Photographing wildlife calls for a little patience, anticipation, quiet steps … and a bit of animal know-how
No matter the type of wildlife – whether it’s a bird, a squirrel, a family of ducks or an elk – there is an approach to take when photographing them.
Photographing Wildlife
People tend to make it more difficult than it should be … photographing wildlife, that is. But, animals in the wild are no more of a mystery than we humans are. The key is to pay attention and learn their behavior patterns. Take, for example, the everyday bee.
I am continually entertained watching people chase after bees to get that coveted ‘Bee Photo.’ You’ve seen them, in fact you may be one, but rest-assured I’m here to help. They are the ones tilting and bobbing their camera in a fast-paced symphony of movements following the path of a bee.
Did you catch the ‘path of a bee’ part?
Bees have one goal in mind — flit from flower to flower and gather pollen. In fact, if you took a few moments to watch them, you may notice a flight path emerge. With this keen observation comes power. Instead of wildly chasing the bee, now you can choose to focus on a flower in their path and wait for the bee to come to you — or into your field of focus, if you will — and shoot.
See, it’s simpler than we tend to make it.
Yet, some animals just aren’t that cooperative, say for example birds, squirrels, lions, tigers and bears — oh, my! For these, we have other approaches in mind.
Using the ‘Wow, it’s a Peacock’ method
We are often in awe of our subjects — we can’t help it really, we’re human that way. Unfortunately, unless we tame this initial shock response, we will continually shoot average pictures of just subjects and may never capture the great message that ‘could have been.’
One way to break this stifling habit is to invoke the ‘Wow, it’s a Peacock’ method of shooting. It goes a little something like this:
You are walking along when lo’ and behold you happen upon a startling, beautiful subject … such as say, a peacock. Your heart races, you fumble for your camera, yes, the excitement level is high — it’s a peacock for goodness sake! So, what should you do?
Take a picture.
Yes, it’s as simple as that. Don’t worry about composition, perspective, saturation, kelvin temperatures, or even lens options for that matter, just take a picture. At least at this point, you have an image of the ‘subject’ that so readily caught your attention — and now you can ‘get over it,’ focus and get down to business.
Stalking your prey can be rewarding
Now that you have your initial shot of the animal at hand, it is time to check the image on your camera’s LCD screen for lighting, saturation, white balance, etc. Let’s get down to business.
Animals will often let you get very close to them if you have some patience, step quietly and move slowly … in other words STALK.
Now, before visions of Glenn Close and rabbit stew invade your mind and release your fear response … realize we aren’t speaking of that kind of stalking. Watch Rod demonstrate how the ‘Peacock Method’ got him close to some sheep in the Denver Rockies.
Quietly move closer to the animal and be still … take a picture.
Calmly inch a little closer, be still again, and take another picture.
Inch a bit closer like the stealth weapon you have become … be still … take a picture.
Keep a watchful eye on the animal as you move to notice any hint of predictable or dangerous behavior. Repeat this series of movements until either A) you are satisfied with the shot at hand or B) the animal has left.
Once an animal has determined you aren’t a threat, they will often allow you to get well within their world. As long as you don’t make any quick movement, loud noises or abrupt motions … the animal will also likely let you stay there with them awhile.
Which can be plenty of time to create that great wildlife photograph you are looking for.