How to Take Wildlife Pictures
whether if walks, swims, or flies

Wildlife pictures (also known as Wildlife Photography) is one of the three major categories of outdoor photography. The other two are Landscape pictures and Plant pictures.

Each category has its own unique challenges, requirements and rewards. We will focus on how to take wildlife pictures on this page. And for the sake of clarification, if it moves on land, flies in the air, and/or swims or moves in water; it belongs in the wildlife photography category.

The battlefield chant of "Don't fire 'till you see the whites of their eyes" could be equally applied to photography.

Wildlife pictures means photographing creatures in the wild. And when photographing most creatures (birds being the obvious exception), it's generally preferred to shoot at the eye level of your subject. Although doing so is often awkward when dealing with small animals and reptiles, this approach can produce dramatic results.

As far as this particular suggestion, there's more leeway when shooting wildlife pictures with larger animals; however, not so with the small guy. If you want a great shot with small creatures, you need to be willing to get uncomfortable and dirty.

Many photographers make the mistake of photographing small animals such as non-flying birds, lizards, snakes and insects by standing above the animal and pointing the lens down. Getting the animal to pose for a wildlife picture is generally very difficult, even by offering them tiny little shoes.

Overhead shots are acceptable if you simply want to identify the creature, such as if they were a witness to a crime or something. But, if you're looking for creating an intimate connection with the animal, keep the lens level with the animal’s eyes. Plan on wearing grubby clothes because it often means getting on your stomach to take the pictures (I never said wildlife photography wasn't messy).


Focusing For Wildlife Pictures

Every digital camera comes with auto-focusing capabilities. However, to take the optimum wildlife picture of small creatures, we often should focus manually.

As we will cover in "macro photography," the closer we move in on a small subject, the more of the frame that subject fills.

It is during these conditions that we want to use manual focus. Auto focus is wonderful, easy, and quick for most wildlife photography. It's especially recommended when the focus point is obvious, or when taking landscapes where the focus is set on infinity.

But when taking intimate pictures of small creatures, many auto focus systems will get confused as to what specifically to focus clearly on. That's why you will often want to manually set the f-stop and focus to obtain the best wildlife pictures.


Wildlife Pictures of Nesting Birds

If you're lucky enough and patient enough to capture a photograph of a mother bird feeding her chicks in the nest, it will undoubtedly become one of your most prized wildlife pictures.

However, remember to keep these critical factors in mind: Be very careful so as not to harm the birds. You can easily cause damage without ever knowing it.

One example is that of a photographer who returned to a nest site she had been photographing the previous day. During the night, it had been destroyed by a predator. How? Probably because the photographer's scent had attracted a predator to the area who then discovered the nest.

If you find a nest, regardless of what shape it is in or how it is "hindering your picture," don't move any of the twigs or contents. That would likely have a disastrous effect.

As far as photography equipment, the longer the lens (digital SLR or standard digital camera), the less disturbance you will cause. A 300mm or 400mm lens is probably the minimum you should consider. Serious bird photographers usually have at least a 500mm lens.


Wildlife Photography Rules

Similar to above, there is really only one "rule" - do no harm. "Harm" in this case covers a lot of ground, from picking flowers to harassing wildlife. And it's easy to do harm even when you don't mean to. If you step on an alpine flower it may take 10 years or more to grow back.

If you disturb an animal you may harm it by preventing it from getting food or exposing it to predators. If you feed an animal you may harm it by exposing it to humans. "Begging" animals are frequently hit by cars and even the ones who aren't may suffer from eating an unnatural diet.


Where to Take Wildlife Pictures of Large Animals

The easiest place to go is a convenient zoo. Yes, I know... technically these are not wildlife pictures because it's not in the wild. However, as will be covered in a minute, to truly take wildlife pictures, will involve a much greater investment of funds and time.

Many modern zoos have natural enclosures for the animals. Therefore, bars and fences won't get in the way. If you do want to shoot an animal behind bars, either wait until they are paroled, or move the camera lens close enough to the bars to eliminate the bars from being visible in the viewfinder. Obviously, safety is the main concern, so know how close is close.

If you truly want to capture animals in their natural habitat (a.k.a. "wildlife pictures"), the easiest place to practice wildlife photography is in a place where the animals aren't getting shot at every other day by hunters.

Being shot at tends to make animals suspicious, afraid, and not too friendly... all bad characteristics for a photographic subject.

Yosemite can fill up several memory cards (even when there's no wildlife around) by just taking in the landscape opportunities. For bird Photography, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Florida is hard to beat.

And, if time (and especially money) is not a concern, a photographic safari should produce the best wildlife pictures on the planet.

Leave Wildlife Pictures and return to the Home Page