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Wildlife Photography – Ten Tips for the Beginner

By John M. Regan

                 Having been at this a while now and learned a little something about photographing animals I’d like to pass on a few tidbits for the beginner.  This is not a treatise on lens size or the best type of camera to buy.  The experts who write for photography magazines are far better qualified for that kind of advice.  This is for the guy or gal just starting out, or just plain wondering how to start.  I am going to assume that you already have a camera, are interested in getting some wildlife shots, but don’t have a big budget for travel. 

 1.  Take a lot of pictures.  Even a half a gig memory card is capable of holding an enormous amount of photos.  Shoot from all different angles and distances.  At least one of them will turn up a winner.

 2.  Learn to appreciate the common place.  You don’t have to go to exotic locations or film exotic animals.  I once took a picture of a plain white moth.  When I developed the photo I discovered that it had beautiful green eyes.  If you have a close up setting on your camera insects make fascinating, and often very cooperative subjects.  I guarantee that you’ll never run out of new species even if you live in the middle of the biggest city in the country.

 3.  Patience and Silence.  When you blunder into an area you disturb the wildlife for many meters around you.  Try this experiment:  Get some ear plugs and stuff them in your ears.  Walk around and notice the pounding vibration your bipedal form causes.   Animals are exceptionally attuned to these sounds.  Enter an area soft of foot and sit silently for a while.  You’ll be surprised at what pops up.

 4.  Get some knee and elbow pads.  The pads will save a huge amount of wear and tear and protect you from thorns, poison ivy, and other allergens.  I’ve learned this lesson the hard way!

 5.  Get the animal’s point of view.  Pictures from the human eye level are common place.  Note the lizard and snake photos on my website.  I try to get down their level whenever possible - it makes for a much more dramatic picture.

 6.  Try to catch a behavior.  These photos generally take more patience but action shots are always more interesting than stationary poses.

 7.  Keep the camera with you at all times.  Once you develop an eye for photo opportunities they seem to jump out constantly – and unexpectedly.  Unless you’re lighting fast with a sketch pad you’ll lose a priceless chance.  Keep the camera ready.  There is nothing more frustrating than getting ready to snap a picture only to find out that your battery is dead or you forgot to put a memory card in the camera.

 8.  Go out by yourself.  Don’t take a friend or a dog.  One person creates a lot of vibration noise – two are simply twice as bad.  I love my dog, but she finds everything I do intensely interesting and is often right on top of me and scaring off my subjects.

 9.  Keep a log of your visits.  Each time of the day has its unique fauna.  Make a note of the date, time, and atmospheric conditions.  It makes your photography time more productive when you know exactly where and when to find a particular species. 

 10.  Safety!  Be careful out there.  You have no idea what’s hiding under that log or rock.  Stand behind and lift it so that the object creates a barrier between you and whatever is on the other side.  I’ve been surprised by more than one poisonous species.

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