Sanjeev Nanda Tips for Wildlife Photography
Sanjeev Nanda Tips for Wildlife Photography
Rule #1: Have Patience
Patience is Virtue
When you spend a lot of time with an animal, you'll see amazing things. So when you're shooting in the wild, in a zoo, or at home with your pets, you'll need lots of patience to get an amazing photo. I often spend hours watching an animal in the wild or at a zoo exhibit, just waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Rule #2: Take Lots of Pictures
Sometimes it takes 1000 photographs for that one perfect shot
Give up your old film habits, and shoot a lot of pictures with your digital camera. Like humans, animals have "good" and "bad" expressions and postures, so the more pictures you take, the more likely you are to get a great shot. For example, in a four-hour game drive, I will shoot about 500 images, not worrying about the "bad ones." Then during the editing process on my computer, I will select the best ones.
Rule #3: Use Standard Settings
Animal photography is motion photography, so being ready is very important. Set your camera to standard settings (see below), and return to these settings after you've altered them for a specific situation (if time allows).
Standard Settings
Shooting Mode: Aperture Control AV; P for flash use
Image Recording Quality: JPG Best Quality; or RAW
White Balance: Shade (outdoors); AWB (indoors)
ISO: 400 (good weather); 1600 (bad weather and indoors)
Metering Mode: Center Weighted
Drive Mode: Single Shooting
Auto Focus Mode: One Shot; AI Servo if object is moving towards you or away from you
Auto Focus Points: Center Point Only
Rule #4: Keep the Eyes in Focus
Eyes give photographs character and depth
Remember that an animal is not a cathedralyou'll only have a few seconds to compose a shot. When using "center point focus," you are in control of the focus, not your camera, so make sure that the animals' eyes are sharp and in focus. Compose the shot so that the eyes are in the center of the picture, and leave extra room around your subject so you can crop the image later.
Rule #5: Learn How To Over and Under Expose
Play with exposure settings to get surprising results
Once you have your standard settings, you can use the exposure compensation feature (+/-) to adjust for a perfect picture. If your subject is much darker than the surroundings, use the over-expose (+) to lighten the image. If your subject is much lighter, use the under-expose (-) to darken the image. I usually adjust in increments of .5, but experiment with the feature to find what works best (and what doesn't).
Rule #6: A Higher ISO Is Your Friend
With animals, you need short exposure times because they're always moving. I rarely use use a tripodthough sometimes I'll use a monopodso I can adapt to their movements quickly. When I use a full aperture set, I'll use a higher ISO (800-1600 or even above). Older digital cameras will usually have visible noise over 400 ISO, but results with newer digital SLRs are much better. I think it's better to have an image with a little more noise than a picture completely out of focus.
Rule #7: Get Down There!
Take photographs anywhere but eye level
If you want tension in your pictures, get on eye level with your subject, or even below eye level. I often find myself laying flat on the floor when shooting in zoos. Many exhibits are below the observer, which is good for watching the animals but bad for photography!
Rule #8: Avoid the FlashUse a Flashlight Instead!
I don't like flash pictures because they're mostly flat and have no depth. In wildlife photography, you seldom have the time for good flash setup (with multiple flashes) anyway. I'd rather use a higher ISO and try my luck without a flash. A standard, hand-held flashlight can help by producing a glint in the eye of an animal and lightening up a dark corner.
Rule #9: Eliminate Fences
Zoom through the gap in the fences
When there are fences between you and your subject, get as close to the fence as possible without touching it (legal moves only, please). Extend your zoom to the largest telephoto setting, and open the aperture full. Ideally, your subject will be in the middle, between the front and back fences. Shoot through the shaded parts of the fence, and the fence should disappear from your shot.
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