Posts Tagged ‘Wildlife’
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
American Oystercatcher, Isabela, PR
You may have heard me say over and over again that in order to make the best images of wildlife you need to know your subjects, and know them well. One of the first things to learn about your subject is what is their preferred habitat.
Knowing your subjects preferred habitat is important, not only for locating them, but also in planning the kind of images you are going to make.
I enjoy animal portraits as much as everyone else, and I am known to make many “bird on a stick” images. However, my preference is for images that showcase wildlife in one of their preferred habitats. Images that include habitat tell so much more about that species, plus they can serve as a great compositional element.
Ruby Throat Hummingbird on Nest, Goose Creek SP, NC
Here are a couple of tips on including habitat with your wildlife images.
Supporting Habitat – While I like to include habitat in my images, I almost always make sure that my subject is the main focus of the image. I try to select background elements that compliment my subject, and not detract from it. I try to include habitat elements that frame my subjects and place them in an environment without detracting from the subject.
Separation – Even though you are trying to include some some of the background elements into the image in order to support your main subject, it’s important to maintain separation between your subject and the background. Use only as much Depth-of-Field as you need to keep your subject in focus and no more. There is such as thing as too much DOF.
Simplify – Avoid extraneous objects, one of the tricks I learned a long time ago that has helped me tremendously is to scan the periphery of my viewfinder just before tripping the shutter. What this allows me to do is make sure that I avoid any extraneous objects such as protruding elements, and that I don’t have any competing background elements. At first this may take some time to do consciously, but with practice you will find yourself doing this very quickly and sub-consciously.
Prothotonary Warbler, Chatham County, NC
Keep up with Juan on The Digital Photo Experience and learn about Juan's workshops at Wild Nature Tours.
Tags: habitat, Juan Pons, newsletter, Photo Tips, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks, Wildlife | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Copperhead Snake, Chatham County, NC
I don’t often hear many people talk about connecting with your subject when shooting wildlife, after all how can a human connect with an animal, right?
Well, I can tell you categorically that yes you can connect with your animal subjects, but more importantly you want your viewers to connect with the subjects in your photos.
Here are a few tips on creating a connection between your photos subject and viewer:
- A Different Perspective – I review quite a few images from amateur wildlife photographers asking for feedback on their work. And I have to tell you that the biggest mistake I see people make is photographing an animal from standing height, usually looking down at the animal. This, in my opinion, is the quickest way to make an otherwise spectacular subject look rather ordinary. The reason for this is that as humans we are used to seen the world from standing height, when you create an image that provides a different perspective, a different point-of-view if you will, you are providing your viewer something different to look at.
- Eye Level – To make a connection, you need to be looking at your subject at eye level. So get down, lie on your belly if you must. I’ve been known to lie down and crawl on geese poop for hours to get down low enough to connect at eye level with my subjects. An added benefit to this, is that animals will see you as less threatening when you are at eye level to them.
- The Right Pose – Capturing your subject at the right pose is key to presenting them in as favorable way as possible. Additionally the right pose should present your subject in as a natural state as possible.
I hope these few tips help you in creating a stronger connection with your subjects.
Tags: connect, Juan Pons, newsletter, Photo Tips, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks, Wildlife | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Coyotes Fighting, Yellowstone NP, WY
Nothing adds more interest to a wildlife photo than action. Whether it’s a fox pouncing on a mouse, a wolf chasing an Elk, or, as in the image above, two coyotes fighting, action provides us with a glimpse into the everyday life of the animals we are photographing. Because of this, action makes our photo viewers want to take a closer look, linger a bit longer on our images, and ultimately make a stronger connection with our images.
Capturing THE Moment is quite possibly the biggest challenge in photography. But you can stack the odds in your favor with these few quick tips.
- Know Your Subject – knowing your subject is paramount for making a great image. Study your subject, learn its behaviors, its social structure, and its diet. You can never really predict what wildlife will do at any moment, but by knowing your subjects intimately, you can increase your chances of being ready to trip that shutter at the right moment and “Capture THAT Moment”.
