5 Tips That Will Instantly Improve Your Wildlife Photography

 CAPS- Chicago Area Photographic School is coming up November 23rd and 24th, 2019.  To whet your appetite, we are going to occasionally do some blog posts by our speakers.  Our first post is by one of our main speakers, Steve Perry.

"5 Tips That Will Instantly Improve Your Wildlife Photography"

When it comes to wildlife photography, there's an overwhelming number of tips and tricks that promise to help you capture more compelling imagery. However, in my experience as both a professional wildlife photographer and a workshop instructor, I've discovered that following just five fundamental techniques can ratchet your wildlife photography to the next level. These tips are all incredibly simple - and perhaps even obvious - but the impact they have on your images is often nothing short of profound. 

Let's jump in.

Tip #1 - Get To Eye Level

If I had a dime for every time I saw a photographer pointing their lens down on some poor, unsuspecting animal, I'd finally be able to snag that new 800 mm lens I've been drooling over!

The thing is, the best wildlife photos draw the viewer into the animal's life - and shooting eye level gives you an express ticket to that world. It creates a sense of intimacy and involvement that you usually can't get when the lens is pointing downward. 

Not only does it create a connection with your subject, but It also offers a unique perspective. In my experience, the majority of photographers tend to trade getting down to the animal's height in exchange for a comfortable standing position. This means low, eye-level shots are the exception rather than the rule. 

Plus, shooting low can often "stack up" the foreground and background, leading to a more isolated-looking subject. 

So, don't be afraid to drop low when the opportunity is right - you'll be surprised just how good things can get! 

Tip # 2 - Watch Your Background

One phrase my workshop participants hear repeatedly is, "Watch your background!"

A good, clean background that complements - and doesn't compete with - my subject is as important to me as the animal itself. Often when a photographer spots an animal, their instinct is to start shooting from the exact spot where they first set eyes on it. On the other hand, the best wildlife photographers note the animal's location and then maneuver around to get the best possible background. 

Clean, green backgrounds are always a crowd-pleaser, as are nice tones of brown - or a combination of both. Avoid busy backgrounds and keep any distractions to a minimum as well.

Also, avoid white "patches" of highlights in your images since our eyes are attracted to the brightest area of the photo first. I avoid white patches of sky, white trees/branches in the background, hot spots on reflective leaves, and other highlights as much as possible. Keep the background clean and your subject will pop!

Tip # 3 - Focus On The Eyes

When it comes to getting a sharp wildlife photo, you normally only have one criteria - sharp eyes. If the eyes are sharp, the rest is usually just fine. Also, when in doubt, focus on the eye closest to the camera. 

When people first set their lens on wildlife subjects, they often plop the AF point anywhere on the critter and fire away. This often results in eyes that aren’t in critical focus. Instead, compose your image first, then move your AF point to the animal's eye. Focus on the eye and fire away in short bursts (hint - you often discover that some of the frames in that burst are just a touch sharper than others).

Tip # 4 Don't Stop During The Good Stuff!

Is there something awesome happening in your viewfinder? Then don't stop shooting!

I can't tell you the number of times I see people only take a fraction of the action when it lasts for more than a couple seconds or so. If the camera is willing to keep shooting during prolonged action sequences, then don't let up – you never know what you'll get. I've shot upwards of 150 images without coming up for air during prolonged action sequences and am ALWAYS happy I did! The image below was #80 during a long 12 FPS burst while this little cub bounced all around its mom.

Sure, you may feel like you're shooting an excessive number of frames (and the quizzical looks from nearby spectators may seem to re-enforce this), but pixels are free and your shutter doesn't need a coffee break. Keep firing at great action until it's done – make your buffer beg for mercy when needed!

(PS – This doesn't mean to go crazy every time either! Controlled bursts are the key to successful wildlife photography – long or short.)

Tip # 5 - Shoot In Great Conditions

Wanna know one of the secrets to great wildlife photography? 

An ordinary subject in extraordinary conditions and great light will beat out an extraordinary subject in poor conditions and lousy light. And, of course, the pinnacle is an extraordinary subject in great light and perfect conditions!

The reason I bring this up is simple – I see so many photographers shooting in poor light and/or poor conditions (i.e. bad background/foreground, terrible scene, etc.) and wondering why they aren't getting better images.

The brutal truth is that the best images of ANY subject happen when that subject is in a great location in great light. So, the advice here is twofold:

First, favor great light. I know, it happens at the most inconvenient times of day (I hate dragging myself out of bed too), but that first light of morning and last light of day are where you tend to find extraordinary images hanging around. Sure, sometimes you can't hit it perfectly (nothing more frustrating than gorgeous light without a subject to stick in it), but shooting within that first hour and a half after sunrise or before sunset often works out well.

Second, favor great areas. No matter how good a subject and light, if it's not in a great location, it's never going to be a great shot. Sure, you may discover a handsome bear in sunset light, but if you're shooting at the city dump, no one will beg you to hang it on their wall.

I'd rather have an ordinary subject in great light and in a great setting than an extraordinary subject in terrible light and a rotten setting. I can't use the latter, but I can certainly use the former.

So, there you have it. And yes, I know you have probably heard of at least a couple of these before, but are you really applying them in the field (be honest)? If not, practice these principals the next time you’re out. I think you’ll enjoy the results.

Steve will be speaking on Sunday, November 24th on "Lessons from the Field:  A Wildlife Photographer's Experience."  He  will discuss the real-world techniques he uses each time he’s in the field to capture his wildlife imagery. Photograph by photograph, he will paint the picture of the scene, what drew him to it, the challenges it presented, and how he handled them. He’ll not only discuss the artistic elements, but he’ll also break down the complex technical aspects of wildlife photography and make them easy to understand. Steve will also cover the keys to tackling difficult situations and how you can leverage those challenges to your advantage to create  unique and compelling photographs.  

Steve is an award-winning photographer.  His images embrace the natural world and its occupants with stunning visual results.  He divides his time between creating images, leading photo workshops, making You-Tube videos, and sharing his knowledge in his daily blog with how-to and practical tips.  He was the recent recipient of a special recognition award for his creative accomplishments and his dedication to the art of photography.

Steve's Website:  Website:  https://backcountrygallery.com/

CAPS Website:  https://www.caccaphoto.org/caps/caps_home.php

To register for CAPS go to:  https://cacca.regfox.com/caps-2019