Wild things
Amateur Photographer|September 13, 2022
From perfecting fieldcraft skills to focusing on fastmoving subjects, four pro photographers offer expert advice on how to create your best wildlife photographs yet
Chris Weston
Wild things

1 Shoot in aperture-priority mode

I almost always shoot at the extremes of the shutter speed range: fast shutter speeds for freezing action, slow shutter speeds for creating a sense of movement. By shooting in aperture-priority mode, I can very quickly change my f/number, let the camera adjust the shutter speed, and rapidly switch from my fastest available shutter speed to the slowest, without worrying about whether there's sufficient light, which means I never miss a shot.

2 Don't take record shots

Before you press the shutter, ask yourself, 'How would I caption this image?' If the only answer you can come up with is the species name - a tiger, a bear, an eagle, etc - stop! Wait for a better shot. A picture of a bird singing, for example, is far more compelling than a photograph of the same bird with its beak closed.

3 Anticipate the action

About 90% of my job is biology. Knowing your subject gives you ideas for pictures. It also enables you to anticipate the action, so you're more likely to capture the moment when it comes.

4 Use the light

Look for lighting situations that add mood and drama. Backlighting is great for silhouettes and contre-jour. Soft lighting can add an ethereal mood. Side lighting, with its stark contrast and deep shadows, adds tension and visual energy.

5 Set focus mode to continuous

In continuous focus mode, the camera constantly adjusts the point of focus to keep track of the subject as it moves. When movement is predictable, I restrict the number of autofocus (AF) sensors used by the camera to track the subject, as this speeds up AF performance. When movement is unpredictable, such as with a bird in flight, I set all the AF points to track, as this gives the best chance of staying focused on the subject.

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This story is from the September 13, 2022 edition of Amateur Photographer.

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This story is from the September 13, 2022 edition of Amateur Photographer.

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