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Wildlife Photography
Chances are you’ve spent a few minutes of your life (O.K., maybe more like a few days) daydreaming about capturing that “perfect” shot of a cougar or wolf, or an eagle taking flight against the broad, blue sky so characteristic of western landscapes. It is the dream job, the dream hobby, or just the perfect daydream of amateur and seasoned photographers alike. Likewise, wildlife photography excites almost any spectator—most folks enjoy seeing animals going about their business in the natural world.
What most people don’t realize, though, is that with the advent of game farms and affordable high-quality cameras and lenses, such shots are no longer reserved for the adventurous professional. Finding that unique and “perfect” shot has become increasingly more difficult as the craft has become increasingly more accessible. Still, your photos can shine above the growing crowd with practice and a little attention to the following techniques.
Let’s start with location. Sure, you can strap your camera to your back and tromp around the woods, but chances are you won’t find the shots you are looking for. You’ll have better luck finding wildlife at …
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National Wildlife Refuges. Wildlife refuges are prolific in the United States and great places to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Click here for a map of U.S. refuges.
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Canadian Provincial Parks and U. S. National Parks. Among my favorites are Yellowstone (especially in the winter) and Denali—both worth the trip for great wildlife and landscape shots.
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Zoos provide great opportunities to see and shoot wildlife. In fact, I have seen many animal photos shot so creatively in zoos that I assumed the subjects to be wild.
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Game Farms lend ample opportunity to practice technique and see rare, reclusive animals like grizzlies, bobcats and wolves. I visit Triple D game farm in northwestern Montana at least a couple of times a year. Initially, I was unsure about the ethics of shooting captive animals raised for the purpose of taking photos. However, the animals at game farms are raised with love and care, and for the very purpose of avoiding harm— human habituation, which can require euthanizing the animal, may result from photographers stalking wild animals. |
Having said that, your backyard is a wonderful place to start. If you, like me, happen to live in western Montana, you might also get glimpses of elk, deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, coyotes, great blue herons, bald eagles, and ravens from your kitchen table.
Light. Once you’ve settled on location, consider light. Dusk and dawn cast warm, directional light perfect for wildlife photography, as do brighter overcast days, when the sky acts like a giant light box that casts soft light around your fury and feathery subjects. And though back lighting can be tricky on bright, sunny days, it can also make for very dramatic wildlife photos if captured well.
Exposure. Exposure with wildlife can be tricky. With wild animals, we rarely get second chances, and our first chance may be fleeting. So be ready! My favorite exposure method is the zone system using my built-in spot meter on manual mode. This method allows sample readings ahead of time to find the correct exposure; more importantly, however, this gives the range of light required for a given scene so that you can see if the image will work the way you see it or if you need to shift your vantage point. In easy exposure situations, using the aperture or shutter preferred automatic settings, you can use your evaluative/matrix and expect great exposure.
Depth of Field. For wildlife photos, typically, depth of field should be shallow to blur the background. Keeping a wide open F-stop will also help in lower light by establishing a faster shutter speed.
Composition. Snapping any ol’ animal in any ol’ manner doesn’t guarantee a quality picture. You must consider composition. Again, you want your photos to shine—not to look like everyone else’s. First, the subject should be out of the center of the frame. Second, the background should be simple. Also, try capturing…
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Animals or birds doing what they naturally do in the wild (scratch, feed, sleep, play) |
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Animals or birds as part of the landscape |
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Portraits, both from close and afar |
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Mothers with their young |
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Yearlings, newborns and all the cuteness in between |
To add a fine-art flare, try using/adding color, zooming in on one particular part of an animal, blurring motion or playing with the many other creative techniques available to photographers today.
Good luck, have fun, and mind the golden rule: do unto others (including animals!) as you would have done unto you!
Next Up: Equipment to help enhance your wildlife photography. |
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If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to begin pursuing your passion in photography, winter is the time to consider RMSP’s upcoming Career Training program. With three comprehensive sessions to take in combination or individually, the educational experience provided in all three will propel you to your next level of professional skill.
Session I, Summer Intensive (SI): A Foundation in Photography is right around the corner and limited space is still available. An eleven-week immersion in photography, SI ’08 is shaping up to be one of our best yet. We are anticipating an eclectic mix of international citizens with seven different countries represented in our enrollment so far.
Session II, Professional Studies: Focus on Your Career Path courses are quickly filling up with students interested in choosing a unique career path of their own. With varied offerings in specific genres of photography, understanding the significance of combining educational opportunities to develop an individual style in a chosen field of interest cannot be overstated.
The latest evolution in our Career Training program is Session III, Advanced Intensive (AI): Digital and Professional Development. Formerly offered as Digital Intensive, this six-week course promises to be our most comprehensive yet. This course provides professional training covering marketing, portfolio building and mentoring in addition to immersion in the digital darkroom for the serious digital photographer.
It is still not too late to make your resolutions become reality. Contact us today to find out how pursuing your passion in photography is within your reach. |
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If Neil’s information on shooting wildlife captured your attention, consider a trip to photograph some of those exciting and beautiful animals. Wildlife Up Close is offered July 2-6 and October 14- 18 in 2008.
Just can’t wait to get out and have a photography adventure? Upcoming Charm of the South: Charleston, South Carolina, March 16-21 has a couple of spots open. Join Elizabeth Stone and Tony Rizzuto and discover the beauty of spring in the South.
Still have that new digital SLR sitting on a shelf while you’re wondering just how to go about learning to use it? Get it out, dust it off and join us for one of our Capture, Process, Print workshops in April.You’ll be glad you did. We offer one for Beginning Photographers and one for Experienced Photographers.
For those of you looking for a bit more of a challenge, Elizabeth Stone and Doug Johnson take to the streets, parks, and markets in Advanced Photography in Seattle, Washington. This workshop challenges you to progress beyond your current comfort zone and strive for a new level of creativity as you develop your own personal style.
Is your schedule tight? Check out our RMSP Calendar to see what we have available when you can fit it in.
Other events that might interest you:
Women’s Adventure magazine is sponsoring ‘Photography in Magazines Conference’
April 11-13. The emphasis of the event will be on publishing your outdoor adventure, nature, wildlife, and environmental photography. Go to http://www.magazineconference.com/ for more information and to register!
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