{"id":16160,"date":"2022-04-26T07:53:17","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T05:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=59697"},"modified":"2022-04-26T08:26:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T06:26:14","slug":"how-to-take-striking-animal-portrait-photographs","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/how-to-take-striking-animal-portrait-photographs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to take striking animal portrait photographs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Graeme Green\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 26 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Animals in the wild aren\u2019t known for their willingness to take direction. This is a big part of the excitement of wildlife photography<\/a>: animals are unpredictable and can move at any time, depending on their whim \u2013 whether that\u2019s feeding, finding a mate, seeking shelter or caring for their young.<\/p>\n

As models, a lion, frog or gorilla is unlikely to strike or hold a particular pose while you take their picture. They don\u2019t care at all whether you get your shot. While the elements in a human portrait, such as physical positioning and setting, are usually a collaboration, with wildlife photography, the animal is in charge and it\u2019s up to you to adapt and respond, and to do so quickly.<\/p>\n

But in other respects, taking portraits of wildlife is similar to taking portraits of people. Eye contact, facial expression, head position, body language, lighting and background all make the difference between an unexciting image and an outstanding photograph that captures the spirit and character of your subject. Thinking about these kinds of details will enable you to take photos that are far more satisfying. Then, it\u2019s just a case of grabbing the opportunity when it\u2019s presented to you.<\/p>\n

How to get a great animal portrait shot<\/h2>\n

Here are three key points to keep in mind when you\u2019re looking for the perfect animal portrait:<\/p>\n

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Graeme\u2019s lion portrait. \u00a9 Graeme Green<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

1. Great eye contact<\/h3>\n

The eyes make this picture. Eye contact with your subject makes for more expressive, even soulful, photos. Cameras allow you to choose your precise point of focus \u2013 when taking animal portraits, it\u2019s always the eyes I focus on.<\/p>\n

2. Sharp details<\/h3>\n

A lack of sharpness can ruin a photo. As this is a close-up portrait, I wanted to see the fine details. That meant picking my F-number carefully \u2013 too high and I might have got sharp definition on the eyes or snout, but blurring in other areas of the face.<\/p>\n

3. A state of calm<\/h3>\n

You never want to make an animal feel threatened or stressed when you\u2019re taking its picture. Getting this image meant keeping calm and quiet, maintaining a safe distance and taking my time, so that the lion was relaxed in my presence.<\/p>\n

How to photograph wildlife<\/a><\/h4>\n

Want to learn more? Whether starting out in macro photography or entering the Wildlife Photograper of the Year competition, you\u2019ll find plenty of useful info in our wildlife photography hub.<\/p>\n

Meercats put on a pose. \u00a9 Thomas Peschak\/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021<\/em><\/p>\n

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\""Meercats\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

Eye contact is vital<\/h2>\n
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A gelada in the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia, Canon EOS-5D Mark III, 1\/400 sec at F6.3, ISO 400<\/span>. \u00a9 Graeme Green<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Eye contact is vital for creating an image with impact, but don\u2019t forget the focus \u2013 you want to show all of your subject\u2019s features in exquisite detail. In this eye-catching portrait of a gelada monkey, we can admire the texture of its magnificent mane, the sinews under its skin and a row of slightly-bared teeth.<\/p>\n

As with so much wildlife photography, there is rarely a set way of doing things. It\u2019s all about making individual creative choices. Some of my favourite animal portraits, both my own and those of other photographers, have a symmetry to them, with the animal\u2019s face straight-on and dominating the frame, and its eyes looking directly at the camera. These kinds of shots can look very proud and noble, especially with charismatic subjects such as big cats, elephants and gorillas.<\/p>\n

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Get on the same level as your subject \u2013 the view from inside a vehicle is often too high<\/span>. \u00a9 Andrea Moreno<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

When they start, many photographers are often content to just see an animal and get a picture of it, without giving much thought to how it really looks or how the shot might be improved. Yet there are endless creative options, from setting the animals in other spaces in the frame to taking the photo from a slight angle or from the side. Putting the extra thought into portraits means your results will be far more likely to do the animal, and you, proud.<\/span><\/p>\n

More photography content:<\/h4>\n