PRO GUIDE TO MODERN WILDLIFE

Wildlife photographer Graeme Green shares his top tips and insights, from finding the right gear to using your photography for the good of the planet

We live on a wild planet. It's a fact that sometimes gets lost on us or forgotten, as so many of us spend more time than we'd like in front of computers or television screens, or stuck inside offices, factories and other places of work.

Getting out to explore what nature has to offer is always a breath of fresh air, and the diverse creatures we share the world with offer incredible potential for photographers. My job as a wildlife a photographer has taken me around the world, from the white wonderland of Antarctica to the lush rainforests of Malaysia and the teeming savannahs of Tanzania, filling my mind (and hard drives) with memorable encounters. But photographing wildlife doesn't always require a flight halfway around the world - there are some amazing natural wonders to be found near to home, in national parks, nature reserves, forests and even parks right in the middle of our biggest cities.

Wildlife photography rewards photographers who take their time and look carefully at what's around them. It's not all about capturing iconic giants, such as gorillas, elephants and polar bears; it can often be as much about finding a tiny frog hidden among green leaves or a colourful bird perched on a branch.

Expensive gear is no substitute for creativity, patience and perseverance, and it's true that you can take good pictures with a phone or an inexpensive camera. But it certainly increases your chances of getting the results you're after if you match your photographic ideas with the right equipment - and know how to use it.

Wildlife photography is a great way to celebrate the natural world. But many species, large and small, face serious threats to their existence from pollution, the illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. Photography can be a powerful way to tell their story, and help keep these creatures alive so that future generations can photograph and enjoy them too.