Wildlife Photography

Wildlife Photography has a universal appeal attracting human curiosity and today it is gaining  World-wide recognition very rapidly.May be it is due to our inbuilt wild connections with nature and its creations or something else .Interestingly the pioneers in this field were the hunters-turned conservationists like Jim Corbett & E.P. Gee. Dwindling population of the mighty creatures started getting attraction of the people and then Government under the leadership of Smt. Indira Gandhi took positive steps in this direction by legislating Wildlife laws. The previous hunters were the people who helped in promoting interest in the wildlife by taking interesting  photographs. That era may be classified as the period of birth of Wildlife photography in India. The launch of channels like Discovery, National Geography brought this issue in the limelight creating immense interest & awareness about the life of these beasts removing all misconceptions

First of all, a wildlife photographer should be aware about what is a good wildlife photograph. It is a sharp picture of an animal in its natural surroundings doing something interesting & natural. Capturing the right light is extremely important as it enhances the aesthetic quality of the picture. You should be aware about the different impact of light in different parts of the day. Nature of morning light is different from afternoon and evening light. Understanding light is extremely important for any novice in this field. Only then we can use this to our utmost advantage. Efforts should be on capturing the animal in the natural conditions. As far as Composition is concerned, the basic rules of pictorial composition should be observed. But the personal preferences play role in capturing an image. The knowledge of the subject & its habitat is an added advantage. The knowledge of animal’s behaviour, its mood, anger is important e.g. an elephant in Musk.We should be aware about the minimum distance between us & our subject to avoid the running away of the animal. It is advisable to learn & know which animal can be photographed Where & when, the best season and right time when a particular action or behaviour of the animal is known to take place. eg. Breeding season in wild creatures. The equipment we have is an important factor also. Today is digital era & people are now more interested in digital cameras. Chips have replaced the film rolls to a large extent. Equipments should be chosen on the basis of what one wants to do in this field. Tele Lenses, motor drives and other latest technologies are very helpful.

General tips for photography:-

1] One should have thorough knowledge of one’s equipment.

2]Always wear comfortable clothes, caps, shoes which act as camouflage.

3]One must be aware of the area where the animals are found, lighting conditions,Weather, General Behaviour of the Animals.

4]Avoid sudden movements & shining objects.

5]Protect your camera, lenses, films from heat & dust.

6]If you are in a vehicle don’t click while moving, switch off the engine, try to avoid shakes.

7]Always focus on the eyes or head of the animal.

8]If film is near the finishing point, rewind it & load a new one so that no opportunity is lost.

9]Always make the animal comfortable. Don’t start clicking immediately.

10]Observe general Wildlife laws. Dont try to disturb the nesting birds as this might coerce nesting parents to abandon the nest.

Good Luck for venturing into wildlife Photography.