Wildlife Photography
Discover the art of wildlife photography, where patience and passion unveil nature's hidden narratives through your lens, guided by expert insights on gear and techniques.
Bighorn Sheep
Wildlife photography is an exciting and challenging genre of photography that requires a deep understanding of the natural world, as well as a good deal of patience, skill, and creativity. Whether you are interested in capturing the majesty of a bald eagle in flight, the beauty of a butterfly in your backyard, or the power of a grizzly bear, wildlife photography can be a rewarding and fulfilling pursuit.
In this blog post, we will explore the essential aspects of wildlife photography, including equipment, techniques, and tips to help you get the most out of your wildlife photography adventures.
Equipment
One of the essential components of wildlife photography is the equipment you use. To capture sharp, detailed images of animals in their natural habitat, you will need a camera and lens capable of capturing fast-moving subjects, often from a distance.
Camera: A camera with a high frame rate is essential for wildlife photography, allowing you to capture rapid movement and fleeting moments. Look for cameras with at least 6 frames per second (fps) or higher. Full-frame cameras provide better image quality, but crop-sensor cameras are also excellent choices and can be more affordable.
Arctic Wolf
Lens: The lens you choose will have a significant impact on your ability to capture sharp, detailed images of wildlife. Telephoto lenses with a focal length of at least 300mm are ideal for wildlife photography, allowing you to zoom in on your subjects from a safe distance. Prime lenses can also be useful, as they tend to be faster and sharper than zoom lenses. Personally, I use a 100-400mm L series lens paired with a 1.4x extender. Extenders are an excellent way of being able to get closer to your subject. In exchange, however, you will sacrifice some image quality and focus speed.
Tripod: A sturdy tripod is an essential piece of equipment for wildlife photography, providing stability for your camera and lens and allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without introducing camera shake.
Techniques
Once you have the right equipment, it's time to start honing your wildlife photography techniques. Here are a few essential tips to help you capture stunning wildlife images.
Get to know your subject: Understanding the behavior of the animals you want to photograph is crucial for capturing great images. Spend some time observing your subject, and take note of their habits, movements, and favorite hangouts.
Be patient: Wildlife photography requires a great deal of patience. You may need to wait for hours, or even days, for the perfect shot. Use this time to study your subject, where the subjects tend to gather or migrate, and plan your shots. Alternatively, just spending time in nature will offer many breathtaking opportunities. Get out there! Go for hikes where there are less people. However, always be prepared for treks out into the backcountry! You should familiarize yourself with bear spray and camping/survival equipment while bringing plenty of food and water. Additionally, you will always want to let people know where you are and how long you’ll be gone for.
Use a low angle: Shooting from a low angle can add drama and impact to your images. Get down on the ground, or use a low tripod or beanbag to create a unique perspective.
Shoot in bursts: Wildlife can be unpredictable, so it's important to be prepared to capture fleeting moments. Shooting in bursts, or using continuous shooting mode, can help you capture multiple images in quick succession.
Tips
Here are a few additional tips to help you take your wildlife photography to the next level:
Chipmunk
Use natural light: Avoid using flash whenever possible, as it can startle animals and create harsh, unnatural light. Instead, use natural light to capture the beauty of your subject.
Be aware of your surroundings: When photographing wildlife, it's important to be aware of your surroundings and stay safe. Don't get too close to dangerous animals, and always be aware of other wildlife and potential hazards in the area.
Look for interesting compositions: Experiment with different angles and compositions to create visually striking images. Use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and other compositional techniques to draw the viewer's eye to your subject.
Don't forget about the background: The background of your image is almost as important as the subject. Look for interesting textures, colors, and patterns to create a dynamic and engaging image.
Conclusion
Wildlife photography is a challenging yet rewarding genre of photography that requires a combination of technical skill, creative vision, and a deep respect for nature. I personally find it to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. My hope is that you will, too. Oh, and one more thing! Remember that if you pack it in, pack it out. Please, don’t leave garbage or equipment out in the bush. Let’s keep the wilderness wild and beautiful!
New Year’s Resolutions for Photographers, Part 1.
Are you a photographer but feel stagnant with your art? Are you new to the art form and looking for some inspiring new year’s resolutions? Professional photographer, Nathan Forstved, has your back with these wonderful tips and suggestions.
