| Great wildlife photography is never easy. While a | | | | squashed into a space where it doesn't quite fit. |
| good photo is something to treasure, the challenges | | | | In these situtions, try zooming back just a little, to |
| involved in getting it can frustrate even the most | | | | allow a little 'headroom' around the animal. There |
| experienced photographer. | | | | should be at least a small amount of space above |
| "It was wonderful to be there, but this photo doesn't | | | | the head, and on each side. If the animal is facing to |
| really do it justice." Does this sound familiar? Too | | | | one side, adjust your composition so that there is a |
| often we have a great experience in nature, and | | | | little more space in front of the subject than behind |
| even though we have our camera at the ready, we | | | | it. That way the animal will be looking into the picture, |
| fail to get the shot. This is not because the camera | | | | not at the edge of the frame. |
| lets us down; it is because in our rush to get a photo | | | | Mistake #4. Poor Lighting. We all love to get out and |
| - any photo - we fall victim to any one of a number | | | | about on sunny days, but these are not necessarily |
| of mistakes that can ruin a good wildlife photography | | | | the best conditions for a good photo. Bright sunshine |
| opportunity. | | | | produces shadow where you many not want them; |
| Here are five common mistakes in wildlife | | | | in particular across the face of the subject. In the |
| photography, and some simple tips to overcome | | | | middle of the day when the light shines from above, |
| them. | | | | you can find that most of the face and all of the |
| Mistake #1. Fail To Get Close Enough To The | | | | underside of the subject is lost in dark shadow. |
| Subject. This is probably the most obvious mistake | | | | The solution? If it is a sunny day, take your photos |
| you can make. You may see a bird in a tree, but | | | | early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when |
| your photo turns out to be all tree and no bird. In | | | | the sun is at a lower angle. You will also find lower |
| wildlife photography, the 'less is more' approach is | | | | contrast and warmer colour in the light, adding |
| often best. Ask yourself what is important for your | | | | character to the whole photo. |
| photo, and eliminate everything else. In most cases | | | | In many cases it is best to take your photos on a |
| you are best to get as close as possible to the | | | | cloudy day, when the light is even and the contrast is |
| subject, and/or zoom in with your largest lens. This | | | | low. This light can work best for some subjects by |
| eliminates the distraction of the background so that | | | | completely eliminating glare and heavy shadow. |
| the viewer's attention is entirely on the subject itself. | | | | Mistake #5. Bad Timing. Animals move, they blink, |
| Mistake #4. Distracting Depth of Field. This is closely | | | | they turn their heads, they flap their |
| related to mistake #1. When you set your camera to | | | | wings...sometimes it seems they are on a mission to |
| automatic, you allow it to set your aperture and | | | | foil your best attempts at a good photo. |
| shutter speed settings for you. To get the best | | | | In every wildlife encounter, there are a thousand |
| results, you need to make these decisions for | | | | opportunities to take a bad photo, and maybe one or |
| yoursef. If you take your photos on a small aperture | | | | two opportunities to take a good photo. A nature |
| setting, you increase the depth of field around the | | | | photographer learns to be ready for that perfect |
| subject, allowing the background to become more of | | | | moment. |
| a distraction. You are better to set the widest | | | | Above all, this is a matter of patience. You need to |
| aperture setting you can. This narrows the depth of | | | | spend as much time as possible with your subject, |
| field, concentrating the focus on the animal. As an | | | | and take a lot of photos. Expect most of them to |
| added bonus, it will also allow a faster shutter speed, | | | | be rubbish, but take delight in the good ones because |
| which helps to freeze a moving subject. | | | | they are hard to come by. In particular, watch the |
| Mistake #3. Get Too Close To The Subject. When | | | | animal's movements and behaviour. The trick is to try |
| the opportunity arises to get a good close-up, some | | | | to catch a moment that expresses something unique |
| people go a little too far. A good wildlife photo wants | | | | to set your photo apart from millions of others. You |
| a little space around the subject, otherwise your | | | | won't get that perfect shot every time, but when |
| composition can look cramped, with the animal | | | | you do it is a moment to treasure. |