Winter Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography takes a whole new turn during the winter months. Some photographers don't dare to try it for fear of the cold or of breaking their equipment. 

Don't be afraid! Dress warmly and think of your camera bag for the cold. The wildlife shots combined with the beauty of the winter landscape are worth it!

Cold weather can put a strain on your batteries. Consider bringing one (or more!) that you can keep warm in your coat pockets.

The problem of underexposure often arises when it's time to photograph a winter scene. Have you ever taken a picture of a winter landscape and gotten a dark, gray result? This is because the light meter of your camera takes a global reading of the environment and, when faced with a large white surface, it will tend to underexpose the shot. Test your images by exposing them one or two extra stops to compensate for this problem: you should be able to better control the overall exposure of your image.  If you can't get a satisfactory result, take your pictures in RAW format; you can then correct them in post-production software.

PRO TIP: Are your photos predominantly blue? This is because snow tends towards blue on the color spectrum. Don't forget to adjust your white balance accordingly.

Marie-Pier Houde
Nikon D60 +  Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G
1/4000  |  f/2  |  ISO 100

It can be difficult to get a good focus on the animal's eyes when it's snowing and you're using autofocus.  If you have a fairly new camera, the eye detection feature could save you some shots. If you don't have this option in your camera, you have two options. One would be to shoot in bursts and hope that one of the shots is in focus on the animal's eye.  This results in a lot of missed shots and a lot of files to sort through. If you are more patient and the animal doesn't move too much, I recommend manual focus. If you choose this option, observe the animal's behavior more so you can anticipate its movements.

Snowy landscapes can offer very interesting negative spaces to highlight the animal you want to photograph. Position yourself to photograph the animal, but keep in mind that the background of your image is just as important and can make the difference between a good photo and an excellent one.

Marie-Pier Houde
Sony a7 II + FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS
1/500  |  f/6.3  |  ISO 200

Keep in mind that it is very important to respect the habitat of wild animals and that you should not approach them.  That's why it's best to use a telephoto lens for wildlife portraiture. Whether you work with a zoom or a fixed lens, it is important that you are comfortable with it. If you're not sure which you prefer, consider renting a model or two to practice and choose the one that's best for you.

Marie-Pier Houde
Nikon D60 + Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G
1/4000  |  f/2  |  ISO 100

Wildlife photography takes a lot of patience, but it also takes practice. The best way to get started is to do it often and not get discouraged if you come back empty-handed. After all, once you have taken THE picture that will amaze you, you will not be able to stop!