Wildlife photography can be one of the most challenging and
rewarding fields of nature photography. With digital
cameras creating such widespread interest in all types of
photography, new photographers all over the world are
taking an interest in wildlife photography.
Most of the photography guides these days focus on the
technical aspects of the camera: but really good
photography relies more on composition, lighting, and
sensitivity to your subject. This means you can improve
your photography by thinking creatively, not technically.
Here are five of my top tips for taking better wildlife
photographs.
Wildlife Photography Tip #1. Get to the subject's eye
level. Wildlife photos are most effective if they create an
intimate connection between the subject and the viewer. The
best way to do this is to take your photo at the subject's
eye level. This way, the viewer can feel like they are
looking at the subject from inside its little world, rather
from the outside looking in.
If, for example, your subject is low to the ground (like a
lizard, frog, or even a pet), crouch or lie flat, getting
as low as possible so you can take your photo at the
subject's eye level.
Wildlife Photography Tip #2.It's All In The Eyes. The
personal connection mentioned in tip #1 is really about eye
contact, so it is important to get the eyes right. If the
eyes in your wildlife photo are sharp and clear, the photo
will probably work. If they are out of focus, lost in
shadow, or if the subject blinks or turns its eyes away,
the connection will be lost, and the photo will almost
certainly fail.
You don't even need your whole subject to be in focus. Your
animal could be mostly hidden by leaves, in shadow and out
of focus. The picture could still work...as long as the
eyes are open and captured sharply in the picture.
Wildlife Photography Tip #3. If The Background Doesn't
Help, Get Rid Of It. Many wildlife photos are spoiled
because the background is cluttered, distracting, ugly, or
just plain inappropriate. For example, seagulls on a beach
can be quite beautiful, but seagulls at the local rubbish
tip is a different matter. Also, wildlife photos look far
less natural if you can tell they were taken in a zoo.
Apply this principle: "Anything that does not make my photo
better, makes it worse."
This does not mean you can't take a good wildlife photo at
the zoo, at the tip, or anywhere else for that matter. You
just need to manage it. If your background is spoiling your
shot, zoom right in on the subject to eliminate as much of
the background as possible. By zooming in, you will also
reduce the depth of field to a minimum, so any background
that does appear in your photo will be out of focus and
less distracting.
Wildlife Photography Tip #4. If Your Background Is Working
For You, Use It Well. A wildlife photograph that captures
the subject in a beautiful natural setting can be even more
effective than a simple close-up. My photos of a kangaroo
on the beach, for example, show the subject in an
unexpected context, making a more interesting image than a
close-up portrait style photo.
If you take your wildlife subject as part of a wider
landscape, you need to consider all the techniques of
composition that apply to landscape photography. Remember
the rule of thirds (which may or may not help) and be
careful to position your animal so that the subject and the
background work together to make a more effective
composition. In particular, try to have your wildlife
subject looking into the picture, not out of it.
Wildlife Photography Tip #5. Capture your subject in the
best possible light. Even the most perfectly composed
wildlife photo can fail because of bad lighting. Losing
your subject in the shadows, glare reflecting off shiny
feathers, and shadows across the face of the subject are
all simple mistakes that can ruin a photo.
There is no single rule for lighting in a wildlife
photograph, but here are some suggestions. I often find the
best results when the sky is lightly overcast with thin
cloud. This produces light that is bright, but soft and
even compared to full sunlight. Your subject will be well
illuminated, but you avoid harsh contrast and heavy shadows
that rob the image of important detail.
If the weather is sunny, try to take your photos early and
late in the day when the sun is low. At these times the
light is soft and warmly coloured. It is also easier to
catch the full face of your subject in sunlight, rather
than half-obscured by shadow.
So there you have my five tips for wildlife photography. I
could cheat and add tip #6: take lots of photos. Animals
move, blink, flap their wings, and generally find ways to
frustrate the wildlife photographer. Don't forget, with
digital photography it costs you nothing to keep snapping.
So practice, persevere, and try out these tips...you could
be taking better photos in no time.
----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Goodall has made his living from nature photography
for over 20 years. See his images at
http://www.naturesimage.com.au Andrew's ebooks "Photography
in Plain English" and "Every Picture Tells A Story" have
helped thousands of beginners learn the art and skills of
nature photography. Find them at
http://www.naturesimage.com.au/page/25/default.asp
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