In order to progress in any art form, I think it is essential to keep attainable goals. One of the most straightforward tools you can utilize is creating achievable new year’s resolutions. Notice that I have said attainable and achievable here. At this time of year, many of us over-indulge our imagination and think that somehow we’ll have more time in the new year or we’ll be more driven, less stressed, and somehow Hercules ourselves into a new way of life. Which is great to think about. You should indulge your imagination! However, when creating goals you need to keep them achievable. Too often we set unrealistically high goals for ourselves and when we fail to meet those lofty objectives, we have a tendency to shut down, halting most or all of our progress completely. It’s better to set your eyes toward smaller, more attainable goals to begin and work your way up from there. I learned this lesson in therapy and it has worked wonders in my life. Keep your goals realistic and attainable. Take into consideration your schedule, responsibilities, limitations, and stresses. Saying that, here are my top ten New Year’s Resolutions for photographers that you may choose to adopt.
1) Take your camera with you when you leave home!
One of the easiest and most achievable goals on this list is simply taking your camera wherever you go. It doesn’t even have to be a large full-frame DSLR, or mirrorless pro camera either. Most of us have some incredible cameras built right into our phones! Personally, I have had many moments in my life where I didn’t bring a camera and missed an incredible opportunity. I have missed taking photos of some beautiful animals, amazing sunsets, and awe-inspiring landscapes because I just didn’t feel the need to have my gear. Don’t make the same mistakes! Take your camera and equipment with you when you step out that door. You won’t miss an opportunity again.
2) Share your photos!
This might seem silly to mention but I have met people who are too shy or intimidated to share their photos. It’s true that you learn by doing, but if you are learning the wrong lessons with your photography it’ll leave you frustrated. I have discovered a beautiful community of folks on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, my personal website, and many other places. Photography can be a social activity and through sharing your work you’ll also discover some much-needed critiquing along with positive reinforcement. The critiquing can come from professionals just looking to share their expertise with you. If you aren’t receiving that, seek it out! Leave comments on other photographers’ pages and ask them to take a look at what you’re doing. You’ll find many people who are friendly and willing to leave constructive comments on your work.
3) Begin writing a photography blog!
A photography blog is an excellent way to share your journey with others. You can also share your photos this way and because blogs are a longer format than the typical social media post, you’ll probably be able to open up some deeper dialogue with your audience. Plus, a blog will force you to think about what you are striving to achieve with your photography and art. You’ll learn more about the art form, have a wider reach, and have a growing catalog of work, both written and images, that will keep you proud and coming back for more.
4) Challenge yourself with various types of photography styles!
I may be a nature and wildlife photographer now but I started shooting anything I could think of. I even challenged myself in professional situations by getting into real estate photography and product imagery for local shops. I’ve done portraiture, pet photography, and sports photography! I eventually settled down with nature and wildlife photography because I enjoy it the most. However, having experienced all the different ways of utilizing this wonderful art form of ours taught me exceedingly valuable lessons. You’ll learn about lighting, what works and what doesn’t, composition, setting, and more much faster if you are constantly challenging yourself with various types of photography. Maybe you could even schedule a photography style calendar if that’s your thing. You could say that from January until March you’ll study portraiture, from March until May you’ll study landscape photography, and so on… Personally, I would suggest keeping it a bit more fluid and natural. Life will generally take you to where you want to be with your art form. However, some people thrive with more structure. Take your choice. :)
5) Learn how to use different lenses!
The first camera I ever had was a Canon 60D and my first lens was an 18-135mm that came with the camera. I used the thing to death. I used it for everything from portraiture to my attempts at wildlife photography. However, there comes a time when you either need to upgrade your current lens or expand your library of available lenses. Lenses are tools like any other. For wildlife photography, I eventually purchased a Canon 100-400mm L-series lens and got a 1.4 extender, too. That allowed me to shoot at 560mm zoomed all the way in which really opened up wildlife photography. On the flipside, I also purchased a 16-35mm L-series lens for landscape and real estate photography. I might not do real estate photography anymore but this lens opened that door for me. You don’t need to buy L-series glass to expand your lens library either. The very first lens I purchased after having the 18-135mm was a nifty-50, Canon’s 50mm f/1.4. This thing provides an amazing depth of field and it is still one of my favorite lenses. It retails for about $400.00 currently but you could definitely find it cheaper on the used market. Being able to learn what each lens brings to your artistic career will broaden and improve your portfolio. You don’t need to go bankrupt to get good glass either. You can find some amazing deals on eBay and other online sites. Just, please, make sure to be cautious and don’t fall for any too-good-to-be-true scams.
Join me for part 2 on New Year’s Eve!
In the meantime, feel free to leave a comment below and tell me your new year’s resolutions! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Check back in a couple of days.