Many times people think they can only take amazing wildlife pictures away from home, but many times, you can get great pictures right in your own backyard.
Photographing Furry and Feathery Wildlife
Depending upon where you live, there are lots of ways to convert your yard into a wildlife sanctuary for birds, frogs, squirrels and other critters.
While it’s true that we rarely do wildlife a service by feeding them from our cupboards, if you follow the wildlife attraction and sustainability tips from the National Wildlife Federation (they’re online) you can feel good knowing that you are giving back to wildlife.
By following the advice from wildlife experts, you will also be creating an environmentally friendly landscape that will be good for the animals and the environment.
Take a bit of time to read about the habits of the species you want to photograph and you’ll find it much easier to capture them with your camera. And you will be better able to avoid attracting potentially dangerous predators into your yard. You should also look at the code of ethics for professional nature photographers on the North American Nature Photography Association’s website (nanpa.org).
Just as with photographing animals, when you take a picture of a furry or feathery wild critter, follow these guidelines:
- Use natural lighting to your advantage
- Fill the frame with the subject
- Focus on the eyes
- Shoot from various angles
- Capture personality
Photographing the World of Insects
Wildlife photography also includes the miniature world of insects. Butterflies, dragonflies, snails, ladybugs, honeybees, bumblebees, spiders are all commonly photographed subjects.
Like animals, photographing insects can be challenging. Here are some tips from the pros to help:
- Like with larger wildlife, it will help to know your subject’s patterns of behavior. Watch where the butterflies land and see if they prefer one flowery shrub more than the others. Then stake it out and wait for the subject to come to you. Make sure to be ready!
- If you want to get the best pictures of small creatures resting, use macro mode (or a macro lens) and fill the frame. Your camera’s manual will tell you how close your macro mode works. If you stay within the recommended range and hold your camera very steady (using a tripod) you will get some nice sharp shots.
- You should use sports mode or flash to freeze action unless the insect is sitting very still.
- Most insects are very sensitive to carbon dioxide and will run or fly away if you breathe directly on them. So when you lean in close for your close up, hold your breath! However, there are some insects like beetles that will freeze when you breath on them.
- Keep in mind some insects and spiders pack powerful, even deadly venom, so know your bug before approaching.
- Because insects slow down with cooler temperatures, early morning and twilight are easier times for capturing them with your camera. Insects can see shadows very well so don’t approach from the same direction as the light casts.
Wildlife photographs can make exquisite fine art and will look beautiful displayed in a photo frame on your wall or given as gifts. When framing your favorite animal or insect pictures, always go with a simple wood or metal picture frame in colors that complement your picture. Try to avoid eye catching brightly colored frames like red picture frames that will work to distract the viewer from your photograph. Instead look for natural tones like wood picture frames. Another way to use your animal photography is in photo crafts greeting cards, calendars, iron on transfers for t-shirts and much more. There are simply lots of wonderful things you can do with your beautiful animal and insect pictures so have fun capturing the wonderful world of nature.
Tags: insect photography, insecte pictures, wildlife photography, wildlife photography tips