How To Capture Your Best Wildlife Photos

Want to take better pictures of wildlife both locally and further afield? Dan Mold shows you how to bag brilliant animal photos all year round

- Dan Mold

Wildlife has to be one of the most challenging yet rewarding genres that photography has to offer. You have to be up at the crack of dawn to get the best light and sit for hours in uncomfortable hides in cold and wet weather, then rely on luck that the animal you’re photographing will move into the perfect position to catch the light just right. That being said, when it all comes together and you’re able to get the shot that you’ve been working on for months to achieve, there’s simply no better feeling.

I’ve learned how to make things a little easier over the years. Here I’m going to share my experience with you to make your wildlife photography more enjoyable, and clue you in on what equipment you should use to get the best results.

A lot of your success lies in having the right attitude and patience: you’ll need a basic understanding of your camera and some technical skills, but it’s more about going back to a location time and time again, hoping to get lucky with the light as a magical moment presents itself. I’ve had great results shooting bird portraits in my back garden and find this really useful to keep my skills razor-sharp.

I’m also going to show you where to go to capture other common animals in the UK, so you can build up and expand your wildlife portfolio.

1 PHOTOGRAPH WILDLIFE IN ALL SEASONS

We reveal some accessible locations you can visit to get close up to animals and bag some sensational shots. Start planning your next year of shooting

PERFECT PUFFINS

PHOTOGRAPH THE CLOWNS OF THE SEA FROM LATE APRIL THROUGH TO AUGUST

1 RSPB Bempton Cliffs, England