Explore the great outdoors
In summer, nature is buzzing with busy animals and blooming foliage
Summer is a true paradise for nature lovers. The longer days mean not only more time spent outside, but also the opportunity to capture wildlife big and small, as well as flora and foliage. Insect life is most abundant in late July and August, when you can get to know moths, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers and beetles, among other fascinating minibeasts. The seashore can provide a magical array of creaures, too, particularly if you’re prepared to wade in rockpools.
We can’t give camera settings that’ll work for every species – the key thing is to find out more about your intended subject so that you can predict its whereabouts and behaviour. Organisations (in the UK) like The National Trust and Wildlife Trusts have websites full of local info to get you started.
1 Go macro
Summer is a great time to hone your macro skills, thanks to an abundance of bees, butterflies and insects. Some species appear much earlier than others, so check wildlife guides to find out when and where to look for them. Insects are generally slower in the morning; the first hour or so after sunrise often presents stationary bugs.
If you’re struggling to lock focus on flighty subjects, prefocus manually on a spot you know they’ll land – think leaves and flowers. A tripod and remote shutter release will help to keep shots sharp.
2 Animals and their behaviour
Summertime plays host to plenty of unique wildlife spectacles. Larger animals such as deer, foxes and badgers are particularly active at this time of year, and easier to spot thanks to the longer daylight hours. Whether you shoot in a local park, reserve or even back garden, wildlife photography can be full of surprises. It’s also possible to revisit the same location over and over yet still see something new.
It might help to take a few field notes each time you go on a shoot, so that you can build up a record of a subject’s activity. Use Shutter Priority and a fast continous shooting mode, then you’ll be better primed to fire off several well-exposed frames if an animal suddenly appears.
3 Shoot a summer meadow
Nothing says summer like a field full of bright and bold flowers. (Just check out our poppy project on Photo Active, page 14.) There is usually a short window of time when each type of wildflower is at peak bloom, so regular visits to a location are a good idea. If you want still shots, look for low winds in the weather forecast. In a breeze, blur the movement of buds intentionally with long exposures. In terms of composition, get down low so that you’re looking along rather than onto a meadow, as this will help to immerse the viewer.