Wildlife Photography_ From Snapshots to Great Shots - Laurie Excell [28]
Self-assessment
Once you begin to understand the types of wildlife photography you want to pursue, take a good, hard, honest look at yourself and determine if you have the strength, the ability to handle the weather, and the patience to persevere until you get the shot.
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5. Location, Location, Location
The Where and When of Successful Wildlife Photography
Successful wildlife photography entails being in the right place at the right time. Sure, luck plays a big role too, but knowing when and where to go to find wildlife subjects increases your chances of a successful shoot. If there is no wildlife to be found, all the gear and technique in the world won’t conjure up a great wildlife image. Careful planning and preparation on your part will help you to find the best locations for the wildlife you seek and the best times of year to go.
Poring Over the Picture
Thanks to the foresight of our forefathers, we have national parks and refuges that preserve habitat for wildlife to roam, providing us with abundant photographic opportunities.
Poring Over the Picture
Being in the right location in the right season will increase your chances of achieving a successful shoot.
Start in Your Own Backyard
Literally, your backyard is a great place to begin photographing wildlife. It’s close, you are there regularly, and you can even entice wildlife to come to you by strategically placing bird feeders and water features (Figure 5.1). Not only will you get comfortable using your equipment, but you can make some great shots in your own backyard. By staging perches close to feeders and water features, you can even control where your subject lands prior to going to the feeder, which enables you to predetermine what your background will look like and what time of day the light is best for photography. Working the wildlife in your area provides you with hours of entertainment, observation, and practice so you are on top of your game when you head out on that once-in-a-lifetime adventure to distant locations to photograph exotic wildlife.
Figure 5.1 A water feature is a great way to attract wildlife, like this Black-capped Chickadee, to your backyard.
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Note
Small birds can be very skittish; if you can become proficient at making images of the birds in your backyard without flushing them, you’re well on your way to becoming a wildlife photographer.
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Local Parks
Next, expand your backyard to include local parks, which also provide great opportunities to practice with habituated subjects. Most wildlife subjects at the local parks have become used to people so it’s easier to practice your stalking skills. Learn where your subject’s comfort zone is and what types of images you can get with the equipment you have without disturbing your subject. Squirrels are great subjects because they are small and quick, and their antics make for great shots (Figure 5.2). They’ll also give you a good workout with your equipment. If there is a pond, you can count on birds being nearby. Find a bench to sit and simply observe your subjects. Notice how loud noises and sudden movements drive them away. But if you sit quietly, they will soon get used to your presence and will most likely wander within a photographable distance as they go about their daily lives (Figure 5.3).
Figure 5.2 A squirrel hangs upside down to better reach the fruit.
Figure 5.3 An American Wigeon flaps its wings to remove excess water after a bath.
Zoos and Game Parks
Once you have the hang of working with smaller wildlife subjects and are ready to move on to big game, head to your local zoo or game park to continue your wildlife photography education. One of the first facts you’ll learn is that most wildlife is active early in the day and then again towards evening. Most animals like to rest in the midday heat (there are definitely