Pixiq

1. Get Local

You don’t have to go to far-flung places or climb the highest mountain to find wildlife to photograph. Your own adventures can start at home with backyard animals. Start small, photographing birds, squirrels, or rabbits. Maybe set up a birdfeeder by a window or create a blind. As you gain experience, expand your universe to include local parks or wildlife refuges.

I would rather see aspiring wildlife photographers spend time learning in nature rather than going to a zoo or visiting a farm, but controlled environments are good places to start observing animal behavior. Have a curious mind and develop the patience to wait for spontaneous moments to happen.

2. Wild Moments

It was Sam Abel who said, “If you’re not having any experiences, you’re probably not taking pictures.” Not surprisingly, the key element in wildlife photography is focused on the experience and the moment—being there, being observant, and clicking the shutter at the right instant. After all, what experience can put you more in the moment than being with a wild animal in its natural habitat?

Light and composition are important elements for making wildlife images that have impact and meaning, but as you would expect with animals, capturing a sense of the moment trumps everything.

3. Surrender Control

It’s important to realize that you are not in control of the situation when photographing wildlife. Life suddenly becomes very real when in the presence of wild animals, particularly with large game and predators. It raises the stakes knowing there’s something out there that could cause you serious harm. Always remember you are a visitor in their natural environment, and that the animals play by their own rules.

I learned the hard way that to become a good wildlife photographer you have to develop a feel for being around animals, that you have to wait until they put their guard down, and it’s always better if the animals come to you. It was overwhelming to be among wild animals. Sensory overload can take over, making it hard to know what to shoot, let alone remember how to use the camera.

One such overwhelming experience occurred when a gray whale calf approached our boat in San Ignacio Lagoon. Amazingly, gray whales want to be touched, as if they have forgiven mankind for almost hunting them to extinction, and this calf approached with nothing but good intentions. At a certain point I just stopped shooting, as I could not resist reaching out and touching this friendly whale.

Another overwhelming experience is snorkeling with sea lions, as they jet past you blowing bubbles as they go by. They literally swim circles around you, making your head spin. Moments like these force you to either concentrate on making photos or surrendering to the experience. I’ve shot lots of frames of empty water before giving up and enjoying the show. Of course, this is easier once you’ve already got the shot!

4. Embrace Serendipity

Any number of things must come together for a great wildlife photo to be made. It all starts with being there for the sighting to occur, and then being ready to capture the moment in whatever form it takes. Once the scene is set, it’s up to the animal to exhibit a gesture, an interesting behavior, or, with luck, interact with other animals. It’s the animals that decide the fate of the wildlife photographer.

That’s where you must let serendipity play its role, which means more than being just plain lucky. Serendipity, by one definition, “is the natural gift for making useful discoveries by accident.” To be a successful wildlife photographer you must learn how to develop that natural gift for being there when “accidents” happen. Knowing where to find wild animals, being patient waiting for accidental discoveries to unfold, and then being in the moment photographing them without disturbing their natural behavior are all keys to capturing successful wildlife images.

5. Workshops and Expeditions

Take a workshop with a local wildlife photographer, or book a one-on-one session. Once you know tricks of the trade, then it’s time to branch out and take a road trip to Yellowstone or reward yourself with a once-in-a-lifetime photo expedition to another continent.

Few of us have the resources to head out into the wilds for months at a time. Going with professionals on a workshop or photo expedition helps to focus your time by taking you straight to the source, and offers the peace of mind that you’re with experts that have experience in these situations. There’s also the safety factor of being with a group should something unforeseen occur.

6. Get Up Early

Wildlife is most active early in the day, so getting up at the crack of dawn is essential. The wake-up call comes at the uncivilized hour of 3:45 A.M. It seems early even for a sunrise landing on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, located in the Southern Ocean, 54° south of the equator. I don my thermal layers and rain gear, pulling on rubber boots for a guaranteed wet landing. By the time we hit the beach, the dawn sky is glowing pink, and it’s time to get to work.

