Professional Photo Books.com

Animals can make for fascinating and inspiring subjects. One of the best things about shooting animals (especially in the wild) is that you have little to no control over what they are going to do. They might be content to just lie there while you snap away. Others might get curious and come in for a closer look. The spontaneity of wildlife photographer keeps you on your toes and always guessing. That can make for dynamic shots.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re photographing an animal:

Avoid using a flash if possible
Especially if you are in their natural habitat, you don’t want to have a startled animal on your hand. You’re either going to scare them away or give them a reason to panic. No one wants to be on the wrong end of an angry animal.

Use a telephoto lens
Taking pictures of Fluffy in your studio doesn’t prepare you for shooting bears fishing in the Colorado River. Remember, they are wild animals. Safety comes first. A telephoto lens will allow you to capture the action without getting dangerously close.

Don’t forget the eyes
Just because they aren’t humans, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something going on in the eyes. Believe it or not, animals can express emotions and you’ll be better able to capture them if you keep the eyes in focus.

Be ready for them to move
Unless you are photographing an exceptionally well-trained dog, it is very hard to get an animal to sit still for a long time. You never know when they are going to suddenly move. Expecting it to happen means you won’t miss the shot.

Practice
The local zoo is a great place to practice your animal photography. For one thing, the enclosed pens mean that you have all the time in world to set up your shot, a luxury not afforded to you in the wild.

Tags: Digital Photography // Add Comment »