Exploring wilderness areas and viewing wildlife in all its varied forms is a thrilling experience.  You have the opportunity to witness the intricacies of our natural environment and the interplay of species and habitats.  What a delight!  To capture any of it photographically is a special treat.  No need to ask why I do it; no need to wonder why I tote camera bodies, lenses, tripod, extra batteries, along with the other essentials (water, etc.) while hiking.  It’s simply that I love it and you will too!  So remember to pack along your camera the next time you’re out exploring.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Never harass wildlife: abide by the Code of Ethics for nature and wildlife photography and viewing (WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY Part One: Code of Ethics).
2. Always be alert.  Know what’s around you and educate yourself on what safety precautions you may need to take.
3. Know your camera.  If you have to search and fiddle with the controls, you’ll miss the shot.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the difference it makes using your camera’s manual features instead of its automatic ones.
4. Remember that compact digital cameras have a lag time between the depressing of the shutter button and the actual release of the shutter.  Work around this unique challenge by practicing on moving subjects and anticipating the action.  Another approach is to simply hold down the shutter button; taking a series of shots.  With luck you’ll have captured the action you wanted.
5. When you get to a location, really look at what’s around you.  Though you may have stopped for that heron you saw earlier, there may be a magnificently colored centipede at your feet.  Yes indeed, centipedes are wildlife too!
6. Wait for natural action.  Be very patient and you’ll be rewarded with stunning opportunities.
7. Take advantage of the optical zoom capabilities of your compact digital camera but IGNORE the digital zoom feature which merely enlarges pixels turning them into unsightly boulders.
8. Don’t use flash.  If you’re far from your subject, the flash won’t be of any use.  If you’re too close to your subject, you risk startling it and being injured yourself.
9. Don’t feel compelled to have your subject fill your frame.  Instead include components of the animal’s habitat thereby adding another layer of interest to the story your photograph will tell.
10. Focus on the animal’s eyes when possible.  If they are sharp, then the entire image is more pleasant to view.
11. Select your shutter speed manually.  Don’t defer to your automatic mode.  You’ll want to be flexible.  A running herd shot with a slower shutter speed made while panning produces breathtaking results.  (Yep, you’ll want to use a tripod for this.)
12. Experiment with depth-of-field.  An equally powerful statement can be made using a deep depth-of-focus as with a short depth-of-focus.  It’s entirely dependent on what elements you’ve framed in your foreground, midground and background.
13. Animals are not unlike high-energy toddlers.  Neither stay in one place for very long so be prepared.  Never chase them but move cautiously, slowly and smoothly.  ALWAYS stay the recommended distance from any wildlife (as specified by the National Park Service or other expert).
14. Become familiar with the habits of different species.  Enrich your understanding of what they are doing and where you might look for them.
15. Shoot when the sun’s angle isn’t straight overhead and harsh.  Morning and early evening light are much more pleasant and reveal more of the subject’s texture.
16. Try to be level with the critter.  This may require a bit more athleticism than you expected, particularly if you’re photographing that centipede.  Remember, dirt is your pal!
17. Finally, go out on “bad” weather days.  Some of the most interesting images are captured during inclement weather.

 Happy exploring and have a memorable time!

 

Photo title:  Elk in the Wetlands
Photograph and text: Copyright 2004 Deborah Siminski Tappan.  All rights reserved.

 

Deb Tappan is a Contributing Editor for