How to photograph wildlife? Wildlife photography is a challenging hobby because it requires many skills, and to excel in this field you not only need to improve your photography skills, but you also need to know the animals you photograph.

If you know how pictures are taken in animal books and magazines, I’ll help you understand. Once you get familiar with the basic techniques, you realize that taking photos of wildlife can be a fascinating experience.

First, remember that you are trying to display simple elements. Don’t try to show everything in a photo. The best way to do this is to get close, so no one can mistake the subject of the photo. Make the theme a single element.

Second, with a wide aperture like F 2.0 (your camera’s maximum aperture), a shallow depth of field blurs the background and makes the subject stand out more. This is an easy way to ensure that viewers know exactly what you are showing them.

Third, shoot elements that place people in the environment. If you can, display the weather. Show some background to keep you in your position. You don’t have to show a ridge, which will tell everyone on Earth where your favorite hunting ground is, but some canyons, some away from trees or grass, etc help give the picture some realism.

Fourth, take advantage of the low-angle light in the early morning and evening, which is unmatched in both light quality and angle. This is the best time to take pictures of environments and people outdoors, as light tends to affect skin tone, and it’s usually almost impossible to take a bad shot if you shoot during these times.

Fifth, when the sun is high in the sky, use shadows and trees to shade your subject, often you can get better equipment or photos of people from the shaded position.

Sixth, don’t be afraid to turn on the flash, even if it’s sunny outside. While most cameras today allow you to use the flash manually, smarter cameras will read the ambient light (the light around you) and adjust the flash based on the amount of light it thinks it needs to make the correct exposure. This is often called a fill flash. Keep in mind that this is a feature that most cameras have, but you must intentionally and manually enable the flash. Some devices even allow you to turn up or down the power of the flash – see the manual under “Flash”.

Seventh, use a slower shutter speed, such as 1/50 or 1/30 of a second to show motion. Often, adding a little motion blur can really pull your viewer into the image. It invokes your other senses and helps make the story more realistic. Motion techniques involve holding the camera steady and allowing the subject to blur, or you can move the camera along with the subject’s movement (called “panning”), which causes the background to blur and hopefully takes a clear subject. This technique takes some practice, but it’s fun, so give it a try.

Eighth, try unique angles. Lower or below eye level. Sometimes, showing a common activity or theme in a new light can change how we feel or give us a new perspective.

It takes a lot of time to master the art of photographing wildlife, but you can never stop practicing. If you persevere, your efforts will pay off in the end.  Not only will this hobby make you a better photographer, but it will also help you develop a true passion for nature.  For more tips on photography, visit the Apexel website. I believe it will be of great help to you.