Would you like to learn how to shoot digital photos at zoos, wildlife parks, aquariums and nature sanctuaries? As in any type of animal photography, patience, persistence and creativity will pay off. One of the first considerations is composition and the best advice is to vary your composition. Take some shots with the subject looking straight at you and some with the subject either facing left or right. To do this, you may have to reposition yourself. This is the part requiring the patience and persistence. Use a tripod or monopod to maximize your digital photo sharpness.
The other part of composition is subject placement. Use the rule of thirds. Visually breakdown the scene in your viewfinder into thirds both vertically and horizontally, like a tic-tac-toe board. Place your subject on one of the intersecting points in the grid.
The second consideration is time of day. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to shoot. From sunrise, to about 2 hours after, and again about 2 hours before sunset to sunset, produces digital photos softly illuminated with a golden, highly directional light, thereby bringing out the color in your subject.
Also at these times of day there are fewer crowds and the animals are moving around making it easier to photograph them. This is the time of day they would be hunting and eating if they were in the wild. They like to rest at mid-day.
If you are trying to show the animals without bars, barriers and wires, you will minimize their presence by using a long lens and shooting at wide apertures to blur the foreground and if necessary the background. While shooting in this non-natural environment, shoot close-ups to minimize any of the environment.
Wildlife parks have the animals in an environment closer to their natural habitats this enables you to include picturesque surroundings in the portrait of your subject. A small aperture will help you bring the background and foreground into proper focus.
Some wildlife parks are drive-through one, with these stay in the car to take your photos. A window mount for your camera would come in handy or make use of a bean bag. Make sure to lessen the vibration by turning off the car.
To shoot photos though glass barriers, place the lens hood right on the glass, this will diminish any reflection. With the flash, use it separately from the camera and it needs to be at a 45 degree angle from your camera also up at the glass.
For shots in the outdoors, the slow ISO such as 100 would be ideal. In the aquariums, use an ISO rated either 400 or 800 to do the trick.
Taking photos in a zoo can be fun. There is nowhere else that you can find so many different animals from across the world in one place. Be patient, plan what shots to take, and discover the fun of wildlife digital photography.
The other part of composition is subject placement. Use the rule of thirds. Visually breakdown the scene in your viewfinder into thirds both vertically and horizontally, like a tic-tac-toe board. Place your subject on one of the intersecting points in the grid.
The second consideration is time of day. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to shoot. From sunrise, to about 2 hours after, and again about 2 hours before sunset to sunset, produces digital photos softly illuminated with a golden, highly directional light, thereby bringing out the color in your subject.
Also at these times of day there are fewer crowds and the animals are moving around making it easier to photograph them. This is the time of day they would be hunting and eating if they were in the wild. They like to rest at mid-day.
If you are trying to show the animals without bars, barriers and wires, you will minimize their presence by using a long lens and shooting at wide apertures to blur the foreground and if necessary the background. While shooting in this non-natural environment, shoot close-ups to minimize any of the environment.
Wildlife parks have the animals in an environment closer to their natural habitats this enables you to include picturesque surroundings in the portrait of your subject. A small aperture will help you bring the background and foreground into proper focus.
Some wildlife parks are drive-through one, with these stay in the car to take your photos. A window mount for your camera would come in handy or make use of a bean bag. Make sure to lessen the vibration by turning off the car.
To shoot photos though glass barriers, place the lens hood right on the glass, this will diminish any reflection. With the flash, use it separately from the camera and it needs to be at a 45 degree angle from your camera also up at the glass.
For shots in the outdoors, the slow ISO such as 100 would be ideal. In the aquariums, use an ISO rated either 400 or 800 to do the trick.
Taking photos in a zoo can be fun. There is nowhere else that you can find so many different animals from across the world in one place. Be patient, plan what shots to take, and discover the fun of wildlife digital photography.
About the Author:
For professional photos that capture the emotion and personality of your child, visit Melanie Acker Photography at St Louis Baby Photography Melanie uses natural light and the beautiful seasons of the midwest as a backdrop. You can see some of her work at www.melanieackerphotography.com
No comments:
Post a Comment