GUIDE TO WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
Knowing the settings of your camera is far from enough to take photographs that stand out. You still have to be creative and be able to compose your image in such a way as to make it memorable. Before going to the field, you must already think about the atmosphere and the type of light you are looking for in order to choose the right time and place. Then, once in nature, you have to have an eye to spot an interesting scene. When it's done, you have to find the right angle of view in order to have the most beautiful background. Then, you have to think about the framing in order to include or exclude certain elements. Throughout this process, light must be kept in mind in order to choose the best way to exploit it. In short, there are a lot of things to think about and so you can easily get lost. Here is a short guide that will present you several possibilities in wildlife photography.
THE CHOICE OF FRAME
'Small in frame'
When the decor is enchanting, do not hesitate to zoom out or step back to include it in the image. This makes it possible to show the beauty of the landscape while allowing people who view the photo to see the environment in which the animal evolves. The era where the quality of a photo is judged by the size of the subject in the frame is definitely over. The grandest images are often those where the subject takes up minimal space in the frame. This kind of photo also allows you to diversify your portfolio and opens the door to a whole new universe.
'wore'
Nothing better for a photographer than the moment when an animal accepts our presence. He thus lets us enter his universe and his intimacy. These moments of connecting with wildlife are unique and in my opinion, portraiture is a great way to convey that sense of trust through an image. The portrait can also sometimes save us when the decor is not advantageous, the animal then fills the frame and the rest of the decor disappears.
ATMOSPHERE SEARCH
Mist
In summer, when the days are particularly hot and the nights are cool, it is not uncommon to see a beautiful mist appear on the lakes in the early morning. There is nothing quite like giving a dramatic mood to photographs. This transports the person viewing the images completely elsewhere. Against the light, the mist will take on a beautiful golden hue while it will remain bluish before sunrise. Two completely different atmospheres, but equally interesting in my opinion.
The snow
Living in a Nordic country certainly has these advantages. For the wildlife photographer, snowstorms are a real godsend. They clearly demonstrate the harshness of our winters and the difficult conditions with which wildlife must deal for half the year. Snowflakes add a fairytale touch and completely change the 'mood' of an image. In order to make them stand out, the background must be dark and as far away as possible.
The rain
Rain droplets provide a unique touch that can take an ordinary image to an extraordinary one. Despite everything, there are very few photographers who take advantage of it. It is certainly not without risk for the camera equipment, but with good protection and with vigilance there is no reason not to take advantage of it. You should ideally choose a day when it rains, but where there is no wind. By choosing a faster speed, the drops will be frozen and look almost like snowflakes, by choosing a lower speed, the drops will appear as small lines in the image. The two effects are very different, but equally interesting.