In late 2003, my interests in photography began to move into areas where I had
little experience. Up until then, I concentrated on landscape and scenic photography.
Then I decided to spend time at a local wetland area that is known for many species
of wildlife. I wanted to try my hand at photographing the wildlife before my eyes.
It was not as easy as I thought it would be. Lighthouses and scenery just stay there
and don't move around. Wildlife is different. Often, I found the subject was gone
before I snapped the shutter. Fortunately, I met some experienced and skilled
photographers there who helped me learn the skills needed. Setting up next to them
and listening, asking for help, and letting them critique my work helped me move
forward in my desire to learn wildlife photography. I will say this: It is very
difficult to do right. Here are some things I learned and am practicing every time I
head out with my gear.
Sometimes I go with no camera. I want to concentrate on observing. Do I miss a
shot. Yes, sometimes. Often I discover a spot that seems to be a favorite of birds
or other species so I observe and wait. Wildlife are creatures of habit and usually
show up at the same spots every day. Then I head out to that spot with my gear
and set up where I observed the wildlife and am almost always rewarded with a lot
of activity and many photo opportunities.
Be prepared for a challenge. Song birds, birds in flight, waterfowl, swimming
critters, and other creatures are not easy to photograph well. Song birds are small,
some of them very small. They move. Sometimes very quickly. Trees and branches
get in the way. They turn so their worst side is ready to photograph. Waterfowl are
often going for food under the surface and their head is under the water and their
rear end is sticking up in the air. Not a great pose and there is very little time to
frame and get a shot when they are between bites of food. Flying birds change
course abruptly and can be difficult to track. Using a long lens with a narrow field of
view adds to the difficulty. Like other skills, it takes patience and practice.
Use a tripod. Better yet, use a tripod with a gimball head. Most photographers
think of a Wimberley or Sidekick when they think of a gimball head. They are great
products and when balanced correctly, provide effortless control of the camera and
lens. Tracking birds in flight or moving wildlife is much easier and steadier because
you are not fighting the weight of the system. A tripod and gimball become more
important with longer and heavier lenses. Many photographers feel that image
stabilization is all they need. Yes it helps, especially in lower light, but is no
substitute for good technique. Every pro tells me the same thing. Use a good solid
tripod. If that won't work, use a monopod. As a last resort, hand hold.
Use the longest lens you have. I began learning wildlife photography shooting with a
400mm zoom lens. I have learned that this focal length is a minimum requirement
for a lens. The size of the wildlife you are photographing and its distance from you
has a direct relationship to the focal length of the lens you are using. Remember,
songbirds are small. Very small. Waterfowl like to swim some distance out in the
water. Some birds, such as the Great Blue Heron are much larger but often do not
hunt too close to where you have your camera setup. They like to maintain that
safe distance. Other wildlife, such as a deer or bear are much larger but still
maintain a safe distance from you. Having the long reach makes a big difference in
the quality of the photograph.
Remember, the longer the lens, the narrower the field of view. You will have more
of the subject filling the frame. I recently added a 500mm lens and two tele-
converters to my lens kit. This gives me 700mm and 1000mm focal lengths. Using
this combination requires the use of a tripod. The field of view is very narrow and it
can sometimes be difficult to find the subject, let alone frame it properly.
Be patient. Really patient. I learned this from the experienced guys. Things don't
happen on my time schedule. But, wait, and there is the reward. Be prepared to
act quickly. Wait some, then wait some more and all of a sudden, the photographic
opportunity happens and you must be ready. A beautiful bird lands in the tree or an
Osprey flies over and goes fishing in front of you and you get the shot.
Read up and understand the behavior of the wildlife you are trying to photograph.
Observe them for awhile to understand their ways. Having some knowledge of
animal behavior helps you to be ready for them. For instance, when you see an
Osprey hover, be ready to follow it into the water. It has spotted a fish and will
soon dive for it.
Know the light and use fill flash. Good light makes the difference in getting good
quality shots. It is very difficult to shoot into the sun and in most cases, you will not
get good results unless you are trying a silhouette shot. Look for that catch light in
the eye. I've seen many pictures of wildlife that are ruined because the eye is lost
in the photo. I've taken many myself. It makes the photo come alive when light is
right. Try to avoid branches and other obstructions from blocking part of the
subject. Sometimes the shadow from a branch can ruin an otherwise great photo.
Adding a fill flash can solve many lighting problems. Using a flash extender like the
'Better Beamer" extends the reach of the flash.
Spend lots of time at it. Practice will improve your technique and raise your skill
level. It takes practice to learn when to use exposure compensation. When
backlight works. How to blur the background correctly. How to capture interesting
behavior instead of all portrait shots.