5 simple tips how to Photograph animals

We begin our new series of Photo lessons “5 simple tips, as…” from 5 articles, after reading which you will learn how to Photograph certain objects and stories. Our articles will focus on the five most popular storylines. We will tell you how to set up the camera and what Equipment you will need for getting good results.

5 tips to Photograph animals…

The first article of the cycle devoted to probably the most popular for many Photographers the story: animals. Pets, animals in zoos or in the wild — interesting stories can be seen everywhere. But what to pay attention to the Photographer, what Camera settings to choose and how best to Photograph our little brothers? Our five tips will help you.

1 Use appropriate technique

Photographing animals usually difficult because of their skittishness. Will try to come closer, and you, not even the quick response. Or use a universal telephoto lens with a focal length of 200 millimeters. So you keep the right distance and not spook their “model”. The same advice can be given and for filming your Pets: your Photos turned out natural, is better to shoot from a distance and Photograph so that the animal had not noticed.

2 Adjust the camera

Animals are constantly in motion. Even if they on for a while and stopped watching something, they only blink or turn your head, and you will get a low-quality, fuzzy image. In this situation it is recommended to use the shutter priority mode (denoted on the menu of the Camera S or Tv) with automatic setting of aperture and set the shutter speed at least 1/125 of a second.

And best of all, use a fully manual mode and open the aperture as widely as possible (set a small f-number). Thus, you will get a shallow depth of field, and in the picture your subject will be sharp and the background blurred.

Very convenient if your camera has Auto ISO function, which prevents under – or preexperiment frame. In addition, it is recommended to use spot metering linked to focus point.

How to Photograph animals: to get sharp shots, Shoot in RAW format and expand the dynamic range in the Converter Lightroom.

3 Prepare for difficulties in advance

Set a maximum focal length of the lens of your Camera. Thus, you will be able to take Pictures at a great distance and not scare the animal.

When shooting in zoos can cause other difficulties. For example, many animals are kept behind a glass partition. To avoid degrading the quality of the Photos glare come close to the glass and wrap around the lens with the sun hood black shawl. This will close the lens from the ingress of side light.

If you do not have a scarf or shawl, remove the hood and carefully move the front lens to the glass so that she was parallel to him. The disadvantage of this technique, unlike the use of the handkerchief is to limit your mobility when shooting.

4 Correctly compose a frame

Do not remove animals from above. Sit on your heels or sit on the bench, try to stay at eye level with your “model”.

Try to photograph the animal in motion. The image of frolicking bears, playing with each other bathing monkeys and the penguins and at first and second glance is much more interesting than just static portraits.

If you have a wide angle lens with a focal length of 24 mm or less, then you can use the distortions that arise when shooting this lens close objects, for example, to do a series of Photo-caricatures in the petting zoo.

5 General recommendations

When shooting pay attention not only to your main object. When Photographing under natural conditions or the zoo, you must carefully ensure that foreground and background do not distract from the main story. Fences, bushes, zoo visitors can interfere with good composition. Sometimes it’s better to use strong approximation and photograph the animal in full growth.

But this does not mean that the background should be completely blurred and invisible. For example, low overhanging branches of trees can be used as a natural framing Photography.

But be careful and attentive to their story, since the large focal length narrows the perspective of the Photos, front and back approach each other. As a result, you can receive a failed image, where the branch of a tree, in the background far enough away from the animal, would like to grow from his head.