Scenic and Wildlife Photography Photo 225 SAIT Notes by R. Berdan
Instructor contact: [email protected]
Web site with notes, tutorials, assignments etc.
http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/wildlife_scenic.html
Web site contains numerous articles, students interested are encouraged to sign up for free
monthly newsletter and download free macrophotography e-book.
Objective: To provide students with an overview of tools, techniques and approaches used to
create scenic landscape photographs and to capture effective wildlife images. Students will also
be guided in the development of a wildlife\nature photography portfolio.
Course Plan – Dates: July 25, 26, 27

Day 1: Lessons in class, afternoon short session on Macrophotography in Burns
Memorial Garden in front of SAIT – students to bring macro lenses and tripods.

Day 2: Field Trip to Calgary Zoo meet at the north Gate LRT – 9:00 am outside the box
office. Zoo passes are paid for students by SAIT. Normal adult fee is $21. You are
welcome to bring your friends or children with you but at your own expense.

Day 3: Lessons in class in the morning, Student presentations and critique in the
afternoon. See check list of required images, students to show images in class: 12-15
images.
Course Description: Emphasis will be on using specialized photography equipment,
composition, close-up photography, ethics and safety in nature and wildlife photography.
Course Evaluation Pass\Fail based on slide show assignment.
Field Trips
Burns Memorial Garden - for close-up photography
Calgary Zoo - field trip to photograph animals and plants (Thursday all day, meet at the North
entrance to Zoo)
Suggested Equipment: 35 mm Camera, digital or film, compact camera can be used but has
limitations. A tripod is recommended. Emphasis will be on using digital photo-equipment.
Assignment: Show Portfolio of 12 images Friday for critique - Portfolio of images to include at
least one of:
1
1. mammal - hippo, tiger, lion, wolf, bear, moose, caribou, mink, otter, beaver, bighorn
sheep etc
2. plant, flower or tree - presented in an artistic manner
3. bird - try to get as close as possible, if it is in an enclosure try not to show the enclosure
4. arthropod (insect, crayfish, crab or spider) - get as close as you can
5. zoo animal and show the cage or enclosure
6. landscape (prairie, mountains, lake, country, can include a road, fence, barn, river, trees
etc)
7. fungus, fern or other primitive plant
8. wild animal in its natural environment - bird, deer, elk, moose, squirrel, bird
9. Any baby animal - species of your choice
10. 3 other wildllife or landscape photos of your choice.
Most of these pictures can be taken at the zoo, wild animal shots can include a bird in your
neighbourhood or a spider on a flower. If you already have some of these photos you can use
some of your exisiting images.
Lesson Plan
Day 1: Lessons in class, afternoon short session on Macrophotography in Burns Memorial
Garden in front of SAIT – students to bring macro lenses and tripods.
On becoming a professional Nature\Wildlife photographer - slide show PD about 90 minutes slide show PDF
Break
Guide to macrophotography tools and techniques - Slide Show PDF
Macrophotography E-book by Robert Berdan - Download PDF
Lunch
Photographing Wildlife at the Zoo - Slide Show PDF
Download and print the assignment Check list PDF
2
What not to do at the zoo – Watch movies.
Women jumps into Polar Bear pen at German Zoo – YouTube
Women crosses barrier to get a closeup photo of Polar Bear and gets bitten – YouTube
Break
Head down to Burns Memorial Garden to take photographs of flowers and insects
Day 2: Field Trip to Calgary Zoo meet at the north Gate LRT – 9:00 am outside the box office.
Zoo passes are paid for by SAIT . Normal adult fee is $21. You are welcome to bring your friends
or children with you but you will need to pay their fare.
Meet at the north entrance close to the LRT stop at 8:45 am - we will enter the zoo at 9:00 am
Robert will be at the following locations to assist you throughout the day.
9:00 - 10:00 am Penquin exhibit - new
10:00 - 11:00 am Africa exhibit
11:00 - 12:00 South America and Eurasia Exhibit
LUNCH - Food Court area
1:00-2:00 pm - Enmax Conservatory for plants and butterflies
2:00-3:00 pm - Australia exhibit
3:00-4:00 pm - Canada Wild lands
Dress for appropriately for hot weather, bring a bottle of water, tripods or monopods are
optional. A zoom telephoto lens and macro lens are ideal. If you plan to shoot macro a tripod
will be helpful.
Day 3: Lessons in class in the morning, Student presentations and critique in the afternoon. See
check list of required images, students to show in class: 12-15 images.
Photographing Captive animals - Wolf Center in Golden Slide Show PDF and movie
Ethics of wildlife photography – baiting, blinds, birds, bird feeders
3
Break
Using Blinds
Photographing in our Parks – Issues
Photographing Wildlife in your own backyard - see article
Discussion about photographing in the Zoo - Pros and Cons
Panoramic Photography - have students photograph panorama of SAIT during lunch time
LUNCH
Students present their portfolios for critique and discussion, Each student will have
approximately 8 minutes to present and receive critique.
SUMMARY and Final Questions
Where to learn more and improve - workshops, trips, camera store, importance of being
exposed to different approaches and different instructors. The value of the web and books on
photography.
Promoting your work through the web and and a web site.
4