Digital SLR Photography

1Park lifeWhilenotthemostexcitingcreaturesintheanimalkingdom,squirrels,hedgehogsanddormiceareactiveatthistimeofyear.Atelephotoortelezoomisessentialforshootingframe-fillingimages–aimfora focallengthof300mm,orbetterstill400mm,ormore.AlensliketheNIKKORAF-P70-300mmf/4.5-6.3GorAF-S 80-400mmf/4.5-5.6GVRisideal.Visitingparksorwoodlandearlyinthemorning,whenit’squietestandthelightissoftest,isoftenthebesttimetocapturewildlifefeedinganddrinking,butyoumay``````havebetterluckwithaneveningsessionifyou’reonthelookoutforhedgehogs.Goodfocusingtechniqueisparamount,especiallywhenphotographingfastmovingsubjectslikesquirrels.To composesubjectsoff-centre,trytopractisetechniquessuchasback-buttonfocusing(AF-ON/AF-Lock)andsetyourcameratoalsoshootinAFcontinuousshootingmodetoincreaseyourchanceofsuccess.Somewildlifecentresandsanctuariesholdphotographydaystooifyou’dliketophotographautumnanimalsbutlackthetimeandpatience.PictureSpecial80 Digital slr PhotographyNove mber20163Capturefirewor ksWithBonfireNightinearlyNovember,fireworksandsparklersareaplenty,sopackyourtripodandwirelessremoteforaneveningofphotography.You’llneedtoscoutoutagoodviewpointpriortothedisplay,ideallywithsomeforegroundinterest.Awide-anglelensortelephoto,suchasan18-200mmwillworkwell,andyou’llneedtomanuallyfocustoinfinityandselectamid-aperturelikef/8tof/11.WithyourcamerasettoBulbmode,alowISOratingandwithLongExposureNoiseReductionswitchedon,exposethesceneforaslongasthefireworkburstslast.NoBonfireNightiscompletewithoutsparklers,sosetyourshutterspeedtoaround30secondsandgetdrawing.Anapertureoff/5.6 isnormallyagoodstartingpointandifthepersonwritingcontinuestomovethroughtheframeduringtheexposure,theyshouldn’tbevisibleintheimage.Ifyouwanttoilluminateyoursubject,useaburstofflashattheendoftheexposure.2Onabedofleav esDon’tjustlooktothetreesforcolourfulbackdropstoyourportraits:agoldenleaf-strewngroundisgreattoo.There’sunlikelytobeanyshortageofcrunchyleaflitter,solookfortreeswithamplecoveragetolayyoursubjectsunder.Evenovercastdayscanmakepeoplesquintsoacanopyofleavescanhelpdiffusethelightevenmore,butwatchoutfordappledsunlightandyourshadowasyoustandoverthem.Dependingonhowtallyouare,orifyou’reusingastepladder,you’lllikelyneedalensbetween24mmand50mm(a35mmprimeisideal).Aslongasyourcamera’ssensorisparalleltothesubjects’faces,optforawideaperturetocasttheleavesintosoftfocus.Stylesubjectsinseasonalcoloursthatworkwithnature’sburnthuesand,ifyouwanttoaddvibrancy,gatherasmanybrightly-colouredleavesasyoucanfindtopositioninyourperfectspot.``````MARKBRIDGER/ShuTTERSTOcK hELENDIxON``````MILENKODILASAutumnInspiration