Tips for Wildlife Photography

[kurtwall]

Without intending to do so, I seem to have developed a taste for wildlife photography. It's easy enough to do when the critters pose for me (gulls on beaches, for example) but that's the rare case. Usually, they see/smell/hear me coming and head Somewhere Where I'm Not ©.

It strikes me that to get decent photos of the uncooperative members of the animal kingdom, I have to be patient (sit, become part of "nature," and wait) and, of course, put myself in places where there is likely going to be wildlife. What I'm looking for is tips/hints/cluebats for how to get more, better, varied, and closer wildlife shots

Thanks!

Kurt

[Trigger]

Join a camera club,read magazines speak to ppl in the game of wildlife photograpgy and last but not least the NET good luck and post soon


cheers

[inkista]

Yup, that happened to me with bird photography.

The easiest thing to do is to learn about the wildlife. When I took up bird photography, I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn about birding. So, I bought a Sibleys, read a bunch of birding blogs, websites, and boards, and found the local Audubon Society website. You'll also want to pay special attention to learning about the ethics and basic etiquette of being in the wild places you're going to go.

There are also, of course, bird photography boards and sites and forums, which are also good for picking up tips specific to photographers, but just getting basic birding skills was far more important for me at the beginning. Having folks who know tell you who's migrating when and where helps a lot.

[kirbinster]

Try the zoo, you have a captive subject

[PrimeTime]

Originally Posted by kurtwall

Without intending to do so, I seem to have developed a taste for wildlife photography. It's easy enough to do when the critters pose for me (gulls on beaches, for example) but that's the rare case. Usually, they see/smell/hear me coming and head Somewhere Where I'm Not ©.

It strikes me that to get decent photos of the uncooperative members of the animal kingdom, I have to be patient (sit, become part of "nature," and wait) and, of course, put myself in places where there is likely going to be wildlife. What I'm looking for is tips/hints/cluebats for how to get more, better, varied, and closer wildlife shots

Thanks!

Kurt

Kurt, you basically have to think and act like a hunter.

First you have to learn the habits of the game your after...............read everything you can about them and their habits.

Scout from a distance and find where the animals are at. Watch their movements , often they will do the same things every day. Patern their movements..........then get yourself in a position where you can get close and wait for them to show up.

Wear camo if needed..........wash in unscented soap and deodorant. Wash clothes in unscented soap as well, with no drier sheets.

Go to walmart and get a wind detector bottle of powder(found in the hunting section). It is a small bottle of unscented powder that you puff in the air and you can see how the wind is blowing. Many game animals will walk into the wind or quartering into the wind. Position yourself down wind of where you think they are traveling.

Buy a hunters ground blind so you can hide easier. Works very well. You can set up your tripod and stay concealed inside.. You can pick up a cheap blind for about $50. If not you can cut some brush from the area ---sit next to a large tree and place some brush in front of you to help conceal your location.

Alot of animals won't run when they see you in a car............if there are areas you can drive close to game, you can get some really good shots out of your car.

Go to places where the animals are use to people...........parks...golf courses....zoo....etc.

Shoot in early morning and later in the evenings. The softer light makes a big difference on the quality of your photos.

Hope this helps............good luck.

[FDCPR]

First I'd echo the tips that PrimeTime has offered you as following those tips will get you a long way.
Study and learn about the specific animal you are attempting to photograph, the more you know the better your opportunities. Learn how to move into and out of an area, if the ground conditions are noisy don't walk in a patterned way. Stop often, scan the area, move a few feet more until you arrive at your predetermined position. Dependent upon which animal you are trying to photograph certain senses may be more developed than others. Some have a highly developed sense of smell others don't, but most all species have eyes and ears that are much better than ours. Watch where you shadow is falling, sometimes your body may be hidden but since we love the golden light your long shadow may be exposed and giving you away. Avoid sudden and fast movements, slow motion is your friend. If the animal is present only move when they are looking away. Have your camera set up and ready, you may only get one or two shots before the shutter noise drives them away.
Parks and golf courses do offer a unique opportunity to photograph wildlife. They are accustomed to people and approaching them is easier. Practicing your skills in these type of environments will help you when you venture into wilder areas. One of the things I like to do in a park setting is watch how the animals react when people approach them. Most of the time they will retreat to a certain area, I then make my way into the retreat area and wait for their return. Use others to bring them to you, and when they leave slowly make your way out of the area.
Ethics are fairly simple, do nothing to endanger the animals around you, leave nothing but your foot steps. There is much more to this, but you will learn that as you read about the various species. Some birds don't want you near the nest, others don't seem to care as long as you don't touch.
Try to improve the area if possible, I photograph a lot on public land that are not parks but are not wilderness areas either. I always have a plastic bag along and pick up trash when I am finished shooting, even though this gets frustrating as it never seems to get better. Have fun, learn and respect the area and animals that live there.

