The first step into wildlife photography

Taking your first few steps into wildlife photography!

Hello and welcome to the first edition of Shutter Squirrel! This week it’s all about those very first steps into wildlife photography and where to get started and what to do next!

So, what’s first?

Great, you’ve decided to give wildlife photography ago… and then immediately panicked because what do you try first? Do you buy a camera? Book a safari? Start preparing for 10 hours in a damp field hide and then panic about not wanting to sit in a damp field for 10 hours??? Let’s not panic too much, one day that damp field may look appealing but we aren’t there quite yet.

Start with what you know- something must have sparked your interest in wildlife photography- was it another photographer’s photo? Some wildlife you saw out in your local area? A David Attenborough documentary? Start here, do a little bit of research of what you liked and think about why you liked it so much. What part of that make you think you want to give wildlife photography a go? Then consider what is a little closer to home you could get started with…

For example, a lot of people are inspired by the absolutely breath-taking natural shots in nature documentaries. These are usually in remote locations taken on extremely expensive gear and unless you are already in that location or have a crazy amount of money to throw at your new hobby, sadly none of us are quite there yet. So, instead think local and think about what you already own- for most people this looks like a local park or greenspace and their mobile phone. Head out here and spend some time observing and playing around with your phone/camera. Then once you’ve done that, do it again (and again). This is a great way to start noticing wildlife and get you thinking about how to actually get a photograph.

I believe the most important things you can learn in wildlife photography go as follows:

1. How to use a camera- I mean really use it! It should come as naturally to you as driving a car. That may seem quite daunting right now but don’t worry, we are going to get onto those settings and start understanding the basics in the next few newsletters.

2. Know your wildlife- Recognise behaviours, sounds, habitats and signs. You cannot take a good wildlife photo if you can’t recognise what that animal is doing (or going to do next). Knowledge and research are unbelievably useful in improving and actually finding wildlife to photograph.

3. Making the unpredictability of wildlife work for you- This step is a little more complicated because it’s not necessarily something you can learn but you can give increase your chances of a good photo by working with various factors instead of against. Wildlife photography is unique among photography genres in that it may be the only field where you cannot specifically control the subject, you have to learn how to work around this and use it as an advantage.

   

Gear Spotlight: Shoes

Gear spotlight is the section of the newsletter where I explore and review some of my favourite wildlife photography gear. However, there is a little bit of a twist to it, not all the gear we will be discussing is specifically camera related because I’m no tech expert. I hardly know my own camera gear, let alone comparing it to other pieces. However, camera equipment is only the tip of the iceberg for gear- it’s all the other stuff that can also have a profound effect on your photography and this is what we are going to discuss.

This week I’m kicking it off with the basics- shoes! Every wildlife photographer needs a good pair of shoes my preference is walking boots- no matter where I’m heading (unless into water) walking boots are my go to. They offer great ankle support, are more waterproof than most shoes and crucially they are really comfortable for long periods of time. You want a pair of shoes that is going to give you the dexterity and support necessary for potentially uncomfortable positions (we’ve all found shots that would look so much better if you were to crouch on the floor). Now, there has been occasions where I’ve spotted something in my garden and legged it outside with my mango coloured crocs- which at this point I also value for wildlife photography but if I’ve got enough time my walking boots are my preferred choice. I actually have three pairs of walking boots (one I inherited from my sister, one I picked up in a charity shop for £5 and one I got for a walking holiday in Switzerland!). You probably do not need this many, I certainly don’t but it is nice to have the choice. Aside from one occasion on a pre-sunrise trip I managed to pack two left boots… that was an uncomfortable walk.

A tip from the field:

If you’re walking around looking for wildlife and it’s safe to do so keep your camera ready in your hands- don’t wait until you see something to take it out your backpack.

Community Challenge #1

For this week’s community challenge photograph something close to home! Photograph the first animal you see after leaving your front door- whether this is a bird in your garden, a bug on a flower or a fox strolling down the street! Share it with me or with the hashtag #shuttersquirrel

I spotted these long tailed and blue tits on my bird feeder and snapped a quicker photo as I practiced my action shots