Animal photography can be challenging even when you have the best photography equipment.
According to photographers of National Geographic, it requires a ton of patience and perfect timing. This is true whether you’re taking photos of a herd of elephants or a colony of ants. However, they say it is not time wasted by any means. You get to know your subjects and their habits.
With wildlife photography, you can immortalize precious moments of some of the unique creatures on the planet– at least while they are still here. Did you know that since 1500, around 900 species have gone extinct, and today 35,765 species are threatened with extinction?
Wildlife photography can help bring awareness on how to help these animals survive. With your images, you can tell the world about their beauty, elegance, might, and speed.
5 Tips To Capture Better Animal Photography
Here are some animal photography tips so you can capture better wildlife images. These apply whether you’re snapping photos in the wilderness or your own backyard:
1. Research About Your Subject
When taking photos of animals, you cannot tell them what to do, where to look, or where to go. The decision when you’ll press that button to capture images depends on what your subjects are doing. So before you head out for some animal photography, make sure you study your subject to have an idea about their tendencies. The best way to do this is by tagging along with photographers who are more experienced than you because you can learn skills from them that you can’t read in books or online.
2. Know When and Where to Shoot
Get used to long days if you aspire to become an animal photographer. While the golden hours are the ideal periods to photograph wildlife, you also have to consider when they are most active. If you are just starting, don’t go too far from home. Instead, visit a local park or a wilderness area nearby. When you are ready, you can join wildlife photography sessions conducted by experts.
3. Invest in a Good Camera Equipment
While some smartphones may seem capable of capturing photos of animals, a decent digital camera with a fast shutter speed, fast autofocus, and burst feature will be a good starting point. Remember, you might just have a few seconds to capture the shot of your life. Make sure you also invest in good lenses so you can take pictures from a safe distance.
4. Know the Dos and Don’ts of Animal Photography
Knowing the rules does not only help with capturing great images but also ensures that you are safe. Here are some to remember:
- Safety First: Never compromise your safety for a good shot. Wildlife attacks are rare when you know how to behave around them. But remember that they are wild and unpredictable.
- Capture Emotions: Try to catch the eyes of your subjects, snap photos while they are in action, or wait for intimate or cute moments.
- Keep the Welfare of Animals in Mind: The images we capture might be priceless but remember that the well-being of the animals comes first.
- Respect other Photographers: Don’t be the guy who breaks the rules because you’re not only putting yourself in danger but also the rest of the people around you. Make sure you respect the space of the other photographers so all of you can capture the images you need and want.
- Don’t Stress: Enjoy your time with nature. Forget about all the stress. Not everything will work according to your plan at times, but that’s alright. Make sure you prioritize the experience and not spend the whole time behind the lens.
5. Keep Shooting
Remember that there is always a big room for improvement when taking photos of animals. As you get more familiar with your gear, you will be able to set up better shots. Don’t forget the rule of thirds, try zooming in and zooming out, and include the environment around your subjects. Keep clicking and keep learning.
Start Your Animal Photography Collection Today
If you are beginning your journey in animal photography or just love wildlife images, check out what I have for you at Casey Skeens Photography. Visit the shop if you want prints or cards sent to your doorstep.
Contact us today to learn more about how you can buy prints or cards.