There is something about insure a wild animal — a stalking Panthera tigris , soaring mortarboard , splashing heavyweight , or slithering snake — that enamor the imagination . Yet these creature are problematic , and it ’s not easy to charm their magnificence . So how can you get the perfect picture of a idle creature ? Luckily , there are mass out there who have devoted their life to the art of wildlife picture taking , andmental_flosstalked to a few who were unforced to share their tips .
1. YOU DON’T NEED FANCY EQUIPMENT—BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT.
Florida - base conservation photographerMac Stonesays it ’s a misconception that good lensman postulate top - of - the - wrinkle equipment in ordering to get a near shot . “ There ’s an onetime expression that endure , ‘ The unspoiled tv camera is the one that ’s in your pouch , ’ ” he notes . Stone , who dart all kinds of wild animal from American alligator to burrowing owl , say the key is know how to use the equipment you have : interpret your photographic camera manual of arms and experiment before move out to shoot in the field .
2. THINK LIKE AN ANIMAL.
Elephants in Amboseli National Park in Africa . picture credit : Carl Safina
If you need to watch an animal on camera , you need to think like an fauna , saysRichard Slattery , a Long Island - based professional photographer who has been photographing wild animals for more than 20 years .
“ While I ’m not a scientist , I ’ve spent a lot of clip with fauna experts who have teach me to search for signs preceding animal activity , ” he take down . For exercise , when photograph kyphosis whale on whale - watching trips , Slattery has see from giant experts to see for “ bubble cyberspace ” on the water ’s Earth’s surface . These bubble of aura , exhaled from underwater , always lead a giant come on to immerse up Pisces the Fishes and plankton — a perfect photograph chance . Slattery suggests attending public lecture , watch documentaries , and reading books about wildlife to learn how to anticipate animal action .
3. LEARN TO READ NATURE’S CUES.
Besides acknowledge how to read creature behaviour , it ’s also critical to know how to read your environs , saysKristofer Rowe , who ’s been professionally photographing fish eagle and other birds since 2011 . Once you know about the mintage you want to shoot , “ you may increase your odds by bed where and when to position yourself for optimum effigy , ” he notes . Between April and October — osprey season in Connecticut , where he is base — Rowe says he use the dawn , tide , and winds to help him find sea eagle and craft the perfect injection . The same educational strategies for learning about brute behavior can also be applied to learn about their surround .
4. BE AN AMBASSADOR FIRST, PHOTOGRAPHER SECOND.
Laysan albatross chick and parent . Image acknowledgment : Hob Osterlund
Professional wildlife photographer and writerHob Osterlundhas devoted her life to the conservation of one metal money : the albatross , a tumid seabird aboriginal to Hawaii , the res publica where she ’s based . millstone face up many challenges to their natural selection , including ferine big cat , invasive species , ocean plastic , and habitat demolition . To get the best possible photos of these shuttle , Osterlund pronounce , “ Take shots that make people hump and respect the animal . They need your help much more than you need an award . ”
5. TAKE TONS OF SHOTS, THEN KEEP THE BEST.
Ecologist , author , andSafina Centerfounder / presidentCarl Safinahas been photographing wild animate being for decades . Over the years , this Long Island - base wildlife expert has traveled the humans amassing one thousand of beautiful photos of all form of idle beast , from wolves to walruses . The key , he says , “ Is to pullulate lots of skeleton of the same thing ; never retrieve you ’ve ‘ got ’ it — you may always get it better . Then , when you ’re back home , comb through your image and delete those that do n’t work so you may focalize on the good images you ’ve taken . ”
6. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET DIRTY.
you could expect to get at least a little mud on your shoe when trying to snap tempestuous animals ( they live outdoors , after all ) . But Osterlund says you should n’t be afraid to really get down and sordid to get the shooter you ’re after . “ I learned from the greatMelissa Grooto lie down , ” says Osterlund . “ Get at eye level [ with an animal ] as much as possible . Buy elbow joint pads so you do n’t tear your figure off . Carry a small tarp . ”
7. PRE-FOCUS YOUR CAMERA WHEN APPROPRIATE.
An incoming osprey . range credit : Kristofer Rowe
It can be challenge to get a steady shot when on a sauceboat or trying to photograph run animal ( or both ) , say professional photographerJodi Frediani . Frediani , who is base in California , spends a lot of time photograph whales and other marine creatures . She says there are many situations where it pays to take advantage of your camera ’s pre - focus feature film in order of magnitude to get a decipherable injection , such as when you ’re on a boat . For lesson , when trying to get picture of humpback hulk , Frediani say she ’ll “ pre - focus where I think a serial breaching will do up next . ”
8. BE STUBBORN ABOUT GETTING THE SHOT YOU WANT …
It ’s easy to get discourage in the landing field if you do n’t get the shot you ’re looking for on the first try . But Stone suppose it ’s crucial not to give up on the simulacrum you desire even if you fail a few ( or many ) times . “ Really attack an figure and go after it until you get it , ” say Stone . “ Go out every day to the seat you desire to get the persona and really focus yourself on your task . ” Eventually , with enough stubbornness , Stone say , you ’re potential to get the image you ’re after .
9. BUT DON’T FORGET TO APPRECIATE EVERYDAY MOMENTS.
Southern Pacific humpback whale mother and calf in Vava’u , the Kingdom of Tonga . Image credit : Jodi Frediani
Some of the best exposure of wild wight capture very regular role of their lives , such as feeding and sleeping . Frediani say she specially enjoys watching hunchback hulk lunge up through the water ’s surface to get a taste of krill , plankton , and small fish . While whale eating is an routine behaviour , Frediani enunciate she gets excited every time she get on a boat to watch “ these leviathan ‘ making a living . ’ ”
10. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT’S ACTUALLY IN THE FRAME.
When it comes to crafting the correct shot , framing is very important , say Safina . When you look through your finder , imagine of its confines as a picture bod . you’re able to always work a photo , but often the best shots are framed correctly even before they ’re take . “ Everything else you are aware of about your environment and the circumstances , the viewer will never see , ” Safina enounce . So pay special attention to get what you want in the frame and excluding the things that may distract your viewer .
11. BE RESPECTFUL.
Perhaps the most important secret to keep in head is to respect the animals you ’re photographing , Slattery says . Each character of animal has its own comfort degree around humans . “ recollect about the ethics of each situation you ’re in , ” say Slattery . “ If you could be harmed by get close to an animal , or the animate being could get stressed , stay far out and use a long magnifying genus Lens . ” It should go without enunciate , but no icon is worth harm an animate being — or getting injured yourself .
