10 tips on how to get started as a wildlife photographer!
Do you want to photograph wildlife, but you're not sure how to begin? Keep reading- these tips will hopefully help you on the way!
Remember that you don't have to travel far or buy expensive gear to photograph wildlife. Use the gear you’ve got and pay attention to the birds and animals in your surroundings. I’m sure you'll be surprised to discover the opportunities right outside your doorstep.
Ready to get started?
Here are my 10 best tips on how to become a wildlife photographer!
Get up at sunrise. You might be surprised to see who’s roaming the streets while everyone else is asleep. This is the best time to spot foxes, deer, rabbits, beavers, birds and more. The light can sometimes be trickier at this time so the easiest way to nail your shots is to shoot with your back against the sun. However, you can also make beautiful backlit photos by positioning yourself so that the sun’s rays are filtered through branches, leaves or grass.
Take some test shots to check and adjust your settings, so that you are ready in case something suddenly appears.
Choose your background and decide whether you want to include the environment or take a closer portrait. It's a good idea to take both zoomed-in and wide angle shots if possible. Using the environment to create a nice foreground or framing will often make the photo more interesting.
Open apertures give a soft and blurry background and makes the subject stand out in the frame.
Long lenses can be hard to keep stable, so start out with using a shutter speed that’s double your focal length or more. However, new lenses and cameras have amazing VR (vibrance reduction) and with some practice and a steady hand you can get razor sharp shots at longer shutter speeds if the subject is still.
Study the habits of the wildlife you want to photograph i.e. what do they eat, where can they usually be seen and at what time? You can also ask your neighbours or local farmers if they have seen anything.
Learn the different calls of the birds or animals you want to photograph. That way it’s easier to recognise and find your favourites. You can also play the songs from your phone to see if the birds answer or come closer. There are plenty of apps and websites with bird songs. Or you could practise making animal calls yourself :)
Try to be at eye level with your subject, even if it means laying flat on the ground.
Set the focus on the eyes. Try shooting with single point focus for better control.
Wildlife living in urban areas are usually less shy of people so don’t worry if you don’t have a big zoom lens, you can come quite close anyway. But always remember to be careful and move quietly, and most important of all, treat wildlife with respect and back away if they show signs of distress.
Would you like to read more about how I photograph wildlife?
