Tips for Photographing Birds, Mammals, Fish, and Other Wildlife

Photographing wildlife can be extremely rewarding and a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Wildlife photography can be practiced by enthusiasts of practically any age or skill level.

Wildlife photographers often specialize in capturing images of birds, mammals, fish, shellfish, reptiles, amphibians, insects or other creatures. Others specialize in specific regions or environments, photographing a wide range of species within those areas.

To successfully photograph wildlife in a variety of conditions, the photographer must be able to adjust camera settings. For beginner to intermediate-level photographers, a good resource is usually a camera owner’s manual or user guide. Most digital camera manuals explain basic photography concepts, explain camera settings and offer advice on how to cure common problems.

One of the most important things to remember when photographing wildlife is to always prepare the camera before heading into the field. Essential preparations include charging or replacing batteries, cleaning the lens and doing a basic operational check of the camera before fishing.

Wildlife photography problems are usually related to lighting, motion or focus. By paying attention to conditions before its time for an action shot, the photographer can make camera adjustments and be ready. In some cases, a tripod is the best option for shooting scenes. In many cases however, spontaneous events dictate shooting photos by free hand.

Natural backgrounds are essential when photographing wildlife. Nothing detracts from a nature shot more than seeing pavement or trash in the finished image. Areas such as woodlands, streams, rivers and lake shorelines often have excellent landscapes for photographing wildlife.

Photography in these habitats can be usually done from a vehicle, on foot or from scenic outlooks. For other shots, access by boat will be necessary in order to get the perfect shot. When photographing wildlife in or near the water, photographers often look for stream beds, open beaches, aquatic vegetation, native grasses or other attractive backgrounds.

Digital photography is a great way to record and identify species of wildlife. Whenever possible, take several photographs in order to capture the physical attributes of each species. After a day in the field, these images can provide valuable clues to identify animals.

Nature and wildlife photographers may also be artists, specializing in genres such as nautical art, freshwater fishing or other specialties.