Types of Wildlife Photography
 Mammals
Small
Large
 Birds
 Butterflies
 Insects & Spiders
 Snakes & Reptiles
 Sealife & Fish
Know Your Limitations
 Equipment/Lenses/Corrections Long Lenses
 Time & Patience
 Low Light & Background Colour
 Distance from Wildlife
 Shy & Nervous Creatures
 Moving or Stationary Wildlife
 You Cannot Hope to Emulate Professional
Wildlife Photographers
Know Your Limitations
Cock of the Rock (National Bird of Peru):
200mm zoom/ f6.3/ 1/250/ISO 1600
Know Your Limitations
Borneo – Baby Orangutan / Gibbon :
In Captivity v Wild / Poor Lighting/ Hidden
Camera Settings
 Take Quick Capture Photo First
 Shooting
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Continuous Shooting
Bracket Continuous Shooting (+/-0.3EV)?
Speed Priority Continuous Shooting
 Focus/ Object Tracking
 Continuous Autofocus for Panning
 Continuous Speed/Dynamic Autofocus (Moving Wildlife)
 Centre Autofocus Area
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Aperture/Blur Motion
Increase ISO – Low Light/Night
RAW v JPEG
Moving Boat – Sports Setting/ Fast Speed
Exposure Metering Modes
Multi Metering Mode – Evaluates Whole Frame
Use to Include Bacground Landscape etc
Centre Metering Mode – Emphasises Middle Frame
Use For Individual/ Larger Animals etc
Spot Metering Mode – Focuses on Very Small Area
in Centre of Frame
Use For Small Birds etc
Metering Tips
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Use Exposure Compensation?
Camera Metering Uses Mid Tones
Can Turn Blacks to Grey
Avoid Over Exposing Light Areas
Under Exposing Keeps Detail
Check Histogram on Camera LCD
If Unsure Take Bracketed Photos
Bright Light - Greater DOF/ Stop Action
Low Light – More Challenging (ISO/Blur)
Light - Front (flat)/ Side (3D)/ Back(Flash/Ecomp)
Aperture &
Depth of Field
Aperture & Depth of Field
 Focus on the Subjects Eyes/ Beak
 Aperture Range f5.6 to f11
 Aperture of f8 Good Starting Point
 Avoid Over Exposing Light Areas
 DOF v Distance from Subject
 Close/ Small Subjects f16 or f22
 If Freezing Action Accept Less DOF
Exposure Triangle
 Same light entering camera in all 4 settings but
dramatically different results.
 Decide main effect required/ key setting
priorities then adjust other settings to suit.
Wildlife in the Field
 Getting Close to Wildlife
 Remember to Stay Safe!!
 Lighting - Light Cloud on Bright Days
 Individual Portraits & Groups
 Capturing Animal Behavoir
 Anticipate Next Behavoir
 Action Shots - Allow Room to Move
 Fast Shutter Speeds to freeze Action
Photographing Mammals
Shoot at Animal’s Eye Level
•Top image - ground is background & the
image looses it’s impact as looking down on
the subject it appears minuscule.
•Bottom image- result when of getting low and
shoot as shown in the inset images - getting
the camera very low by flattening the tripod
legs/ lying flat.
Other Considerations
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What story are you trying to tell?
Frame filling Subject or Include Background Habitat?
Consider Backround Colour/ Contrast to Get Best Effect
Consider if Exposure Compensation Required?
Odd Number of Animals in Triangles Improve Composition
Get to Know the Wildlife Behaviour, Locations & Characteristics
Experiment with New Effects & Techniques & Practice Them
Critacally Review Disappointing Photos & How to Improve Them
Learn from Photos of Others
Daylight Mammals Static
500mm Lens Supported on Landrover Windscreen
ISO 200/ f6.3/ 1/30sec
Daylight Mammals
Close/ Slow Moving
Cameras Settings/ Comments
Daylight Mammals
Close/ Quick Moving
Cameras Settings/ Comments
Daylight Mammals
Observed at Distance
Primates in Trees
Wildlife at Night
Observed Close Up
Photographing Birds
Perched or On Ground
 Take Capture Photo in Case Bird Flies Off
 Wide Aperture & Uncluttered Background
 Centre Spot Auto Focus
 Spot Exposure Metering
 Practice On Garden Birds
 Use Tripod/Hold Camera Steadily/1/500sec
 Consider Remote Firing
 Lens 200mm +
 Join RSPB & Go On Field Trips?
Birds Perched or On Ground
Photographing Birds
In Flight
 Shutter Speed – Min 1/500 Ideal 1/1000+
 Aperture Priority but Set Speed Important 
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Aperture + Resulting ISO
Spot Metering / Background (Simple/Dark)
Burst/ Continuous Shoot Mode
Continuous Auto Focus Mode
Centre Auto Focus
Hold Camera Properly
Use Panning Technique (Rotate Hip)
Ideally Bird’s Eye Level or Above
Lens Hood + Min 200 Lens
Manual Exposure ?
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Consider Using for Birds in Flight
Bird Changing Background Sky/Trees etc
What Shutter Speed Light Allows?
Correct Shutter Speed Depends on:
 Bird’s Speed – Flying/Hovering/Distance
 Panning Accuracy/Camera Shake/Light Direction
 Manual Examples:
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Set Exposure for Grass - Note Settings
Use Manual Focus at Set Distance
Lock ISO not Automatic
Anti Shoke Off/On?
 Experiment with Lots of Different Shots/Review on LCD
Birds in Flight
Birds in Flight
Photographing Butterflies
 1/200 or 1/250sec/ f8 Ideal
 Photo From Same Height Not Above
 Wear mute Not Bright Colours
 Slow Careful Approach
 Continuous Focus/ Centre Spot
 Camera Parallel to Wings
 No Perfumes, Deoderants or Insect
Repellants
Butterfly Photographs
Photographing Insects & Spiders
Photographing Fish
Photographing Snakes & Reptiles etc