All For A Garden

                            hummingbird in my hummingbird vine

Your Wildlife Haven

One of the benefits of having a garden with water features and plants that attract pollinators is that it also is a haven for wildlife. I love spending time in my backyard paradise, and what better way to chronicle your personal Eden and its natural visitors than photography.

Advances in digital photography are making it easier than ever to capture stunning images of wildlife. Using some quick tips from lenses to camouflage,  you can get the same type of results the pros do.

Wild Critters are Shy

 Most undomesticated animals prefer to keep their distance from humans, so having a telephoto lens is crucial for wildlife photography. If you’re shooting with a DSLR or “mirrorless” camera, use a zoom lens with a focal length of at least 200mm. If you’re using a point-and-shoot, opt for a camera with at least a 60x optical zoom, such as the Nikon Coolpix P900 or Canon Powershot SX60 HS.  I use the Nikon Coolpix.

Avoid the Flash

Professional wildlife photographers avoid using a flash. Not only is a sudden burst of light a great way to startle a wild animal, but the flash also tends to produce unnatural harsh lighting. Consider also that your flash will not be powerful enough to reach your subject from a distance. If your camera has a built-in flash, remember to disable it before you begin shooting.

The Need for Speed

It’s easy to end up with blurry wildlife photos. Darting animals and intensified camera shake caused by using a long lens makes it hard to get a clear photo. To ensure your pictures stay sharp, shoot most animal encounters at 1/1000th of a second. To freeze an especially fast creature, (think bolting deer or a soaring hawk), use a shutter speed of at least 1/4000. When shooting on an overcast day or when the sun is low in the sky, plan on cranking up your ISO to 1000 or more to maintain a correct exposure.

In addition to shooting with a fast shutter speed, it’s good practice to capture action shots using your camera’s rapid-fire or “burst mode” setting. Most cameras can take between 3 and 20 images per second, increasing your odds of nailing the perfect shot. Remember to use a memory card with a write speed of at least 95MB/second so your camera doesn’t seize up while processing the photos. 

Ready for your close up?

A macro lens is a great tool for shooting small reptiles and tiny insects that typically go unnoticed. These close-range lenses are available for most DSLR and “mirrorless“ camera models, and some point-and-shoots have a built-in macro setting to switch on. Macro photography forces you to get close to your subject, so move slowly and avoid making any sudden movements.

Wild horses on Chincoteague Island, VA

Be Invisible

To photograph wild animals in their natural state, you may need to go incognito. Professionals will wear camouflage clothing or use a hunting hide to disguise themselves. In your backyard you may only need to sit still and be quiet. If you can, opt for a camera with a quiet shutter, or wrap fabric around your camera to help muffle any noises.

Be Patient

The best wildlife photographers possess Zen-like patience, waiting entire days for their perfect shot. Most people will not go to such great lengths, but you should still expect to wait a while for the right shot to present itself.

WANT MORE?

Where the Wild Things Are

Can’t get enough? Or maybe squirrels no longer satisfy you? It may seem like a no-brainer, but to take photos of extreme wildlife, you’ll need to venture beyond your backyard. Head to a local nature preserve or wilderness area. Zoos and aquariums are convenient places for sharpening your wildlife photography skills. Consider booking a safari, guided nature tour or whale-watching excursion to get up close and personal with the animals you want to photograph.

Time it Right

Dawn and dusk are ideal times for shooting wildlife. Not only will you avoid the harsh midday sun, but many animals are more active during these hours because the temperature tends to be cooler. If you’re trying to photograph a particular species, do some research to find the best time.

Safety Dance

Do not put yourself in danger while trying to get the perfect shot. Safety is your first priority, be it finding a stable, sturdy vantage point to shoot from or photographing dangerous predators. The safest way to photograph large carnivores, such as grizzly bears or big cats, is from a vehicle. If that’s not an option, shoot with the longest lens you have and arm yourself with bear spray and bear bangers, just in case your subject turns aggressive.

No Enticement

Nature photography organizations consider baiting wildlife with food an ethical taboo due to the harmful effect on the animals. If ethics aren’t enough to dissuade you, many states impose steep fines to photographers offering food to wild animals, and photo contests won’t accept baited shots.

That being said, it’s generally acceptable to lure pigeons and seagulls using bread crumbs (they eat human scraps off the ground anyway), or you can set up feeders to attract birds to your backyard.