Insect And Wildlife Photography Tips – How To Take Great Pictures
ByOften when we think of wildlife we think of animals far away from home, but many people take amazing wildlife photos in their own backyards.
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.
You will also be creating an environmentally friendly landscape as well because what is good for the animals is also good for the environment.
Take some time to read up on the species you want to photograph so you can better understand their habits and hopefully take better pictures of them. And you will be better able to avoid attracting potentially dangerous predators into your yard. You might also want to check out the code of ethics posted for professional nature photographers by the North American Nature Photography Association.
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 tiny world of insects. Honeybees, dragonflies, butterflies, bumblees, spiders and even snails are all popular subjects.
Photographing insects can be tricky. Here are some tips from the pros to help:
- Like with larger wildlife, it will help to know your subject’s patterns of behavior. Do the butterflies frequent one flowery shrub more than 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 manual will give you details on how close your macro mode will work. If you stay within the proper range and hold your camera steady, you will get some nice, crisp 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 to take the photo, make sure to hold your breath! There are a few exceptions – some beetles will freeze (they won’t say “cheese” though).
- 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 are great at seeing shadows so don’t approach them 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. You can also use your animal or insect pictures in photo crafts like in calendars or greeting cards. 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.
