Look who’s stalking

When it comes to wildlife photography, fieldcraft is just as important as focusing and frame rate. If you’re tracking mammals on foot, then you’ll need to wear rustle-free clothes – avoid velcro-fastening pockets at all costs – and approach in a zig-zag fashion rather than head on. If you’re going to be moving with a big lens, take a monopod rather than a tripod as it’ll be much easier to manoeuvre. Keep an eye on the shutter speed and activate image stabilisation. If you plan to use a hide, make sure you set it up well in advance and leave an old drinks bottle sticking out of the front as a pretend lens, so that the wildlife gets acclimatised to it.