pictures of animals behind a fence, use a telephoto lens. If you focus on the animals, you won't be able to see the fence. This works best when the fence is flat colored, as it is difficult to focus the reflective nature out of metal fencing. You might have to experiment with a different angle to get the picture right.

Choose Wide Apertures

Experiment with your camera, and become familiar with adjusting the aperture. This is a magical trick when you start to photograph animals in landscape scenes. You can adjust your settings to blur the landscape and bring out the animal into a clear focus. These picture give the best results during the dawn or dusk, when the light is soft and animals are active outside.

Frame your Shots Well

Use composition and simple framing to improve or enhance an image. Imagine a tic tac toe grid in front of your lens, and try to line your subject up in a crosshair.

Use a Tripod (or Monopod) if Possible

I'm a big believer in the benefits of using tripods, but be aware that it may be more of a hindrance than a help when animals are on the move. When stationery, it will assist you in consistently capturing non-blurry photos. Combined with a shutter release cable, having the camera mounted to a tripod helps you concentrate on the subjects instead of keeping the camera from shaking.

Stock up on Supplies

While this seems like a no-brainer, you never want to run across a good shot and then find out you don’t have enough film or memory. Always take extra batteries as well. Keep your items in an easily transportable bag so you can grab it at a moment’s notice.

Take Lots of Pictures

One of the most obvious wildlife photography tips is to take lots of pictures, yet many photographers are happy with a few. Digital photography offers the luxury of not having to process pictures that aren’t perfect. So instead of trying to capture one perfect photo, any expert knows that you don’t sweat the wrong shots. Take as many photos as you can find, and evaluate after you leave the field. Memory cards are very inexpensive, and easily stored. Liberally shoot and that one stand-out masterpiece will be worth the effort!

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