A Few Secrets of Wildlife Photography

It's no secret that wildlife photography is a game of patience. Fortunately, it is an asset that develops over time. The observation periods are great opportunities to learn more about the animal's environment. For my part, it took me many periods of observation without taking a single picture before arriving at the desired result. I was able to understand the comings and goings of certain animals, which allowed me to anticipate their movements and to place myself in the right place at the right time. I believe that patience is also part of the experience. Wildlife photography is much more than the photography itself, it is an immersion in the world of animals and their environment. The best advice I can give is to take your time and not take anything for granted. Better to do it for the experience than for the final result.

What makes people interested in wildlife photography is usually that they are interested in the subject itself. The more time we spend photographing certain species of animals or birds, the more we learn about their behavior. By knowing more about the animal to be observed, we maximize our chances of succeeding in our photos in its presence.

By observing the animal, we can see how it reacts in our presence, and we will know how to adapt our behavior and our movements so as not to frighten them. With some animals you have to be extremely discreet or even immobile. Some animals are very reactive to movements and sounds. By observing them often, we come to know how to act in order not to frighten them.

It is also important to learn more about the animal itself and its habitat. By knowing more about its ideal habitat, you can choose the right places to maximize your chances of encounter. It is also important for me to mention the respect of the animals. You must absolutely keep your distance, not approach them or disturb their environment in any way. There are a multitude of lens and camera equipment options that allow you to maintain a respectful distance from the animals, it's just a matter of choosing the right equipment.

Unless you are very well camouflaged, in a cache for example, encounters with an animal are usually very quick. It is therefore essential to be ready when one shows up.

One of the most useful tricks I have developed over time is to always set the camera parameters in advance and to readjust them regularly. For example, if I'm walking in the woods, I evaluate what speed is needed for the type of animal I want to encounter (for example, a squirrel is much faster than a deer), the aperture is kept as wide as possible and I adjust the ISO according to the environment and the light I'm facing. It goes without saying that it is very important to keep your camera on at all times and to have it in your hand or attached to a harness or other such equipment (see links below).

There are several models of harnesses that allow you to hang the camera, to have it within reach and to be able to walk without having to hold the camera in your hands. Moreover, with the arrival of mirrorless cameras, speed in a context like this is even more accessible than before. I use my two Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R cameras which allow me to adjust the parameters and see in real time the image change in my viewfinder. These are precious seconds saved in the presence of an animal that give me a much better chance to succeed in my photo. However, there are situations where you can afford to take a little more time. A few months ago, I had the chance to sit under a cache and observe young fox cubs at the entrance of their den. This is a way to observe the animals longer and get more pictures without the animal feeling observed or disturbed.

One of the factors that makes an image interesting is the play of colors and textures. Over the years, I have learned to take fewer clicks on each outing and only shoot when the conditions are optimal.

The condition that is most important to me is the light. A good light is a big step towards a successful image. On the other hand, you must not neglect the colors. The key to getting great color and texture in nature is to play with the foreground and background. All types of trees are unique and offer textures and colors to play with. Don't hesitate to move around to change the colors with certain elements in the foreground and to have a nice texture and color in the background. See for example in these two examples of images how I used the pink buds in the foreground to add a touch of color and vary the shade and the fir tree for its color and texture.