Wildlife photography: Capturing that moment.
Wildlife photography is surely one of the most competitive photographic fields in the world; to be successful is never by accident, but for many just being in the field with a camera is enough. A lot of professionals consider one good shot per hundred to be a fair return, for many it is a higher percentage than this.
Generally a lot of experienced photographers take just as many shots now as when they first started, just of much narrower subject fields. For example, if a kingfisher is returning with fish to its young with frequency, hundreds of shots can be taken of the same subject, rather than just a couple and moving on. Likewise if a leopard is posing in warm late afternoon light, much better to take a lot, hoping for that moment when its eyes gaze straight down the barrel. However, what all wildlife photographers are really waiting for is that MOMENT, when many factors conspire to deliver something out of the ordinary. It is a patient pilgrimage, rarely just a bit of good fortune. The basic tenets of wilderness photography are: patience, sensitivity, knowing your gear, getting up early, getting dirty and sweaty and preparation.
What makes that MOMENT
- Originality - if it has been seen before it can still be a fantastic shot but will lack this ingredient.
- Light - if it is an action shot it does not matter, (well not as much), but if taking a portrait of a bird or animal the light must be good.
- Symmetry - This is critical, four zebra standing together is boring, four eating grass, drinking or taking scent in a perfect line is a different story.
- Degree of difficulty - this is the clincher, catching a barn owl as it drops a shrew to its young, the moment a cheetah downs a gazelle or a humpback whale breaches all qualify as the moment. On their own they are incredible photos but if they also contain some or all of the other components the shot is elevated onto a far higher plain.
- Patience - Frustrating? yes. Boring? rarely. Difficult and demanding? yes. Rewarding? A definitive yes. To work patiently and sensitively for many hours and then to be rewarded is a magnificent feeling, whatever your format.
As the old adage goes, if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. If these tenets are ignored there is little chance of real success. However, all these guidelines can be followed meticulously with still, mediocre results, you have to know what you are after and then hope for a little fortune, but it is more likely you'll make your own luck.