Photography is an art that requires a lot of learning, patience and attention to detail. It takes a lot of time trying to master it and that is why not everyone is ready to go the full distance. However, if you’re passionate about photography, there are ways through which you can get familiar with this art and master it.
Animals are often the main subjects of a lot of photographers. They can produce the most heart-warming and loving photos. That’s exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. We’ll share a few tips and guidelines on how to learn to photograph animals and how to make the best out of a certain situation.
Choose a Familiar Environment
The first start of the process is to choose a familiar environment where you can easily come across animals. The first thing that comes to mind is the zoo. Zoos have tons of different species of animals that are literally within your grasp. Thanks to that fact, you can take pictures of both familiar animals and more exotic ones.
Other target-rich locations for practising animal photography are horse racing events. Here, you can practice shooting the animals both stood quietly and in motion. Since the horses are very used to people and crowds, they won’t mind you coming closer or from different angles so you can really experiment with a variety of shots.
Some of the biggest UK horse racing events are Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot, Grand National, etc. Not only will you get a perfect opportunity to photograph horses, but since these are the biggest horse racing events UK, you’ll be provided with a unique sports experience.
Snapshot Countless Photos
The talent for taking photos won’t be developed overnight. It requires a lot of effort and study to master it. Not only that, but you’ll often have to take a lot of photos of an animal subject to come up with the perfect image.
Animals won’t just stand there and pose for your photos. They’re constantly on the move and that’s why it may take you hundreds of snapshots just to come up with a few good ones.
Furthermore, if you are still a beginner, it’s totally normal not to have a good photo, even if you snapshotted an animal a dozen times. Not every day at the office will be good and that’s something that you must get used to.
Learn All About Your Subjects
To increase your chances of snapping the perfect photo, it is smart to read a lot about your subjects. That’s how you’ll get familiar with their movement patterns, the things that they like and dislike, how to make sure that you don’t scare them off while being in their vicinity, etc.
If you are planning to be extra adventurous and photograph more dangerous animals such as bears, tigers, lions, etc., you should be extra careful. It is impossible to predict their behaviour and it is a possibility for them to attack you if they feel threatened.
By reading and educating yourself on their behaviour, you will know what to do if you’re in that nasty situation.
Patience is Key
Regardless if you are at major horse racing events or in nature, you must accept the fact that taking the perfect photo requires a lot of patience. You can end up standing in the same spot for hours before the perfect opportunity presents itself.
This is especially important to know when you are in nature and thinking of photographing wildlife. There are countless stories of photographers who had to stand in the same spot for days before a good opportunity came around the corner.
So, if you find a certain spot and nothing comes up, even if a lot of time passes, you shouldn’t be discouraged. Remain calm and think through the situation.
Learn How to Make a High-Quality Photo
The final tip, which is equally as important as the aforementioned ones is to learn how to make a high-quality photograph. There are tons of elements that make a certain image great – zoom, sharpness, learning how to deal with low light, etc.
To become good at taking HD photos, you need to complete 2 things. First, find a decent camera. Second, read about the elements that contribute to a good photo. That way, you’ll be able to know which object can help you take the best snapshots.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to take photos of animals is not an easy thing to master. It requires a lot of learning, countless failed attempts and spending a lot of time basically doing nothing. After all, if it was easy, everyone would’ve been into it.
However, the effort pays off in the end as you’ll end up catching snapshots of tons of great animals. Who knows, you might end up winning a reward. That way, your work will get recognized and you’ll be able to grow.