http://www.digitalcameraworld.com OCTOBER 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^47
50 TIPS FOR AUTUMN5 QUICK TIPS FOR SHOOTING NATURE
HOW TO STAY INCOGNITO FOR THE BEST CHANCE OF SPOTTING YOUR FAVOURITE SPECIES
FIELDCRAFT
25
Having a long lens
is no guarantee of
getting close to wildlife.
For successful shots,
you also need to find
out where wildlife lives,
what its feeding habits
are and how to make an
approach without scaring
it away. Field guides
are full of information
about animals, as are the
websites of organisations
such as the RSPB and
The Wildlife Trusts.GO TO A RUT
24
Rutting deer are
an impressive
sight, both to watch and
photograph. Deer tend
to stick to the same
locations (making deer
parks an ideal habitat
to visit), but it’s best
to shoot them around
sunrise and sunset, when
the light is low and they’re
at their most active. Get
close enough with a focal
length of at least 400mm.26
DO A RECCE
If you’re unsure
whether a species
can be found in
your location,
leave out a trail
camera for a few
days. This will help
you to find out
when and where
the subject visits.27
RESEARCH
Read up on your
chosen subject
before you head
out. Arriving at
your location at
the right time –
nocturnal animals
are a good
example – is vital
for a sighting.28
DRESS DRAB
Avoid wearing
clothes in bright
colours, as these
make you more
visible to subjects.
Instead, opt for
muted items in
greens, browns
and beige – camo
is your friend!(^29)
DRESS QUIET
As well as wearing
garments that are
plain, try to choose
clothes that don’t
rustle as you walk.
Waterproof and
plastic fibres can
be noisy, so if
possible, opt for
wax and cotton.
(^30)
NO PERFUME
Strong scents
from aftershaves
or shower gels can
be enough to alert
animals to your
presence. Stay
downwind of
subjects to
stop your scent
reaching them.
Getty
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