TEN TIPS FOR BETTER WILDLIFE PHOTOS
1
GET TO KNOW YOUR SUBJECT Take time to watch what creatures do in your garden and where they go. Then you can second-guess their actions and anticipate where to stand to capture the best photos.
2 DEVELOP YOUR FIELDCRAFT
Much wildlife photography involves getting as close to your subject as you can without scaring it away. At the extreme, you could create a hide or buy a camouflage tent for the purpose. However, in a garden, if you sit in the same place on a regular basis, garden birds may learn you’re not a threat. With insects and amphibians, move slowly and quietly, get low to reduce your apparent size and don’t cast a shadow over them.
3 GET TO KNOW
YOUR CAMERA Using your smartphone, try out the different photo features such as slow-mo and time lapse video settings. A garden is an excellent place to play around. With a DSLR camera, adjust the shutter speed to find out what speed it takes to freeze an insect’s wings mid-flight.
4 THE LIGHT FANTASTIC
Light is everything
– after all, the word photography means ‘drawing with light’. However, that doesn’t mean you have to shoot in blazing sunshine. Colours are richer in bright, overcast conditions, without deep shadows and glaring highlights. Golden times are early morning and late in the day. Try shooting into a low sun (carefully, of course!) to create some wonderful halo and silhouette effects, such as through insect wings.
5 MAKE SURE THE EYES ARE SHARP
This helps us feel more connected with the subject. A gleaming ‘catchlight’ of sunshine helps to bring the animal even more to life.
6 FIND A NEW PERSPECTIVE
Go close-up and fill the frame with your subject. Or take a wider picture of the creature in its garden context. Maybe even get on your back and see wildlife from beneath or look straight down on it from above.
7
.SHOOT AT RIGHT ANGLES With small creatures, you want as much of them to be in focus as possible. However, when working at small scale, depth of field can be very limited. So, with something like a butterfly with its wings open, get at right angles to it so that every part of it is about the same distance from the camera.
8 GRAB THE ACTION
A creature in statuesque pose is nice, but photos are more engaging and animated if you capture it doing something – preening, feeding, fighting, singing or scratching.
9
BE READY Make sure you have your camera to hand whenever you’re in the garden. Smartphones with a camera are brilliant for this. You don’t want to be regretting those brilliant images you missed just because you left the camera indoors.
10.PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
Even with all the tips above, it can take time to get a great shot. But be patient and just enjoy the process!