For Better Wildlife & Landscape Photos – Get Fit!
A Guest Post by George Wheelhouse
Going running is a great way to get out and explore photo opportunities in your local area, and keep you fit at the same time.
Many of the best photos are taken by people who live locally to a particular site. This brings you all the benefits of local knowledge that can give your photos an edge. It stands to reason that photographers living by the sea will most often take far better seascape photos than I can. If you shoot somewhere close to home, you know the weather, and you can pop over as often as you like without having to plan a trip in advance.
But it can be tough to find an interesting location that’s close to home. And that’s where running comes in. Most of us are surrounded by photography locations that we didn’t even realise were there. Whether you’re into wildlife, landscape, or urban street scenes, it’s likely there are countless opportunities right around the corner, but you have to get out and find them.
My particular interest is in wildlife photography. Last weekend I went for a run and saw 1 kestrel, 1 buzzard, 1 red kite, 2 hares, rabbits, butterflies, as well as sheep, cows, and goats. Even if you’re not into photography, these are a wonderful sight and a great motivation to get out and keep fit. But for me, I found at least two locations I will return to with my camera.
The previous weekend, I used my run to check out a field for poppies, and another location for rabbits. I discovered the poppies weren’t as plentiful as I wanted, but that saved me a disappointing trip out with my camera another time. On the other hand, the field I scouted for rabbits was full, even in daytime, so that’s one place I will definitely revisit with my camera. For landscape locations, I’m able to investigate which view points I’m able to access, and where the sunlight will be during those all-important golden-hours. This is all vital information for planning a photo trip later on. By following public footpaths through fields, woods, & parks, you can cover distances far greater than by walking with all your equipment, and you can cover terrain that’s inaccessible by a car.
So just once a week, take the time to leave the camera at home, and get out looking for your next local speciality. There are countless public footpaths and bridleways throughout the country, and you’ll always see something new. I tend to run between 5 and 10 miles, but you can start with just 1 mile, and work up from there. If you’re really not into running, get the bike out of the garage and cycle. Whatever you do, get out and enjoy the outdoors; you’ll be surprised what great photo-ops are right around the corner.
George Wheelhouse is a self-taught wildlife photographer from Bedfordshire, UK. You can find his website at www.georgewheelhouse.com, as well as connecting through Facebook & Twitter. If you have any feedback, get in touch.
23 Responses to “For Better Wildlife & Landscape Photos – Get Fit!” - Add Yours
August 2nd, 2011 at 1:50 am
Any recommendations on the best ways to carry around gear while running? Also, what gear do you take with you?
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:23 am
Hahaha yes this is so true! I find this applicable not only to wildlife photography but on other types of photography as well. Take mine for example.
I do car photography for my website http://CustomPinoyRides.com
I also have to keep fit as often times I have to shoot cars on the move on the race track, the drift circuit, and also during offroad events where the terrain gets really tough. Sometimes you even need mountaineering tricks to get through the terrain. So being fit is all part of the game. Thanks for sharing!
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:29 am
As for gear, I like to pack light to make carrying gear a whole lot easier. Majority of the photos you see on my site are shot with a Nikon D40 with the 18-55mm kit lens. For the close-up action photos, they’re really shot up close and personal and not with a zoom lens. I know, I know, I’m sort of putting my life in danger. But so do the other guys who shoot extreme wildlife photos!
August 2nd, 2011 at 3:37 am
I bring my camera along in bike rides. Multiple knee surgeries have made running an impossibility for me.
August 2nd, 2011 at 5:32 am
I don’t run, but I do hike a lot, and I bring my el-cheapo Casio point & shoot with me. It’s got surprisingly good macro capabilities and it fits easily in my pocket. My camera phone is 8MP, which is usually ok in pinch, but I’m always afraid the one day I only have my phone with me is the day a whole family of deer will be drinking out of a stream lol! Here are a couple shots that I grabbed with my cheap point & shoot while hiking:
http://on.fb.me/oqkAA4
http://on.fb.me/mUavPa
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:55 am
I go to a lot of parks when I practice my photography, and it was so beneficial to run around (sans camera) a few times a week to get an idea of what places would be great for photos. It also is a good way to gauge when the parks will be busy/not busy with other pedestrians and dog-walkers — things I try to avoid with my landscape photography.
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:16 am
When given an open opportunity, I’m going for it…here in Texas the cows don’t run very fast
August 2nd, 2011 at 9:38 am
Staying fit is a great idea, “scouting” is valuable and can be done in many ways. Walking, deviate from your normal route home from work every once in a while, etc.
