How to take great wildlife photos<\/h2>\n 1<\/span> Capture eye contact<\/h3>\n<\/div>
Eye contact can make your pictures more compelling, provided the animal doesn\u2019t appear startled. Watch for that slight turn of the head and a \u2018catchlight\u2019 reflection in the eye to bring the subject to life.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> European river otter \u00a9Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
More related photography content:<\/p>\n
- Landscape Photographer of the Year 2022<\/a><\/li>\n
- Guide to Britain\u2019s best locations for landscape photography<\/a><\/li>\n
- Best places to photograph wildlife in the UK<\/a><\/li>\n
- Best photography courses in Britain<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
![\""Male\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/photography_0-95c3c1d.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Male\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Consider your backdrop<\/h3>\n<\/div>
The background is every bit as important as the subject. It should complement but not compete with the animal you\u2019re photographing, and if you can evoke the season, habitat or weather, so much the better. You might need to zoom out or change lenses to achieve the most sympathetic proportions.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Getty<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0
3<\/span> Watch for repeat actions<\/h3>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\nWatch for repeat behaviour, which will allow you to plan more ambitious shots. You\u2019ll need a fast shutter speed to freeze this sort of action \u2013 this leaping red squirrel was shot at 1\/8000s. If your camera is set to a simpler mode, then select the \u2018sports\u2019 option for dealing with wildlife action.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nCapture close-up shots<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
We\u2019ve already talked about framing wide to show an animal in its environment but sometimes it\u2019s good to do the opposite: get in close and frame tight. Strip away all those elements that aren\u2019t adding anything to the photograph and concentrate attention on the interesting bits. Often that\u2019s the eyes of the subject, but there\u2019s no harm in introducing a little mystery by looking elsewhere.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n More related content:<\/p>\n
- Podcast: How to take great outdoors photography<\/a><\/li>\n
- Natural phenomena to spot in autumn<\/a><\/li>\n
- 30 years of the BBC Countryfile Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
Oh Dear! by Francisco Terreros\/Credit: BBC Countryfile Calendar 2022 (October winner)<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>
![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2021\/08\/10.-October-oh-Dear-54bde73.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Oh\\"")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/div>\nChoose your light direction<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Try to be aware of light direction and how it can affect the mood of\u00a0a photograph. Side lighting helps to show modelling and reveal surface texture, while back light can introduce drama or romance. Make the most of low sunlight at the beginning and end of the day\u00a0for long shadows and warm glows.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nChoose a focal point<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Consider subject placement carefully, don\u2019t just default to the\u00a0centre point out of convenience. Master the art of \u2018focus, lock, compose\u2019 to break the habit of cross-hairs targeting. Generally speaking, it\u2019s best if the animal is looking or moving into space within the shot, rather than out of the frame.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n\nStand back<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
You don\u2019t always need a monster telephoto lens to make great images of wildlife. For example, with murmurations of starlings at dusk or wading birds at their high-tide roost, it\u2019s the shape of the flock that\u2019s most interesting \u2013 it\u2019s not important to see plumage detail \u2013 and a standard kit lens is often sufficient for this.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p> \nDon\u2019t be put off by bad weather<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Don\u2019t give up when the weather turns bad. Hostile conditions frequently give rise to the best photographs, so long as you can\u00a0keep yourself and your equipment protected from the elements. Vary your shutter speed during rain and snow, using slower speeds for longer streaks.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n\nKnow your local patch<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Don\u2019t neglect the wealth of subject matter on your doorstep (and this applies to city dwellers too). Making your garden more wildlife-friendly can also help bring your subjects closer to you.<\/p>\n
\nLearn how to identify wildlife<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
It will help you identify and locate subjects (you can cheat by referring\u00a0to a sound guide app).<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nPhoto in focus: Common whitethroat<\/h3>\n
\u201cThere are no heroics, epic travels or terrible hardships behind this picture. It\u2019s simply the result of knowing my local patch, patient observation, and repeat effort. Whitethroats are common summer visitors throughout the British Isles, often associated with farmland and hedgerows. The males tend to return to a few favourite song perches and, as long as they feel safe, they soon ascend to a high vantage point to proclaim their territory. Once I\u2019d identified the best spot, it was just a matter of waiting quietly for normal service to resume. And then doing it again and again until I was happy with the light and composition.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n\u201cMy favourite photographs are those made from \u2018basic ingredients\u2019 and commonplace situations, where I\u2019ve been able to imagine the finished product and then achieve something approaching that ideal. The goal is to capture the essence of the subject in a way that will resonate with the viewer. I want people to say \u2018Yes, that\u2019s exactly how I remember a whitethroat\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Key points:<\/strong><\/p>\n- The bird is positioned at a compositional power point,
- Its singing references seasonal behaviour and adds interest.<\/li>\n
- The image is framed wide to incorporate key elements of the environment.<\/li>\n
- Inclusion of oilseed rape at bottom of the frame suggests lowland arable habitat.<\/li>\n
- Complementary primary colours (blue\/yellow) says spring.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Chris Gomersall Published: Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 12:00 am Capturing wildlife on camera is notoriously tricky, requiring a great deal of patience and luck to spot and shoot that perfect image. But if you put the time and research into it \u2013 along with keeping a few expert tips in mind \u2013 you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":22390,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-scaled.jpg",2560,1695,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-300x199.jpg",300,199,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-768x508.jpg",768,508,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-1024x678.jpg",800,530,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-1536x1017.jpg",1536,1017,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-2048x1356.jpg",2048,1356,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Chris Gomersall Published: Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 12:00 am Capturing wildlife on camera is notoriously tricky, requiring a great deal of patience and luck to spot and shoot that perfect image. But if you put the time and research into it \u2013 along with keeping a few expert tips in mind \u2013 you…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/22389"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Capture eye contact<\/h3>\n<\/div>