[kurtwall]

Originally Posted by Trigger

Join a camera club,read magazines speak to ppl in the game of wildlife photograpgy and last but not least the NET good luck and post soon

Trigger: Good advice. One would think that had occurred to me, but I was lazy and simply asked my DPS pals.

Originally Posted by inkista

Yup, that happened to me with bird photography.
The easiest thing to do is to learn about the wildlife…You'll also want to pay special attention to learning about the ethics and basic etiquette of being in the wild places you're going to go…Having folks who know tell you who's migrating when and where helps a lot.

Good stuff, inkista, thanks. Birds definitely interest me–they are actually the bulk of my "wildlife" photos so far–but I thought I might start with larger, less mobile wildlife before taking on avian subjects in earnest.

Originally Posted by kirbinster

Try the zoo, you have a captive subject

Quite so . My last zoo visit was a less than stellar outing because I was just learning how to use my camera and because shooting through glass was challenging. Thank you, kirbinster.

Originally Posted by PrimeTime

Kurt, you basically have to think and act like a hunter…

Ah, you mean drink whiskey, smoke cigars, wear bright orange clothing, and blow off my foot with a high-powered rifle?

Buy a hunters ground blind so you can hide easier. Works very well. You can set up your tripod and stay concealed inside.. You can pick up a cheap blind for about $50. If not you can cut some brush from the area ---sit next to a large tree and place some brush in front of you to help conceal your location.

Lots of great information here, PrimeTime! Thanks very much.

Originally Posted by FDCPR

First I'd echo the tips that PrimeTime has offered you as following those tips will get you a long way.…Parks and golf courses do offer a unique opportunity to photograph wildlife. They are accustomed to people and approaching them is easier. Practicing your skills in these type of environments will help you when you venture into wilder areas. One of the things I like to do in a park setting is watch how the animals react when people approach them. Most of the time they will retreat to a certain area, I then make my way into the retreat area and wait for their return. Use others to bring them to you, and when they leave slowly make your way out of the area.

Still more good information here, FDCPR. Gracias!

Thanks to everyone. I knew I could count on DPS to come through.

[kirbinster]

At the zoo shoot at about a 30 degree angle to the glass and if you use a flash use off camera flash. When shooting through wire mesh or fences shout at a very wide open f-stop and focus on the animal's eyes theis will tend to take the fence out of the picture

[sjlarue]

You don't know how lucky you are to have shore birds that like to pose for you. over here they are very flighty. Even gulls don't like my camera. GBH's see you coming from a mile off and fly away.

Morning and evening times are best, birds and animals are less flighty then, small birds also like perching in the morning sun and getting warm.

Your car is the ultimate blind. I have gotten so many pictures from the car. Just on my way to work.

I like getting on the ground and going low and slow for shorebirds. I get better pictures and they will stay around longer.

If it is something that people hunt...ducks and deer for example...a better bet is to know where they are and as mentioned before, camo yourself...and your camera...and hunker down and wait.

Also don't forget your yard. feeder birds offer you the opportunity to get your focusing and exposure down so that when you are in the field, you will be able to get more keepers. Spread seed (Pref. Black Oil Sunflower) on the ground and/or in a feeder and add perching spots (limbs/sticks buried in the ground) that way you get pictures of them away from the feeder as they are perched waiting for their chance at the feeder....Hey you're over in Calif. I bet you have a bunch of different hummingbirds, set out a hummingbird feeder then once you get them coming to the feeder, plug all the holes but one and set your camera up there.

Another addition to the yard is a bird bath. There are some birds like warblers that don't eat seeds but will need a good bath every once and a while....

If you can afford a Carbon fiber tripod, you will appreciate it while you are out in the woods with a camera on your shoulder...I have an old Bogen pod and it is HEAVY!!!

Big glass is a must. I get by with a Tamron 200-500...but it is slow. It takes great pictures however.

But the most important thing is to have FUN and enjoy the world around you.

[OsmosisStudios]

Ask a Hunter.