Image via Megapixl Stock Photos
How you experience nature evolves when you take pictures of wild animals. However, getting the perfect shot of an animal out in the wild can also be tricky. If you want to take great wildlife photos, then you should have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of photography.
If you do know your fundamentals, then here is what you can do to take that perfect wildlife shot.
1. Choosing The Right Shutter Speed
To capture photos of animals that are moving, you need to choose a fast shutter speed. You’ll need to opt for a shutter speed of 1/250 or 1/500, or faster. How fast your shutter speed should be, will depend on the animal you’re trying to take a photo of.
If the animal is sitting or lying down, in a still position, then slower shutter speeds will be perfect. If the animal is moving, however, you’ll need the shutter speed to be 1/500th of a second, if not faster. If the animal is running, then the shutter speed should be 1/1000th of a second. For birds that are flying, your shutter speed should be 1/1250th of a second, at least.
Also think about the size of your camera lens, when adjusting your shutter speed. Consider looking at the focal length of your lens. Then, ensure that your shutter speed matches that number reciprocally.
2. Aperture Priority Mode
A lot of wildlife photographers opt for aperture priority mode when shooting pictures. This is where you’ll be selecting the aperture manually while the camera adjusts the shutter speed. This way, it’s easier to get a picture of an animal that’s moving, while retaining manual control of the camera.
When you want to capture a subject that’s moving, allow more light to come in by selecting the f-stop number. This way, the camera will be forced to use a shutter speed that’s fast, so that the right exposure can be achieved. However, the shutter speed will also be limited to one which helps provide the right exposure. Should you want your shutter speed to be faster, then you’ll need to adjust the aperture. You can also change your ISO as well, by around one or two stops.
3. Choosing The Right ISO
To capture photos of wild animals, your ISO should be mid-ranged. It should be between 400 and 800. This way, you’ll be able to shoot pictures with a fast shutter speed that’s able to capture pictures of animals that are moving. You may need a shutter speed that’s faster, in which case you can raise the ISO higher.
Should you not want to worry about your ISO settings, you can use automatic ISO as well. This allows you to focus on the shutter speed and the aperture instead of the ISO. In some cameras, when you’re in auto mode, you can set the maximum you want for your ISO. This allows you to ensure that your ISO doesn’t go higher than you want it to.
4. Using Long Lenses
When you use large lenses, you can take your photos from a distance, without worrying about how your picture will look. With a long lens, you’ll look like you were just a few feet away from the wild animals. To take pictures of wild animals, consider a lens that has a focal length between 200 and 400mm. You can choose zoom lenses or even lenses with focal lengths that are fixed.
You should also consider making use of image stabilization. This will help you get rid of blurs, in case your hands were unsteady while you took the shot. This is especially useful in situations involving low lights, or where your shutter speed was slow. A lot of long lenses also come with two image stabilization modes. One allows you to stabilize both horizontally and vertically, and the other just vertically. In case you intend to use your tripod, you won’t need image stabilization and it can be kept off.
5. Using Autofocus
If you want your wildlife photos to be sharper, you can use autofocus. You can use either a single focus point or continuous focus mode. You’ll also be able to use the LCD screen on your camera, to check what the focus is. Should you want a particular area to appear sharper, then zoom in on the area. Should the zoomed-in area look out of focus, then you’ll need to take another shot.
Conclusion
Wildlife photography can be a lot of fun, but it takes patience as well as a steady hand, to take great pictures. This guide goes through five things that you can do to improve the quality of your wildlife photos. From choosing the right shutter speed to using autofocus, follow the tips in this guide to take better wildlife photos today.
