Wildlife Photography_ From Snapshots to Great Shots - Laurie Excell [1]
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Camera Selection
Lens Selection
To Flash or Not to Flash
Utilizing Tripods and Heads
Buying CompactFlash Cards
Backpacks and Fanny Packs
Creative Filters
Protective Coverings
Camera Cleaning Kit
Flashlight/Headlamp
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 2: CAMERA SETTINGS AND SHOOTING TECHNIQUES
Getting It Right in the Camera Is the First Step to Making Great Shots
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Camera Settings
Shooting Techniques
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 3: EXPOSURE SIMPLIFIED
Understanding ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed: Their Relationship to Each Other and to Light
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Exposure Defined
Exposure Triangle
Light
Putting It All Together
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 4: GET TO KNOW YOUR SUBJECT
A Better Understanding of Your Subject’s Behavior Leads to Great Shots
Poring Over the Picture
Researching Wildlife
Field Ethics
Types of Wildlife Photographs
Know Yourself
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 5: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The Where and When of Successful Wildlife Photography
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Start in Your Own Backyard
A Year of Seasons and Locations
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 6: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Tips and Techniques for Safely Getting Closer to Your Subject
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Getting Closer Through Increased Magnification
Getting Closer Physically—Blinds
Getting Closer Physically—Slowly and Carefully
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 7: CREATIVE COMPOSITION
Basic Guidelines for Improving Your Photographic Composition
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Using Lines, Shapes, and Patterns
Framing Your Subject
Creating Perspective
Concealing to Draw Attention
Frame Filling vs. Environmental Shots
Incorporating Background
Applying the Rule of Thirds
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 8: BEYOND THE BASICS
Going Beyond the Basics for Creative Control over Your Images
Poring Over the Picture
Poring Over the Picture
Creative Use of Exposure Compensation
When to Use Manual Exposure
Understanding the Histogram
Panning for Stop Action or Blur Motion
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 9: BEAR TALES
Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Photographing Coastal Brown Bears
Poring Over the Picture
What, Where, When, and How
Chapter Assignments
CHAPTER 10: BIRDS OF A FEATHER
A Visit to One of My Favorite Bird Photography Hot Spots
Poring Over the Picture
What (Equipment), When, and How
Chapter Assignments
INDEX
Introduction
Anyone can take a snapshot of a wild animal or bird. It takes observing, patience, practice, perseverance, and most important, time behind the camera along with the right equipment to take your photography to greater heights and make great wildlife shots!
This book begins by illustrating the fact that you don’t have to have the biggest and baddest, high-performance cameras and lenses to make great wildlife images. In Chapter 1, I cover equipment basics, from a nice, starter, wildlife kit to high-performance bodies and bazooka-like lenses that enable you to make the in-your-face wildlife images you dream of.
In Chapter 2, I explain the camera settings that I use when photographing wildlife and provide images to illustrate the result of those settings. I then touch on Exposure Triangle in Chapter 3, clarifying aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and their relationship to each other and to the outcome of your images.
The more you know about your subject, the better you can anticipate its next move and be ready when it happens. Chapter 4 gives you ideas on how to learn more. Once you have the gear, have tweaked the buttons and dials to suit your style of shooting, and know your subject, it’s time to get out and shoot.
In Chapter 5, I discuss some of my favorite locations and seasons that give me the best photographic opportunities to photograph my subject of choice.
Moving right along in the progression to becoming the best wildlife photographer you can be, in Chapter