Let's celebrate wildlife by doing some wildlife photography. You don't have to be a professional when you follow these tips!
Tips for Wildlife Photography
The wild is an amazing and beautiful thing. Just going on a walk or trekking makes me want to capture the moment and the amazing life surrounding me. That's why whenever my family and I go out camping or trekking, I'm sure to bring a camera with me all the time. I'm no pro and I guarantee you, I don't produce National Geographic-worthy photos but a girl can dream, right? So if you want to get stunning wildlife photography, here are a couple of tips I'd like to share.
1. Research
Before setting out and snapping. You must know what your subject is. It's always best for you to be prepared for the location and the kind of wildlife you will be shooting (with a camera of course!)
2. Have a Plan
After you've done your research, have a plan. Since you've already done the research devise a plan of action. It can be like where you'll be waiting to get the shot or if it's small and slow animals you'll be photographing, know the mode and adjustments for the camera you'll need.
3. Have Patience
Since you'll be taking pictures in the wild, it won't always go like you want it. Be prepared with the fact that you may have to wait hours for the right subject.
4. Be Creative with Your Vantage Point
Don't get stuck with the idea that you'll just be standing or sitting while taking pictures. Getting the right angle can be tricky, you may have to lie down or even lie on your belly to get the shot that you want.
5. Consider Safety
So you now feel like a Nat Geo photographer. You've taken a couple of shots and now in the moment. Don't forget that these animals are wild. Still consider a safe distance when you're around them. Always remember, better safe than sorry.
Also read: How To Shoot Professional Looking Photographs At Home
6. Don't Be a Middle Man
You may be used to centering the subject in the middle of the photo but have you ever heard of the “rule of thirds“? In this rule, any subject will generally look better a third of the way into the frame, and our eyes are naturally most drawn to the four points in a picture where the imaginary vertical and horizontal third lines cross. So give it a try on your next photo.
7. Simplicity is Key
Have you noticed what kind of background stunning wildlife photos have? They're almost always simple. Make the negative space work for you and the simplicity of your background will almost always create a more dramatic effect. Get more tips here.
8. Take Lots of Photos
You may not know it but photographers take hundreds of photos of their subject. They may be professionals but they still know that a frame may not capture what they want so taking snap shots more than once will help. It can also be a numbers game.
9. Be Respectful
Remember, you are just a guest in their home. Know when to call things off. You may not know it but you may already be disturbing them in their natural habitat.
10. Practice
Like everything we do, you can't expect to have amazing photos on your first try. Well there may be beginners luck but practice still makes it perfect. It's better that you know what you're doing when you're out and about.
11. Have Fun
This may be the most important tip to remember. There's no use doing something you don't enjoy right? Just have fun taking their photos and I'm sure, it will translate on the film.
Need more tips? Get 10 more here from Steve Perry:
Do you think you'll be able to take better wildlife photos with these tips? Let us know below in the comments!
[…] fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Source link .tdi_4_5b8.td-a-rec-img{text-align:left}.tdi_4_5b8.td-a-rec-img img{margin:0 auto 0 0} (function(d) […]