- Patience & Perseverance – You must be patient, and wait for the moment, never, ever prompt a wild animal to perform for you. This not only puts the animals welfare at risk, but in many cases it is also illegal. You must observe and try to capture that moment many many times before you make THE right image. You may have to sit in a blind for days to get that ONE moment, often lasting fractions of a second, and you may have to do it repeatedly to get just THE right image. Sometimes you may get lucky, but as they say, luck favors the prepared.
- No Machine Gun Action – When you think the moment is about to happen don’t just hold that shutter button down and let it rip… Chances are that if you do this, your buffer will fill up and the crucial moment will take place when your buffer is full preventing you from capturing the real peak moment. This is where knowledge of your subject and repeated observations come in handy, you will get better at predicting the moment. Then shoot in short bursts, trying not to fill the buffer if you can. Oftentimes, great shots present themselves when you least expect them. Be deliberate as to when you trip your shutter.
- Shutter Speed – Try shooting at the highest shutter speed you can. 1/1000 of a second or higher if you can help it. Don’t be afraid to increase the ISO if needed. I would prefer to get a little noise/grain in my image than get a blurry image.
- Focus – When photographing wildlife, I prefer to de-couple the AutoFocus function from my shutter button. I shoot Canon cameras and these have had this feature for as long as I can remember. This puts me in complete control as to when when the AF engages by pressing a button on the back of the camera with my right thumb. and not when I press the shutter button. What this allows me to do is focus on my subject, then recompose and be ready to trip the shutter whenever I need without fear that the camera will try to re-focus. The last thing you want the camera to do is try to refocus when you are trying to capture THAT moment, producing a blurry image, or worse yet, missing the moment completely. This takes some time to get used to, but I find it indispensable when photographing wildlife.
Keep up with Juan on The Digital Photo Experience and learn about Juan's workshops at Wild Nature Tours.
Tags: action, Juan Pons, newsletter, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks, Wildlife | No Comments »
Monday, May 24th, 2010
I am going to start this week of wildlife photography tips with what I consider to be the most basic and essential tip – Be Ready!
What does this mean? Being ready means a lot of things, but for me it means the following:
- Know your equipment – Your equipment should help you get the shot, not get in the way of getting the shot. In a way the camera should be an extension of you. The only way you are going to get to know your equipment is to use it and use it often. I only had a fraction of a second to make the image of the red fox above, and I only got one shot. If I had to think about how to change the controls of my camera I would have completely missed the shot.
- Keep your gear ready – Make sure your camera is on, you have a recently formatted memory card, and the camera is set to your favorite settings. Double check these settings every so often, it is easy to bump your mode dial to an undesired mode inadvertently.
- Know your subject – In order to make the best images, you NEED to know your subjects. There simply is no substitute, make sure you read up and study your subject habits, preferred environments and favorite food. This will help you in not only finding your subjects but also making the best images you possibly can.
If you want to learn more about how I got this shot of the red fox, make sure to check out this post on DPE on why I shoot in AV mode.
Keep up with Juan on The Digital Photo Experience and learn about Juan's workshops at Wild Nature Tours.
Tags: be ready, fox, newsletter, Photo Tips, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks, Wildlife | 1 Comment »
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
The path to greatness is along with others. – Baltasar Gracion
I am kinda big on quotes – because they drive home a point quickly. Lately, I have been having fun matching famous quotes with some of my wildlife pictures – as illustrated here by this picture that I took by the Mara River in Kenya.
If you are young and starting a business, or have been around and are looking to begin a new venture, perhaps the best advice any seasoned/sharing pro would offer is to do what the wildebeest and zebra are doing in this picture: working together as a team for a common goal (to get across the river uneaten in this case).
Find a trusting partner or partners that can help you along to the path of greatness.
Explore the Light,
Rick
Make sure and check out Rick Sammon and Juan Pons at the Digital Photo Experience.
Tags: DPE, quotes, Rick Sammon, Wildlife
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Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Tundra Swans. Pocosin Lakes NWR, NC
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of assisting Juan Pons at his “Geese, Swans and Bears” photo workshop in North Carolina. Birds are not a frequent subject of mine, but I always jump at the chance to learn something new.
As photographers, we tend to concentrate our efforts on learning one particular type of photography. It could be wildlife, portraits, landscapes or any number of other disciplines. It’s great to develop a personal style and hone your skills in a specific area, but sometimes it’s good to make pictures that are outside of your area of expertise.
