Wildlife photography is a mixture of passion for the forest, mountains and fauna and a hobby for photography. Patience, tenacity and why not say it, a little luck, are also essential. Whether you are just starting out, or if you have been bitten by the photo hunting, I am convinced that these 7 fundamental tips will help you better plan your next trips and excursions.

Essential tips for photographing wildlife: How to take the best photos of animals

1) What species do you want to photograph?

Planning a photography excursion always requires solving one question: where are we going? But in this specific case the answer is conditioned by the animal species that we want to photograph. Wild animals do not usually live near large urban centers and sighting them requires traveling to isolated natural spaces. Areas that are not easy to reach without your own vehicle.

The first decision therefore is to determine which species we want to photograph. Placing yourself in a hide in front of a sea lion is not the same as photographing seabirds from a boat.

Once we have decided which will be the main subject of our objective, the next step is to become well informed about its behavior in the wild, its reproduction and breeding cycle, its aggressiveness towards humans, etc. Knowing the protagonist is essential.

2) Now, where are we going?

Once the protagonist has been chosen, we will have to decide where we go to observe him. National parks and nature reserves are the most frequented places. Preparing the trip not only means looking for accommodation, but also finding out all kinds of information about the region we are going to visit, its climate, its access by vehicle, etc.

In most cases public transport will not reach these regions so we will need our own vehicle to get around. On some occasions the entry with our vehicles will be regulated or even prohibited, so we will have to inform ourselves before the regulation from the park.

If we want to camp in the area we will have to find out if it is allowed. Many of the European national parks and nature reserves have a very strict policy when it comes to camping inside them.

On the internet we will find the official national park websites, nearby locations and available accommodations. They will give us the most up-to-date information on the permits necessary to camp or reach the most protected areas.

Finally, a little look at social networks to consult tips and images from other travelers will give us ideas for our photos. It's not about doing the same thing that others have done, but about being inspired by their work.

3) Preparing the backpack

The next question to answer is what basic team do we need for an excursion of this type? When it comes to outdoor photography, we must take into account the time we will spend with the equipment on our back, walking or hiding under a tree.

Weight is the limiting factor. We have to reduce the equipment as much as possible without forgetting or discarding anything that may be essential. For a short getaway, of a few days, we will need our camera with a couple of cards of memory, a good telephoto lens, a monopod robust, batteries spare and covers of protection for the rain. If we want to photograph landscapes or experiment with night photography we will also need a angle lens, a tripod and a couple of filters.

The basic equipment should not weigh more than 4 or 5 kilos.

Lastly (and not least) we must count on everyone "non-photographic" material necessary. If we are going to spend several days in the area we can leave some of the equipment at the hostel or in the car, but we must always keep in mind that on our walks we will need water, some food, warm clothing and protection from the rain.

4) Set up your camera

When it comes to photographing wildlife you have to keep in mind that most animals move, and some move very quickly. If you master the Manual mode you will have no problems with your camera, although you can also use the shutter priority mode, which is what we use in sports photography when we want to freeze movement.

Freezing the animal is essential to see it clearly in the image. Except in exceptional cases, in which we are looking for an effect that is more artistic than documentary, we will try to freeze the movement of the protagonist of the shot.

Whether we use manual mode or opt for shutter priority, the combination of basic parameters is the same: shutter speeds very high (greater than 1/1000 seconds), which will force us to open the diaphragm or to raise the ISO value.

When using a zoom lens, shooting handheld may cause camera shake or blurred photos due to the weight of the lens. A monopod or a tripod with a ball head will become our best allies, as it will allow us to easily move and rotate the camera while following the animal.

Focus is another headache. It is always recommended to focus on the eyes of the main subject, but that is especially difficult with wild animals, and even more so if they are moving. It is advisable to use the spot focus mode, to be more precise, although focusing on an animal that moves at high speed can be our worst nightmare.

Finally, it is advisable to shoot in burst mode since by taking several consecutive photographs we ensure that at least one of them will be focused correctly.

5) Stalking or stalking?

There are two fundamental techniques in this type of photography. He stalking It is the active method of searching for the animal. We use it when we go walking through the forest in search of wild animals. It may seem like we improvise, but we rarely do. The technique consists of knowing interpret traces and trails opened by animals in the vegetation. This is the system used in this activity to search and photograph the bison.

As you will understand, stalking requires patience and the desire to take long walks without knowing if we will find the animal we are chasing. Reading fingerprints is not easy and requires training.

On the contrary, the technique of stalking It consists of waiting in a place where we know that sooner or later we will observe an animal. Stalking is carried out in rivers, artificial water troughs, hunting posts, etc. It can last several hours during which we must remain still and silent, so it is essential to have a comfortable place, a shelter or a tent.

The hides, or observation posts are very useful. They are usually installed in front of drinking fountains or feeding points. One of the most typical examples are the hides located at controlled feeding points for vultures, a species very suspicious of human presence.

6) In front of the animal

As the wise man would say, “You don't have to be afraid of the animal, but you do have to respect it”. We do this because we like animals. That is why respect for wildlife must always be present in our code of ethics and behavior as photographers.

Rarely will an animal attack us, unless it feels threatened by our attitude towards it. That is why it is very important to know the species we are going to photograph and its behavior both individually and in groups.

A basic tip is to always work facing the animal and with both eyes wide open. You should not lose sight of a wild animal, no matter how harmless it may seem. Respecting their space, keeping a safe distance and never losing sight of them are simple tips that we tend to forget. “in the heat of battle.”

7) A story to tell

The ultimate purpose of a photograph is to tell a history. It's not just about getting a pretty image, but also about giving something to the viewer. A feeling, a story with which to feel amazed, sad, indignant...

Nature and wildlife photography is no different. Don't just focus and shoot. Frame the animal in its habitat. Take images of their behavior and that of their offspring.

Reflect before photographing. Monitor the light of the scene. Look for sunrises and sunsets, when the sunlight is not so direct and harsh. Could you photograph from a better angle? What's behind the main subject? Many times the bottom It is as important as the animal. In the bird photography For example, uniform and out-of-focus backgrounds are sought that do not divert attention from the subject. But if we photograph large groups of animals, we will also be interested in the natural habitat and the environment in which they live.

Play with contrasts, silhouettes and even backlights. Sometimes the smallest gesture can turn a nondescript photograph into something the viewer will always remember.