Wildlife wonderland

we’re on hand to show you the best tips and tricks for capturing amazing animal shots with your Canon dslr

From focusing to fieldcraft, we’ll teach you the skills to photograph animals during the frosty and snowy season

When the light levels drop and the cold seeps in, it’s tempting to put your Canon back in its bag and leave it there until

spring. Brave the chill, however, and you’ll be rewarded with just as many stunning wildlife opportunities as the other seasons – perhaps even more! In this feature we’ll start by covering the best kit and camera settings for the job, then delve into fieldcraft. Shooting local is fine (provided you know what to look for), so don’t feel you have to jet off in search of polar bears. By developing a regular routine and also improving your stalking skills, you’ll really improve the hit rate of each of your outings. Team this wildlife knowledge with our Canon DSLR tips on techniques, and you’ll be ready to pick out your first frosty destination.

Research subjects so that you know where and when you might come across them. Document natural behaviour too, and your results will look all the more dynamic. Not only is wildlife more approachable at this time of year, but the low-angled winter sun casts a soft and forgiving light that’s almost ethereal. We’ll cover three tricky lighting scenarios you might encounter, including exposing your Canon in snowy and backlit conditions. Read on, then grab your woolies and get out there!