Exploring other disciplines can give you a fresh perspective on your work. Perhaps learning to create depth in a landscape photo will give you new ideas for dramatic portraits. Lighting techniques you learn for portraiture could help you make more compelling wildlife shots. Maybe taking your old Polaroid out will give you some cool post-processing ideas.
Dock Sunrise. Lake Phelps, NC. 3-shot HDR
The easiest way to try something new is to give yourself an assignment. It can be something simple… Go shooting with only one lens. Try shooting only with the lens you use the LEAST. Get together with friends and give each other assignments. You friends’ ideas could help spark your creativity.
A class or workshop is another great way to try something new. Unfamiliar techniques are much easier to master with the help of a good instructor. Workshops range from one-day seminars to two-week trips to exotic locations. Pick a class outside of your comfort zone and dive into it.
Top image captured with a Nikon D300s w/ 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Nikkor lens.
Bottom image captured with a Nikon D700 w/ 24-70mm f/2.8G Nikkor lens
Read more about Rob Knight at his website, and learn about Rob's workshops at Edge of the World Workshops.
Tags: Advice, instruction, Landscape, learning, lens, Making an Image, Photo Tips, tip, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks, Viewpoint | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Think back to a recent time when the weather was nice and you were in a pleasant park area. The sun was out, the clouds were fluffy, and the birds were singing (a rainbow and some happy skipping may have been involved too but we won't go there…). During this joyous day, recall how many people you saw making photographs. My guess would be quite a few. In general, people like making images when the weather is nice. Yet, when the weather becomes inclement, we tend to stay inside, and far fewer photographs are made.
The world doesn't stop when the weather is bad. As photographers, neither should we.
Now, I know many photographers (and I'm sure you do too) who are, shall we say, apprehensive about taking their beloved camera out shooting in inclement weather. They say "my camera is not environmentally sealed".
I say, "So what?"
There is a wide variety of protective gear, such as rain covers for your camera and equipment. You wear rain gear without fear, so why can't your equipment do the same? Op/Tech's Rainsleeve, Kata's Elements series, AquaTech's Sport Shield series , and ThinkTank's Hydrophobia Rain Covers are just a few that come to mind. Even if your camera is environmentally sealed, it is a good idea to invest in a rain cover for your gear.
As photographers, we seek out images and scenes that are unique and tell a story. When applied to our weather discussion, we can get some unique images that tell a story which far fewer photographers tell. A wet street at night and its glow present wonderful options for us to photograph. Shooting falling snow and capturing it in mid air can also make an image that will resonate with others.
Human nature tells us to seek shelter when said weather is bad. As a photographer this means that less people will be out shooting and hence, the stories you can capture will be all your own.
Perhaps urban/cityscapes is not your thing. Maybe you're more of a wildlife photographer. The same rules apply. Wildlife photographers who shoot in rain, snow, etc. have the potential to get amazing images. We've all seen images of wildlife. The number of images rapidly decreases when you look for wildlife in rain, snow, etc. So if you brave the elements and capture, for instance, a mature bull elk exhaling in the cold morning air while some light snow is falling, you could have an amazing shot. Unique, thought provoking wildlife photographs are what separate the journeyman from the truly creative.
Extraordinary photographers make extraordinary photographs. Extraordinary photographers are the ones who do not scoff at the notion of inclement weather but rather embrace it. They are the ones who realized long ago that weather is not the enemy.
Would you rather be an ordinary photographer or an extraordinary one? That's what I thought. Get out there and shoot! (feel free do some happy skipping too if you’d like).
You can check out Ted's work on his website, and follow him on Twitter.
You can see OPG's offerings of raincovers here.
Tags: Advice, Weather, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Since Chris Klapheke and I are heading down to Roma, Texas for one of my workshops, I thought it would be good time to post a few tips on using water drips to attract birds. In Roma, we put a water feature in front of every blind. Due to the dry climate and the sound of the water dripping, we get lots of different drinkers and bathers.
We dig out a water feature in the ground and line it with plastic to hold water. As most of the blinds are sunken in Roma, the water drip on the ground is still at eye level. You can also elevate a water drip as shown below.
