Pixiq

Since I first visited China way back in 1984, I have lost count of the number of times I have traveled to Wolong in Sichuan to photograph giant pandas. But it is no exaggeration to say I have devoted more time to taking pictures of this iconic animal than any other animal anywhere on earth. Why? Quite simply it is a great challenge and therefore hugely rewarding to get shots of a panda doing something other than eating bamboo, which it does for most of each day — regardless of the weather.

Amongst the thousands of images I now have of pandas drinking, walking, playing, lounging, climbing up and down trees, and mothers with their cubs, there are just two that have ended up as bestsellers. As it happens, both were taken after a snowfall. One shows a young panda sitting in the fork of a tree (pandas are good climbers) surveying the forest scene below; so there was plenty of time to compose it. Not so the other, which was a grab shot, taken after a panda walked up a snowy slope only to lose its balance and slide ignominiously on its back with all four feet in the air. Both always raise a laugh when I lecture — because they are completely different from the stereotyped shots of a sedate panda sitting down to feed.

When taking portraits of any animal with black eyes set within black fur or feathers, the essential thing to remember is that you need to get a catchlight in a dark eye, or else the animal won't come to life. Sometimes a skylight reflection is all that is needed, but more often than not I opt for fill-flash. After setting the available light exposure, I reduce the power of the flash by 1.5 – 1.7 stops (this can be selected on the flash itself or in the camera menu). In this way the backdrop won't appear underexposed.

A word of caution here. Don't even think about using fill-flash when it is raining or snowing, since it will result in a myriad of brightly lit raindrops or snowflakes which will detract from the subject.

Key Ways to Get Your Wildlife Images Noticed

• head and eyes sharp

• unusual/unexpected behavior

• simplicity

• humor

• tight crop

• cute factor

• catchlight in eye(s)

• harmonious colors

• no distracting objects

Panda Update

After the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, all the giant pandas had to be moved from the Wolong Breeding Center — many ended up at Ya'an, a satellite breeding center, also in Sichuan. Although the enclosures are large, the viewing points are not as extensive as at Wolong.

Heather's most recent panda books are:

• Panda (David & Charles, 2008)   Amazon.com  Amazon.co.uk
• Giant Pandas (Evans Mitchell Books, 2006)  Amazon.com  Amazon.co.uk