Photography Post
How To Take Good Animal And Insect Photos
Many times people think they can only take amazing wildlife pictures away from home, but many times, you can get great pictures right in your own backyard.
Photographing Wildlife with Feathers or Fur
Depending on where you live, there are many ways to turn your yard into a wildlife haven for squirrels, raccoons, birds, deer, frogs and other critters.
While it's true that we rarely do wildlife a service by feeding them from our cupboards, if you follow the wildlife attraction and sustainability tips from the National Wildlife Federation (they're online) you can feel good knowing that you are giving back to wildlife.
You will also be creating an environmentally friendly landscape as well because what is good for the animals is also good for the environment.
Take some time to read up on the species you want to photograph so you can better understand their habits and hopefully take better pictures of them. And by being educated about the species you want to photograph, you can also minimize the chance of attracting dangerous predators into your yard. You might also want to check out the code of ethics posted for professional nature photographers by the North American Nature Photography Association.
Just as with photographing animals, when you take a picture of a furry or feathery wild critter, follow these guidelines:
- Use natural lighting to your advantage
- Fill the frame with the subject
- Focus on the eyes
- Shoot from various angles
- Capture personality
Photographing the World of Insects
Wildlife photography also includes the miniature world of insects. Honeybees, dragonflies, butterflies, bumblees, spiders and even snails are all popular subjects.
Photographing insects can be tricky. Here are some tips from the pros to help:
- Like with larger wildlife, it will help to know your subject's patterns of behavior. Do the butterflies frequent one flowery shrub more than others? Now all you have to do is set up your camera and wait for the subject to come to you. Make sure to be ready!
- To get the best shots of small creatures at rest, use macro mode and fill the frame. Your camera manual will give you details on how close your macro mode will work. If you stay within the proper range and hold your camera steady, you will get some nice, crisp shots.
- You should use sports mode or flash to freeze action unless the insect is sitting very still.
- Most insects are very sensitive to carbon dioxide and will run or fly away if you breathe directly on them. So when you lean in to take the photo, make sure to hold your breath! However, there are some insects like beetles that will freeze when you breath on them.
- Keep in mind some insects and spiders pack powerful, even deadly venom, so know your bug before approaching.
- Because insects slow down with cooler temperatures, early morning and twilight are easier times for capturing them with your camera. Insects are great at seeing shadows so don't approach them from the same direction as the light casts.
Photographs of wildlife can make for beautiful fine art, the type that you'll want to put in a picture frame and display proudly and give as gifts. When framing your favorite animal or insect pictures, always go with a simple wood or metal picture frame in colors that complement your picture. Try to avoid eye catching brightly colored frames like red picture frames that will work to distract the viewer from your photograph. Instead look for natural tones like wood picture frames. Another way to use your animal photography is in photo crafts greeting cards, calendars, iron on transfers for t-shirts and much more. There are simply lots of wonderful things you can do with your beautiful animal and insect pictures so have fun capturing the wonderful world of nature.
Victorian Post Mortem Photography -WARNING NOT FOR THE SENSITIVE VIEWER!