Eye contact can make your pictures more compelling, provided the animal doesn\u2019t appear startled. Watch for that slight turn of the head and a \u2018catchlight\u2019 reflection in the eye to bring the subject to life.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-646539708-4f657e0.jpg?quality=90&resize=594%2C396"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\u00a0<\/p>\n
More related photography content:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> The background is every bit as important as the subject. It should complement but not compete with the animal you\u2019re photographing, and if you can evoke the season, habitat or weather, so much the better. You might need to zoom out or change lenses to achieve the most sympathetic proportions.<\/p>\n \u00a0 Watch for repeat behaviour, which will allow you to plan more ambitious shots. You\u2019ll need a fast shutter speed to freeze this sort of action \u2013 this leaping red squirrel was shot at 1\/8000s. If your camera is set to a simpler mode, then select the \u2018sports\u2019 option for dealing with wildlife action.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019ve already talked about framing wide to show an animal in its environment but sometimes it\u2019s good to do the opposite: get in close and frame tight. Strip away all those elements that aren\u2019t adding anything to the photograph and concentrate attention on the interesting bits. Often that\u2019s the eyes of the subject, but there\u2019s no harm in introducing a little mystery by looking elsewhere.<\/p>\n More related content:<\/p>\n Oh Dear! by Francisco Terreros\/Credit: BBC Countryfile Calendar 2022 (October winner)<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Try to be aware of light direction and how it can affect the mood of\u00a0a photograph. Side lighting helps to show modelling and reveal surface texture, while back light can introduce drama or romance. Make the most of low sunlight at the beginning and end of the day\u00a0for long shadows and warm glows.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Consider subject placement carefully, don\u2019t just default to the\u00a0centre point out of convenience. Master the art of \u2018focus, lock, compose\u2019 to break the habit of cross-hairs targeting. Generally speaking, it\u2019s best if the animal is looking or moving into space within the shot, rather than out of the frame.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t always need a monster telephoto lens to make great images of wildlife. For example, with murmurations of starlings at dusk or wading birds at their high-tide roost, it\u2019s the shape of the flock that\u2019s most interesting \u2013 it\u2019s not important to see plumage detail \u2013 and a standard kit lens is often sufficient for this.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t give up when the weather turns bad. Hostile conditions frequently give rise to the best photographs, so long as you can\u00a0keep yourself and your equipment protected from the elements. Vary your shutter speed during rain and snow, using slower speeds for longer streaks.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t neglect the wealth of subject matter on your doorstep (and this applies to city dwellers too). Making your garden more wildlife-friendly can also help bring your subjects closer to you.<\/p>\n It will help you identify and locate subjects (you can cheat by referring\u00a0to a sound guide app).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no heroics, epic travels or terrible hardships behind this picture. It\u2019s simply the result of knowing my local patch, patient observation, and repeat effort. Whitethroats are common summer visitors throughout the British Isles, often associated with farmland and hedgerows. The males tend to return to a few favourite song perches and, as long as they feel safe, they soon ascend to a high vantage point to proclaim their territory. Once I\u2019d identified the best spot, it was just a matter of waiting quietly for normal service to resume. And then doing it again and again until I was happy with the light and composition.<\/p>\n \u201cMy favourite photographs are those made from \u2018basic ingredients\u2019 and commonplace situations, where I\u2019ve been able to imagine the finished product and then achieve something approaching that ideal. The goal is to capture the essence of the subject in a way that will resonate with the viewer. I want people to say \u2018Yes, that\u2019s exactly how I remember a whitethroat\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Key points:<\/strong><\/p>\n By Chris Gomersall Published: Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 12:00 am Capturing wildlife on camera is notoriously tricky, requiring a great deal of patience and luck to spot and shoot that perfect image. But if you put the time and research into it \u2013 along with keeping a few expert tips in mind \u2013 you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":22390,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-scaled.jpg",2560,1695,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-300x199.jpg",300,199,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-768x508.jpg",768,508,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-1024x678.jpg",800,530,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-1536x1017.jpg",1536,1017,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/12\/wildlife-photography-tips-how-to-take-great-photos-of-animals-2048x1356.jpg",2048,1356,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Chris Gomersall Published: Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 12:00 am Capturing wildlife on camera is notoriously tricky, requiring a great deal of patience and luck to spot and shoot that perfect image. But if you put the time and research into it \u2013 along with keeping a few expert tips in mind \u2013 you…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/22389"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Consider your backdrop<\/h3>\n<\/div>
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/red_kite_hires_BAD2214-a1b8058.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Watch for repeat actions<\/h3>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/red_squirrel_hires_DAB1160-3b5a5c9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\nCapture close-up shots<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/red_deer_hires_CAB0107-3b5a5c9.jpg?quality=90&resize=471%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/div>\nChoose your light direction<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/puffin_hires_BAD0475-74262e6.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C406"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\nChoose a focal point<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/mountain_hare_hires_DAB2180-4127aab.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C409"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\nStand back<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/red_knot_hires_DAA5935-e6f1b0c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p> Don\u2019t be put off by bad weather<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/red_deer_hires_DAB1798-2a96976.jpg?quality=90&resize=613%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\nKnow your local patch<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Learn how to identify wildlife<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Photo in focus: Common whitethroat<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2017\/07\/whitethroat_hires_AAA5951-c5a086b-719ed45.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C370"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"