Wildlife Photography

Connor Beekman 1-11-16
connor-beekman.pixels.com

Wildlife is certainly one of my favorite subjects to photograph, as I enjoy the challenge of capturing something so fascinating and unpredictable. Getting the perfect image of a wild animal is often very difficult, but can also be the most rewarding experience of a nature photographer. When it comes to wildlife, I do not have a specialty, but rather try to photograph a large variety of creatures from massive elk to delicate butterflies.

Wildlife Photography Tips

1. Equipment: For most wildlife photographers, a telephoto lens is a must-have accessory, since you can’t always get close to wild animals. However, if you plan to take images of insects, reptiles, or other smaller species, a large lens my not be of any value. My camera can reach 60 times optical zoom, allowing me to photograph large animals such as elk. The image below, “Bull Elk”, definitely required me to zoom in, as getting close would have been quite dangerous. Many cameras also have a macro setting. You can either use this or manual focus to get close-ups of tiny creatures.



2. Understanding Wildlife: It is essential to have some basic knowledge on the species you are photographing. Firstly, this helps to find animals in their natural habitat, which can be a very time-consuming task. Secondly, a wildlife photographer is much more likely to get a good shot when they understand an animal’s behavior. This helps to predict what an animal will do next, a skill that is very beneficial, although not always accurate. In the case of my image, “Anna’s Hummingbird”, I had to watch her fly from flower to flower and branch to branch for a few minutes before I was able to capture the image. It is best, however, to study behavior earlier because there is not always time to study when actually photographing.



3. Practice: Let’s say you are planning a trip to Africa, where you will go on a safari and have an opportunity to photograph an abundance of wildlife. It is important to practice wildlife photography and gain experience before going on a trip like this, rather than waiting for the trip to arrive to start experimenting. I have often found that going to a zoo or wildlife sanctuary can be very helpful. This is a great way to critique yourself on framing and composition. It is also a great way to observe animal behavior. Visiting zoos has helped me capture aesthetically-pleasing images such as “Mule Deer Doe”, seen below.



Just like any type of photography, gaining as much experience as possible leads to greater results. Wildlife photography, however, requires a few extra steps, such as doing prior research and practicing on zoo animals or even pets. I continue to learn more about the wonderful world of animals with every day of practice. Wildlife never fails to surprise and amaze me!