Photographing
wildlife is never easy- here are a few tips to get you started
-
Never harass
wildlife, abide by the guidelines for wildlife photography
(see overleaf).
-
Always be alert.
Know what’s around you and educate yourself on what safety
precautions you may need to take.
-
Know you camera.
If you have to search and fiddle with the controls, you’ll
miss the shot. If your camera has manual features, you’ll be
pleasantly surprised by the difference it makes using them
instead of its automatic ones.
-
Remember that
compact digital cameras have a lag time between the
depressing of thee shutter-release button and the actual
release of the shutter. Work around this unique challenge by
practicing on moving subjects and anticipation the action.
Another approach, if you have burst mode, is to simply hold
down the shutter-release button, taking a series of shots.
With luck you’ll have captured the action you wanted.
-
Wait for natural
action. Be very patient and you’ll be rewarded with stunning
opportunities.
-
Take advantage of
the optical zoom capabilities of you compact digital camera
but ignore the digital zoom feature which merely enlarges
pixels and distorts the picture.
-
Don’t use flash.
If you’re far from your subject, the flash won’t be of any
use. If you’re too close to your subject, you risk startling
it.
-
Don’t feel
compelled to have you subject fill you frame. Instead
include components of animal’s habitat thereby adding
another layer of interest to the story your photograph will
tell.
-
Focus
on the animal’s eyes whenever possible. If they are sharp,
then the entire image is more pleasant to view.
-
If possible,
select you shutter speed manually rather than using
automatic mode. You’ll want to be flexible. A running herd
shot with a slower shutter speed made while panning produces
breathtaking results. (You will need a tripod for this.)
-
Experiment with
depth-of-field. An equally powerful statement can be made
using a deep depth-of-focus as with a short depth-of –focus.
It’s entirely dependent on what elements you’ve framed in
you foreground, mid-ground and background.
-
Animals are not
unlike small children neither stay in one place for very
long so be prepared. Never chase and always stay the
recommended distance from any wildlife.
“Be very
patient and you’ll be rewarded with stunning opportunities”
-
Shoot
when the sun’s angle isn’t straight overhead, casting a
harsh light. Morning and early evening light are best and
reveal more of the subject’s texture.
-
Try to be level
with the creature you’re photographing (providing it is safe
to do so). Don’t be afraid of the dirt!
Wildlife
photography guidelines
These guidelines are
designed to ensure no harm in done to wildlife or their natural
habitats. Follow the points given below and make sure you
understand the rules and regulations of the areas you visit.
Remember that the ecosystems you will be photographing are
fragile, and you must leave them as you found them.
1.
First and
foremost, view wildlife from a safe distance for both you and
them. Respect their spatial needs. If the animal interrupts its
behaviour (resting, feeding, etc.) then you are too close and
must distance yourself.
2.
Never come
between a parent and its offspring. This is both dangerous for
you and distressing for the animals.
3.
Never
crowd, pursue, prevent escape, or make deliberate noises to
distract, startle or harass wildlife.
4.
Never feed
or leave food for wildlife. Habituation due to handouts can
result in disease ore even the death of that animal and injury
to you
5.
Never
encroach on nest, as certain species will abandon their young.
6.
Never
interfere with animals engaged in breeding, nesting, or caring
for young.
7.
Learn to
recognize wildlife alarm signals and never forget that these
animals are NOT tame no matter how docile or cuddly they appear.
8.
Do not
damage or remove any plant, life form or natural object, and off
course, do not leave any rubbish.
9.
Acquaint
yourself with and respect the behaviours and ecosystems of the
wildlife you may encounter. By doing so, you will enrich you
experience tremendously.
10.
Finally,
and most significant, remember that the welfare of the subject
and habitat are always far more important that the photograph
SOURCE:
Guardian
