When any photographer ponders wildlife photography, he/she becomes tensed as wildlife shooting requires specific techniques and tips. But don’t worry, we have gathered for you the most helpful wildlife photography tips and techniques to make it easy.

You need to grasp only a few things before jumping into this beautiful world of nature with your camera. They will make your images stand out and make it easy for you to blend in with the environment and survive.

Wildlife photography tips and techniques:

From the right gear to the right attitude, we have compiled all the things you need to know. So add these 15 tips to your kit before stumbling on your next wildlife adventure:

You need a camera

The right camera can change the whole game for you. After that, invest in the right telephoto long lens, which is indeed a necessity in wildlife. Go for lenses from 200mm to 600mm. Sometimes even a wide-angle can be useful and create surprising results.

Better have a tripod

Tripod adds another feel to your images. Pair your camera with a stable and sturdy tripod and make shooting a lot easy and smooth for you. This gear is as essential as the camera itself and can lead to some advanced shoots.

It does indeed enhance your wildlife photography by adding stability. And nowadays they are so compact that they can be carried easily as well. So they don’t hold you back, thus invest in them.

Respecting the Wildlife

Wildlife photography revolves around shooting interactions between wildlife species. But for this, you need their cooperation, and for that, you need to respect them. If you want to create a moving image, then capture it most naturally without disturbing the animal. It should be the absolute top priority not to harm the creatures nor the environment in any way possible.

Never corner animals and always keep their comfort first. Like all subjects, wildlife also demands respect, so give them care to get extraordinary results.

Following the rules of the spots where you are photographing

Whatever your shooting jurisdiction is, follow its rules. These rules are for your safety and to preserve this wildlife. So stay on trails, respect the locals, keep the area clean, and follow codes of ethics. Act like a professional before demanding to be recognized as a professional.

Most of all, don’t be oblivious or disrespectful to fellow photographers as they are in the same boat as you. Like in all professionals, principles need to be followed in wildlife photography. If we don’t police ourselves, then we give superior authorities for policing and restricting us.

Remember, no matter how long your lens is, it does not grant you an exception to rules. So don’t become wild amongst the wild!

Become a Naturalist

The most crucial skill in any profession is research, and photography is no less prone to it. To become a professional wildlife photographer, camera and gear might be necessary, but so is research.

Because if you want to capture nature, you have to mingle with it first. So the tip is to become a Naturalist and get to know your surroundings before lifting the camera. Wildlife is not just about the right light or ISO, but it is also about the right moment. So, find out what animal you can find and how they live to capture the best shots at the most fantastic time.

The knowledge you will gain will help you survive and function well and improve the quality of images. You will be ready when the moments come by and find compelling images that would have been impossible to capture without proper research.

Getting Low

Wildlife photographers shouldn’t mind getting their knees a little dirty as exceptional images require bending the legs. It would help if you got low, as perfect wildlife photographs need eye level or even lower angles to capture the best shots.

So get prepared to also lay down on your stomach as a lower perspective can add a whole new feel to your photography.

Going Long

Long lenses are a must for wildlife photography as they let you isolate the pattern of animals. There is little doubt about the vitality of long lenses in a wildlife photographer’s kit.

So ensure that you have an optimal telephoto lens. It can play numerous vital roles, such as magnification, cutting out distracting elements, isolating the best parts, blurring foregrounds and backgrounds, and much more.

Going Short

Long lenses might be essential equipment, but not all exceptional wildlife images require a long lens. Sometimes wide-angle lenses can result in extraordinary photos that long lenses fail to capture. So study the circumstances and go short when needed.

Getting Close

Getting close to animals might be difficult, but it transforms a picture. It is indeed the best way to make your audience connect to nature. The easiest way to get close is by using a long lens.

This is the best method when the subject is too broad, delicate, or dangerous, wildlife, and cannot be approached directly. However, if the circumstances are in your favor and you can get close to animals, then do it as the connection it offers cannot be replaced by a long lens.

The details that emerge when you get a close-up, such as textures in feathers shine in the eyes, hold an entirely new and valuable meaning for the viewers. This physically getting close is itself an issue as it requires a skill. The best way is to be patient simply.

Getting Sharp

To make your wildlife images look real with a long lens, make them sharp. For this, you will require a fast shutter speed. So follow this rule of thumb, which involves setting a shutter speed at least as fast as Len’s length.

Getting Blurred

Animals are mostly in constant motion. Birds usually fly, kangaroos hop by, elephants swirl, and horses run. But to make these activities extraordinary, show these movements in the form of a motion blur.

This adds an effect that makes the image very compelling and helps it to stand out. So experiment with motion blur as it requires practice. Begin by slowing down the shutter speed to around 1/60th second and then adjust up or down to get your desired amount of blur.

Steady camera – moving wildlife

Use this technique to make images in which the background and surroundings are sharp, while the moving subject appears blurred. The beauty in balancing the blur as too much blur can cause the subject to disappear, while not enough blurred subject will only look out of focus. Reaching the right blur can be tricky but makes the image worthwhile.

Panning Blurs

A panning blur requires you to move the camera with the moving wildlife to create both the subject’s moving parts and the background getting blurred. This can result in some extremely effective and persuasive shots if done correctly.

Focusing on the Eyes!

The eyes behold the soul, and this is very true in photography. They are the first thing viewers look at, so focusing on them is doubly essential.

 

You can even make a simple image successful by just sharpening your camera around the eyes as they are mesmerizing and hold a lot of details. They not only capture viewers’ attention but also leave them awestruck.

Telling a Story

Like in all minds of photography, one of the most useful techniques in wildlife photography is storytelling. Most of the iconic wildlife images have something to tell.

The best images always express something more profound than not only looks dramatic to the eye but touch the soul. So ensure that your wildlife photographs carry depict something meaningful such as prediction in action. This doesn’t mean to be overdramatic as simple can also portray a lot of thoughts.

Even a basic interaction between two animals can be portrayed beautifully to tell a story. All you require is a bit of research on your subject so that you can mold it. It doesn’t matter which lens you use or how far you are. All that matters is the relationship between you, your subject, and how the viewer relates to it!

Conclusion

If you follow all the above-given tips, you will no doubt reach the height of wildlife photography.

Just put all these techniques together, such as the equipment and camera settings to perspective and story-telling, and you will surely be able to capture some great wildlife photos.

Finally, make sure that your wildlife photographs are thoughtful as they reflect your creative and intellectual choices.

So have an excellent time wandering the wilderness with a camera and with all the odds in your favor!