Below is my set-up that I have been using during the Spring and Fall migration on the Upper Texas Coast. I have an elevated pond made out of a bucket with a 2 foot X 2 foot piece of plywood on top. I place a few rocks around the edges of the plywood and lay a piece of pond liner on top. The final touch is running a small drip hose to it so there is always fresh running water. The sound attracts the birds and lets them know the water is fresh. To fine tune the dripping you can purchase a small drip hose from a department store and attach it to your garden hose. Some models even come with a small spigot so that the drip rate and volume can be adjusted.
When there is no running water nearby, I use a five gallon jug that has an adjustable flow lever. A camping jug will last two days with a steady drip. I support the jug with a photographer's backdrop frame. A milk jug with a pin hole will also work.
Set up near trees so the birds feel safe. Use only a few perches, and you will be rewarded!
Look for more posts from our Roma workshop!
You can read more about Alan, browse his wonderful images and learn about his workshops here.
Tags: Avian, Roma, Tips and Tricks, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Here’s a quick tip for getting good exposures of both very dark and very light subjects. When photographing a dark subject, such as this leopard seal that I photographed in Antarctica, set your exposure compensation to -1. When photographing a white subject, such as this polar bear that I photographed in the Sub-Arctic, set your exposure compensation to +1.
I know that sounds backward, but it’s actually true. Very dark and very light subjects can fool a camera’s exposure meter into thinking that the scene is darker or brighter than it is in reality.
By the way, those are just starting points for a good exposure. As always, check your histogram to get the very best in-camera exposure. You can’t trust your camera’s LCD monitor when it comes to exposure and color.
Think backward, and you’ll remember this tip.
You can check out more from Rick at The Digital Photo Experience.
Tags: exposure, Photo Tips, tip, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Quick Tip | No Comments »
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Last summer I was fortunate to have some unusual visitors to my back yard. We had a cicada invasion, and the insects were crawling up out of the ground and making their usual racket. Siting in my office, I thought I saw a dog run across the clearing. On further inspection, it was Great Horned Owl! To add to my surprise, two juvenile owls waddled out of the underbrush. All three were after the tasty morsels emerging from their sleep.
Seeing a Geat Horned Owl around these parts is rare, and having two juveniles on the ground in one's own yard even rarer. I knew I had to get to work, for this might be a fleeting moment.
I had no idea what I was in for. It took me two weeks to get a usable shot. These guys earned their reputation as the top of the avian hunter chain, as they could see and hear my every move. I tried a Doghouse blind, laying on the deck, laying in mud, a Kwik Kamo blind–enough things to make my wife start muttering about "obsession". Finally I tried TWO Doghouse blinds, so the little rascals would be confused about where I was hiding.
Once I was able to keep the owls in the yard while I was in one blind, my problem became composition. What owl would look my way when nice juicy cicadas were on the ground in front of them? Any noise I made, including shutter noise, would make them look up and scurry. Then it hit me. The first shutter click might get their attention, the second shutter click could be my shot. That's how I captured the image above.
My lesson was: stay on point past the first shot. Don't line up your shot, only to pull away after your first shutter click. Stay focused and concentrate on what happens after your first click. Be there for the second shot, the third shot and more.
You never know what might happen after that first shot. The second one may the the one that nails it.
Tags: Tips and Tricks, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Quick Tip | 2 Comments »
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The Path to Greatness is Along with Others
Thursday, April 29th, 2010The path to greatness is along with others. – Baltasar Gracion
I am kinda big on quotes – because they drive home a point quickly. Lately, I have been having fun matching famous quotes with some of my wildlife pictures – as illustrated here by this picture that I took by the Mara River in Kenya.
If you are young and starting a business, or have been around and are looking to begin a new venture, perhaps the best advice any seasoned/sharing pro would offer is to do what the wildebeest and zebra are doing in this picture: working together as a team for a common goal (to get across the river uneaten in this case).
Find a trusting partner or partners that can help you along to the path of greatness.
Explore the Light,
Rick
Make sure and check out Rick Sammon and Juan Pons at the Digital Photo Experience.
Tags: DPE, quotes, Rick Sammon, Wildlife
Posted in Articles, Commentary, Viewpoint | No Comments »