Treasures from our Trip

I took a few notes during our workshop this past weekend... the main thrust of the workshop was photography relating to wildlife. Here are my notes, in the order they were taken. (meaning, they may not flow together or make sense as a whole.)

Every animal is different. Know the animal and how to approach it. The better you know the animal, the better your chances are for a great shot.

Aggressive behaviour on your part = stress on the animal.

Animals judge their surroundings by: 1) movement 2) sound 3) smell

Be cautious at first. It's better to let the animal approach you.

If you approach their area openly, they have a chance to adapt to your presence. If you behave like a threat, it'll spook them.

Be aware of the background in the photo: judge the lines, the light.

Birds communicate with each other before they fly.

Bird decoys can work to attract them & make them feel safer with your presence.

Find the animal that tolerates you the most.

Find the habitat first, then find the animal.

Cloudy days are best for photographing wild flowers.

Try to avoid busy backgrounds. Keep it clean or scenic.

Spend a bit of time cleaning up the foreground if possible.

Sun doesn't wait for anyone. There's about a minute before you lose the pink.

The day before, scout your location, pick your equipment. Next morning, go to it, set up, and shoot.

You can only do what you can do and hope it turns out.

Shoot different frame sizes, angles, (wider-angle, etc, vertical / horizontal).

Get down on the animal's level.

Follow pairs of birds long enough for their wings to be in sync.

If using a split-density filter, use a graduated one so there isn't a strong, noticeable line of difference. If holding it by hand, make sure it's tight to the lens.