We are here at this hour because the regal king penguins are also coming ashore, bounding through the surf in bunches. There are photo opportunities in every direction. There’s the symmetry of penguins lined up like bowling pins against the ice-caped mountains on the skyline, reflections off the water as the surf is pulled back out to sea, and the opportunity for motion blur at slow shutter speeds as the animals struggle through the waves to get ashore. I work the situation every way I know how. After awhile the light changes from pink to golden, then is snuffed out altogether by clouds, but not before spending two hours of some of the best photo opportunities ever.

7. Be Persistent   

It takes dedication to see a project through. This step may not be for everyone. It’s far easier to be a casual wildlife photographer, making the most of the easy opportunities during your travels, and there’s nothing wrong with taking it easy and not making wildlife photography and major thing in your life. Sometimes, however, you might need to get to a location well before sunrise, and stay long after twilight. If you are dedicated and stick it out until the bitter end (the die-hards know who they are), at least you know you didn’t miss the moment. It just didn’t happen, for whatever reason.

8. Be Invisible

Years ago, I was in Costa Rica staked out near a resplendent quetzal’s nest, a beautiful green bird with a long red tail that inhabits the cloud forests in Central America. I was hiding in a makeshift blind, using a camouflage rain poncho wrapped around my tripod. I patiently huddled in the grass with my film camera and 300mm f/2.8 lens, photographing a pair of quetzals as they prepared their nest for the season’s offspring. The poncho worked great as a blind and the birds ignored my presence.

Blinds: I mentioned blinds above, and many wildlife refuges have permanent blinds and viewing platforms that are open to the public at certain times of year (usually when the migratory birds are present). The key is to be set up in the blinds or on the platforms before sunrise. Then, stay put until the early light is gone or the action is over. There are also a number of one-person portable blinds on the market that are easily transportable to remote locations.

Vehicles: You may be surprised to learn that a lot of great wildlife photography is done from vehicles. Animals don’t seem threatened by vehicles, and if sit you quietly and avoid sudden movements, they will ignore the vehicle all together. But get out of the car, and the game changes—animals view humans on the ground as predators, so the birds fly and the deer run. And the lions may eat you!

In Africa, Land Rovers are the modus operandi for getting out in the bush in search of wildlife. Closer to home, there are also many national parks and wildlife refuges where you can observe and photograph animals from your own vehicle. In Denali National Park, professional photographers can enter a lottery to secure their own road permit for photographing, and great wildlife sightings happen daily from the shuttle buses driving the park road out to Wonder Lake. In New Mexico, the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge is another great place to photograph birds from your own vehicle.

Boats: As with working from a vehicle, boats and other small craft pose no recognizable threat to wildlife. Working on the expedition ships, I get to spend a lot of time in Zodiacs—small, rugged inflatable craft designed by the French and made famous by Jacques Cousteau. Zodiacs are essential for getting water-level views of marine life and wildlife along the shore. Kayaks, canoes, and other small boats can also provide stable platforms for photography on the water. And put on that life jacket!

Stalking: Out in the field and on your own, there’s an art to not being seen that involves staying low, moving very slowly, and remaining silent. Always approach wildlife into the wind to avoid giving away your scent. Wear dark or drab clothing to blend in with the surroundings. Pay attention to the animal’s behavior; often body language will let you know if the animal is nervous or agitated. Walk a few feet, stop, and observe the animal’s behavior. If the animal is relaxed, move a little closer. Be constantly mindful, respecting the animal at all times while trying not to alter or influence its behavior. The best situations are always when the animals come to you.

9. Respect the Guidelines

Be sure to follow any local wildlife watching guidelines. Visitor guidelines in Antarctica suggest the closest approach at 15 feet (5 meters) for penguins. That’s plenty close for full-frame shots with most telephoto zooms. Want a wide-angle point of view? Simply sit down and wait: the penguins may get curious and approach you. Luckily, many animals don’t pay attention to guidelines or follow the rules.

Shooting Wildlife Tips:

• Use a tripod

• Check and set the ISO

• Check and set the shooting mode

• Check and set the f/stop (in aperture priority)

• Check and set the exposure compensation (EV)

• Set single-spot focus for portraits and slow moving animals

• Set pattern focus for fast moving animals

• Use continuous focus (servo)

• Use continuous drive (burst mode)

• Increase ISO for sharp images

• Decrease ISO for motion blur