Wildlife photos are one of the most popular subjects for photography.
The vast opportunities and variety of subject matter make for a huge selection of the subjects for the would-be wildlife photographer.
Looking through wildlife photos, one can see quite a difference in quality from photographer to photographer.
Look up some of the well-known professional photographers like Moose Peterson and Joe McNally who, like Moose Peterson, either specialize in wildlife photography or, like Joe McNally, have shot for various publications like National Geographic, and you'll see a high level of quality and mastery of the camera that is repeated time and time again.
Look through Flickr galleries of wildlife photos and you can find some incredible photos.
You can also find some really bad photos too.
Most people tend to think that equipment is the common denominator here.
The professional like McNally and Peterson can afford to use the best equipment, hence they have the best photos.
This is most often not the case.
Sure, McNally, Peterson, and other professional photographers are using top end equipment, but they could shoot breath-taking photos with a sub $100 point and shoot digital camera.
The common denominator is skill, knowledge of composition and lighting, and knowing how to find their subject matter at the right time and place.
Skill is something anyone can constantly improve on.
Learn your camera inside and out.
If you're using a DSLR, know your lenses inside and out.
Know which setting and which lens will get deliver the vision you have in your mind.
Experiment constantly and study the results.
Figure out what works for which situations and what doesn't.
Learn to use accessories properly.
A tripod can be your best friend.
A long lens can get you in tight to your subject.
An external flash can do wonders, especially if used with a gridspot or a snoot.
Learn composition.
Study the photos of photographers you like.
How did they compose the photo? What was their vantage point? What lens do you think they shot the photo with? Where did they place their subject? Learn lighting.
Nothing can make or break a photo like lighting.
Good lighting can make an even mediocre subject look beautiful.
Bad lighting can make the most incredible of subjects look awful.
Again, study the pros to see how they do it.
Subject matter and location is something you can figure out from the pros too.
Where are they shooting? What time of day? Early morning? Early evening? Study the photos you like best to answer these questions for yourself.
Search out local photographers whose work you like to see where you can shoot near you.
Like anything else, photography is a skill that takes practice.
Studying your favourite pros is a quick path to learning how to take better wildlife photos.
The vast opportunities and variety of subject matter make for a huge selection of the subjects for the would-be wildlife photographer.
Looking through wildlife photos, one can see quite a difference in quality from photographer to photographer.
Look up some of the well-known professional photographers like Moose Peterson and Joe McNally who, like Moose Peterson, either specialize in wildlife photography or, like Joe McNally, have shot for various publications like National Geographic, and you'll see a high level of quality and mastery of the camera that is repeated time and time again.
Look through Flickr galleries of wildlife photos and you can find some incredible photos.
You can also find some really bad photos too.
Most people tend to think that equipment is the common denominator here.
The professional like McNally and Peterson can afford to use the best equipment, hence they have the best photos.
This is most often not the case.
Sure, McNally, Peterson, and other professional photographers are using top end equipment, but they could shoot breath-taking photos with a sub $100 point and shoot digital camera.
The common denominator is skill, knowledge of composition and lighting, and knowing how to find their subject matter at the right time and place.
Skill is something anyone can constantly improve on.
Learn your camera inside and out.
If you're using a DSLR, know your lenses inside and out.
Know which setting and which lens will get deliver the vision you have in your mind.
Experiment constantly and study the results.
Figure out what works for which situations and what doesn't.
Learn to use accessories properly.
A tripod can be your best friend.
A long lens can get you in tight to your subject.
An external flash can do wonders, especially if used with a gridspot or a snoot.
Learn composition.
Study the photos of photographers you like.
How did they compose the photo? What was their vantage point? What lens do you think they shot the photo with? Where did they place their subject? Learn lighting.
Nothing can make or break a photo like lighting.
Good lighting can make an even mediocre subject look beautiful.
Bad lighting can make the most incredible of subjects look awful.
Again, study the pros to see how they do it.
Subject matter and location is something you can figure out from the pros too.
Where are they shooting? What time of day? Early morning? Early evening? Study the photos you like best to answer these questions for yourself.
Search out local photographers whose work you like to see where you can shoot near you.
Like anything else, photography is a skill that takes practice.
Studying your favourite pros is a quick path to learning how to take better wildlife photos.
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