40 DIGITAL CAMERA^ SEPTEMBER 2019
Hints, tips and practical advice on how to
capture a wide array of wildlife close to where
you live, using everyday camera kit
ew areas of photography are as
rewarding as photographing wildlife.
It’s a little bit like fishing... You never
know what you’re going to get –
and sometimes you may not get
anything at all – but when all the elements to
produce a successful shot come together, the
sense of achievement is really quite something.
One of the best things about wildlife, of course,
is that it’s all around us. For some species, the
wilder the setting, the better; but you don’t have to
stray very far to get acquainted with photogenic
creatures, whether sporting fur, feather or fin.
And contrary to what you may have been told,
you don’t require a car boot full of specialist,
high-end camera kit to get good results when you
photograph wildlife. What you need most of all
isn’t even a camera, lens or tripod, but patience- closely followed by good planning and some
working knowledge of your subject.
Over the next 13 pages, we’re going to show
you how to shoot wildlife like a pro. Creative
photographer Dan Mold lists wildlife photography
as one of his main passions, and he’ll be sharing
some hints and tips he wishes he’d have known
when starting out. Jim Cumming has built up an
enviable portfolio of wildlife captured in his native
Canada, so who better to reveal how to shoot
animals against winter’s snowy backdrops?
F
HOW TO
SHOOT
WINTER
WILDLIFE
1
Clothing
For most of us, being outdoors
in winter means time spent in the cold,
so it pays to wrap up. Choose a jacket
that’ll keep you warm and toasty, and
don’t forget a hat and fingerless gloves.2
Camera type
A DSLR or mirrorless camera
with interchangeable lenses will offer
both performance and flexibility. For
an explanation of how sensor size
affects the final image, see page 52.(^3)
Lenses
A telephoto lens will typically
have a focal range of up to 300mm
(450mm on a crop-sensor), so you can
get closer to your subject. They can be
purchased for as little as £300/$350.
4
Camera support
As a telephoto is bigger and
heavier than a standard zoom, you’ll
need a firm camera platform. A decent
tripod will be a good investment, but
you could also consider a monopod.
(^5)
Accessories
If you want to get even nearer
to your subject, you don’t have
to buy a bigger lens. A teleconverter
extends the range of your current lens
by 1.4x, 1.7x or even 2x. (See page 44.)
5 KIT ESSENTIALS BEFORE
YOU START SHOOTING
40 DIGITAL CAMERA^ MARCH 2020 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
CONTENTS...
PAGE 42 Capture garden birds
PAGE 44 How to photograph deer
PAGE 48 High-key shots in snow
PAGE 50 Creative approaches
PAGE 52 Where to shoot wildlife