Some Common Wildlife Photography Errors To Steer Clear Of
Just like every other endeavor in life, mastering skill in wildlife photography takes lots of time
, determination, and painstaking attention to detail. Each wildlife photographer whose work has received recognition has definitely risen through the ranks and outgrown the commonplace errors of the trade. It must be appreciated that wildlife photography is all about capturing a defining moment in an opportunistic shot. The said errors are therefore not about the equipment in use but rather about personal mistakes that result in a magical moment being lost forever in time. Sample these common blunders:
The failure to get in close proximity of the subject Wildlife photography is about getting the best detail of a given subject. As a photographer you must appreciate that the subject and not its background is the heart of the photo. This calls for you to approach the subject as much or as close as possible or for you to use your largest lens to zoom in.
The tendency to get too close to the subject Inasmuch as getting close is important it must also be noted that the quality of a photo will be ruined if the subject is exclusively focused on. Your wildlife photography work must show that it was indeed done in the wild. As such your photo must show some aspect of the background all around and above the subject regardless of whether the animal is being focused on from the front or the side.
The quality of lighting There are some general wildlife photography rules that govern the important aspect that is lighting. While it may be thought that sunny conditions are most ideal for capturing quality photos it may not apply all day long. A bright and/or overhead sun casts shadows on important subject features like the face and underside. The best approach in such conditions is to wait for the sun to be at an angle. Shooting in early morning or late afternoon will produce the best results. Generally it is advisable to shoot in cloudy conditions since the contrast produced by glares and shadows is quite limited.
The issue of timing Animals dont pose for wildlife photography; theyll behave as they wish and this means the onus is on you to capture the right moment. These moments are few and far in between which means you must exercise lots of patience. Indeed a simple flapping of the wings or a turning of the head can ruin a wonderful opportunity. Persist on and continue shooting you never know when the moment you are waiting for will arrive.
Overreliance on automatic camera settings Wildlife photography is best done with human instinct rather than automatic help. Inasmuch as these automatic settings help it is prudent to develop your shooting instinct through continuous practice. This will help you gain spontaneity, enabling you to react with mastery when a photogenic moment presents itself.