WORK OUTDOORS

Learn how best to capture animal subjects in their natural surroundings

When you’re photographing pets outdoors, the first thing to do is make sure that your location is safe – both for you and your furry subject, says pro Alicja Zmysłowska (500px. com/alicjazmyslowska). “We need to make sure that there are no dangers for the dog, like a busy road close by, broken glass on the floor or wild animals that the dog could chase and run away.” When you’ve found the perfect spot to start shooting, you then need to consider your position with the camera. “I would say the most important thing is to get low, to dog level, so you can become a part of their world and see how they see it as well,” Alicja adds.

Think like your subjects to elicit the right mood from them. “If we want calm, peaceful portraits we should be calm too, and wait for the right moment. Don’t excite the dog too much.” Remember that all animals – dogs especially – feel and pick up on our emotions. “If we are nervous, the dog will also become nervous and won’t be able to relax.”

Alicja uses two cameras when shooting outside. The Canon 1-DX is perfect for action shots, or on darker days and poor light conditions, “thanks to its very useful high-ISO capabilities.” Her Canon 5D Mk III makes an appearance for portraits when light conditions are good. Why the change? “That body is not as heavy, so I use it when I don’t need the 1-DX’s special features.”

Capturing pets outside means adapting to the natural light. “I like to shoot with backlight, against the sun,” says Alicja. “I use the natural rim light around the dog and isolate them from the background in this way. Besides that, my favourite lighting is soft.” When the sun is bright, harsh and high in the sky, you’re limited by certain shooting angles. On cloudy days, you can avoid high contrast, and shape your subjects with a wide variety of exposure possibilities. If you’ve got time, take control of your white balance and exposure manually for greater control.