Nature and Wildlife – Marketing and Photography Tips from SmugMug Photographers

“Want to to get spectacular photos? You need spectacular light and be willing to put in the effort to arrive at the right time. I just finished a shoot in the Chisos Mountains, located in South Texas. Most mornings I was hiking by 5am (with a light, in the dark) to arrive at my destination just before sunrise. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing! PS. Make sure to check with the park ranger to confirm it’s safe to be hiking during non daylight hours…no point in being breakfast for a Grizzly.” – Thomas Snitzer (http://www.snitzerphotography.com/)

“Study your landscape and surroundings and
how light moves around during a given day or season. Sometimes you just
have to wait. Wait for the light to shift around, or wait for the wildlife
to show up. My favorite moments are when wildlife shows up and I’m there,
ready, with camera.” – Meggen Watt (http://www.meggenwatt.com/)

“Nature Photography – be vigilant!
Landscape Photography – try creative angles or
non-traditional approaches to traditional scenes.
Wildlife – be prepared
and observant for the wildlife to appear. Try to catch the eyes.”
– Bonnie Stewart (http://www.inspiredbonnie.com”

“Make images for your own satisfaction and enjoyment because once you try to please others with your pictures the joy comes rarely.” – Danielle Lew (http://www.danilew.com/)

“1. Keep Good Company: Go on excursions with really good photographers, show them your photos and listen to their suggestions.
2. Get Closer: Getting the lens closer to animals (whether underwater or above) is perhaps the single most important habit.  Take a few shots, then carefully move a little closer and shoot a few more, then a little closer to take a few more, and so on.  In my experience, you will often find that the best photos of animals are among the last few, i.e., the closest ones.
3. Slow Down: I often used to act like a tourist – always in a hurry to get a shot and move on, to go elsewhere to see what else might be around the next corner, and therefore only snap a few quick photos of each subject. Now, when I find an interesting subject, I spend five minutes, 10 minutes or even half an hour with it, trying different angles, exposure combinations (such as different aperture for different depth of field), and so on. I might shoot 100 photos of a great subject, and I am surprised how often the best is one of the very last ones I took.
4. Think Vertical: We are generally accustomed to shooting horizontally, because that is the natural way to hold a camera. But many subjects are much more striking if the camera is turned vertically. Cultivating the habit of shooting vertically is not easy.  When shooting animals (underwater or above), I try to force myself to shoot 1/3 of my photos vertically, and I am surprised how often the vertical shots of a subject are better.”
– Bruce Yates (http://www.underwaterreflections.com)

“As a landscape photographer the most critical element of success is the time of day you capture your images. For that reason the best landscape photographers are the ones that don’t mind getting up with the birds. Or earlier. There is no substitute for the Golden Hour.” – Vince Scanlan (http://www.vincescanlan.com/)

“The presence of a lone person captured in candid in a landscape shot can add another dimension to an otherwise plain landscape scene.” – Michael Scanlan Photography (http://www.scanmanphotos.com/)

“My biggest tip is “patience”…be prepared for the shot. If you get bored or distracted, that’s exactly when the animal is going to look right at you…and you’ve missed the shot.”
– John Miller (http://www.jemillerphotography.com/)

“Connect with the Eyes – Quiet, Low and Slow
I’ve had the great fortune to quietly face endangered animals in the wild many times.
Each time I strive to connect with the eyes.
I yearn to prolong that moment……to freeze time in a photograph and somehow communicate a promise.
A promise that humans can be friend rather than foe……that no harm will come.Tip of the day for wildlife photography:
Focus on the eyes – quiet, low and slow.
Strive to shoot at eye level with the subject.
Stay quiet and low. Keep any movement very slow.
Click away because seconds may be all you have, but don’t rush off.
Patience can reward you with that moment of interest that will make your photo unique.”
– Beth Tetterton (http://www.throughthelensnow.com/)

“Always carry your gear with you! I had a friend years ago tell me to always have my gear with me, I didn’t and I missed so many great pictures. It doesn’t happen any more. You must be dedicated.” – Kenny Calhoun (http://www.kennycalhounphotography.com/)

“Have your main subject fill the frame of your viewfinder.… and always be aware of the background.
Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.” – David Greenfield (http://fotovisions.smugmug.com)

“We love to go on adventure road trips all across the country, traveling back roads through small towns. My camera is always ready for the unexpected treasures that we find, and my husband us used to me yelling “Stop!” when I see something picture worthy. Having the camera always at hand is the best way to never miss those great photo opportunities.” – Nancy Rudnik (http://www.nancyrudnikphotography.com/)

“In taking this photograph, we used a long depth of field to get both the Frigate and the clouds clearly. It would have been nice to focus on the eye, but with the bird in flight that was impossible. In setting up this shot, I was prone on the rocky shore with my elbows propped into my sides. I observed the flying patterns of the birds and focused on a spot in the sky that I felt had a high probability of success. There was some cropping and exposure adjustments.” – Bill Abramson (http://thewavelandgallery.smugmug.com/)

“Get Low and Get Close…Photographing wildlife requires patience and good knowledge about the animals you are trying to photograph. Shore birds for instance are very wary about being approached by big, hulking humans, so the best approach is to get close to the ground. The inexpensive Ground Skimmer allows a photographer to be very low and still have a solid platform for their camera equipment. (http://www.naturescapes.net/store/the-skimmer-ground_pod-ii.html)That said…how close is too close…?Sensitivity on the part of the photographer for all wildlife is very important to the well being of both the photographer and wild subject. This means being cautious for your own safety when approaching animals, as wild animals can be dangerous…think bears and bison. And just like humans have a ‘personal space’ that we don’t like strangers within…so to wildlife. In addition getting too close to wild animals can alter their natural behavior, possibly causing them to abandon nests and chicks.”
– Joe Messina of TCR World Photography (http://joemessina.smugmug.com)