Found this tunnel while taking a slight detour on the way home one day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lendog64/5716249064/
August 2nd, 2011 at 1:27 pm
That’s so true! There are some fantastic photo opportunities just down the road from my house that I drive past every day. They might be a couple of empty blocks to the casual observer, but they always seem to catch the morning light so perfectly (especially if there’s a light fog). And yet, the only way I’m going to be able to get to them is if I pop on the walking shoes and go for a ramble. Who knows what else I’ll find along the way?
August 2nd, 2011 at 7:42 pm
Hey there
Great tips. I run all the time and see some cracking landscapes and go back later to shoot. Can I also suggest owning a dog is also a great way to get out and about. My dog is my favourite shooting buddy. If i’m honest i’m not sure he is that interested in photography but certainly appreciates being taken out every day!
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:02 am
Oh, I love those UK footpaths. I wish we had these in the States. None the less, keeping fit is really important, otherwise you can’t go as far on those hikes in the forest. Love those hikes.
http://500px.com/photo/1414656
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:13 am
Hi
Getting fit is always a good idea and being able to enjoy photography at the same time is a blessing. I carry my full gear with me just because of the additional weight and not knowing what lenses I may want to use, unless I have a specific assignment and cannot afford the strain. This was the start of a 6 hour hike in New Zealand – the only wildlife spotted were some Venison, a Cow and some Sheep!
http://kerstenbeckphotoart.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/hoar-frost-treeline/
August 3rd, 2011 at 3:24 am
I often take walks and bring along my camera and usually my 50mm or 28-80 lens…(saving for a 100-400mm). Usually I see the same locations, but light/subject are so different depending on time of day, time of year, weather etc.
August 3rd, 2011 at 5:55 am
I have also found jogging a great way to find new locations for portrait sessions.
August 5th, 2011 at 1:59 am
Hi,
Thanks for the tips. When out running I usually take my wife’s Lumix LZ10 (a lot easier to carry than my fz38! I always try to look for original angles, reflections, birds in flight etc. Recently visited the cliffs above Dover, England. Anyone interested can see at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62171711@N03/
August 5th, 2011 at 3:13 am
I run a little but I find hiking, mountain biking, and skiing provide me with the most/best photo opportunities. I like just putting my small body SLR (Pentax K-x) with a small quality prime or two in my backpack so when I see something interesting, I can just shoot it mid-ride/ski. The gear adds a little weight, but since fitness is a primary goal I figure carrying it just makes me fitter! If the shot I envisioned really needed a different lens or tripod to shoot some brackets, then I make a special trip back lugging a little more gear.
Some places are so photogenic, I know I need to lug the gear before going. I sure was glad I had the tripod along to shoot this 7 shot panoramic at about 13,000 Ft. earlier in the summer!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbnet/5947083354/sizes/o/in/set-72157627216085922/
August 5th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
MattB – that panorama is insane. Well done!
August 6th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
As I live in the country I do a lot of walking without my camera but with my dogs as they are all I can handle lol. There have been times I wished I took my camera but im amaze by the ideas I come up with just walking and looking. So next time I do that walk I leave the dogs at home and take my gear with me.
August 7th, 2011 at 12:40 am
I wish this was applicable to me! I’m a nature person and I live in the city, it’s so hard to find nature in the city.
August 8th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Hello,
I bought Canon Rebel Xsi along with lenses EF-S (18-55mm and 55-250mm), but now I need lenses for “Wide Angle” ( probably for landscape). I don’t want to go for some hi-fi lenses.
Can someone advice me which lenses would fit to my existing camera and where Can I find it?
I appreciate your help.
Thanks and Regards,
Ulhas B.
August 9th, 2011 at 1:07 am
I FIND A GREAT SITE LIKE BHPHOTOVIDEO.COM A GOOD PLACE TO GET PHOTO GEAR AT A GOOD PRICE. THEY ALSO SELL USED GEAR FOR A NICE PRICE. ALL THERE USED THINGS ARE IN GREAT SHPE. YOU CAN GET ANYTHING THERE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM BE CAREFULL OF SOME SITES FROM NEW YORK SOME WILL DO A BAIT AND SWITCH.
HOPE THIS HELPED ALL THAT ARE LOOKING FOR PHOTO GEAR.
MIKE
August 9th, 2011 at 1:22 am
Sorry for the bad spelling looks like I fat fingered it.
September 7th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Nice set of shots! Im also into photography and is also thinking of getting into wildlife photography. Im also reading some tips here on how to get good shots, framing, camera settings. Nice rays on the sun! Im using a Nikon D5000 which are for beginners and hopefully if i get better i’ll get a D7000 and some prime lenses! Hoping to learn more here! Thank you!
Kudos!
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