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Chapter 12 Outdoor Photography
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
However, wildlife opportunities abound close
to home, such as birds of many types, small
animals of field and forest, Figure 12-43, and
the denizens of swamps or deserts.
An acceptable wildlife photo may result
from being in the right place at the right time
and being prepared to shoot when a subject
unexpectedly appears. See Figure 12-44.
Wildlife photographers who are consistently
successful, however, carefully study the animals
they wish to photograph. They learn about the
locations where they can be found, how they
behave, when they are active, and how common
or rare they are. With this knowledge, the
photographer can plan when and where to go,
what equipment to bring, and how much time to
devote to the project.
The time required to obtain a desired image
is often measured in days. The photographer
may erect a portable blind near the site where
the animal is usually found, Figure 12-45. He
or she must enter the blind when the animal
is not around, and then spend many hours of
patient observation before doing any shooting.
Vehicles can serve as blinds, since animals do not
consider them a cause for alarm. A car or truck
can be an effective form of concealment when
photographing birds, Figure 12-46.
Jack Klasey/Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-43. Small wildlife subjects, such as this
ground squirrel, usually can be found in locations close to
your home (even in a city).
Jack Klasey/Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-44. This deer suddenly appeared in a clearing
while the photographer was walking along a path in the
woods. A wide-angle lens (35 mm), large aperture (f/5.6),
and high ISO (800) resulted in a usable handheld image
despite a slow (1/20 second) shutter speed.
Leonard Rue Enterprises
Figure 12-45. Noted wildlife photographer Leonard Lee Rue
demonstrates one type of portable shooting blind.
Jack Klasey/Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-46. The photographer got close to these birds
while using a car as a blind. A road bordered the shallow
area of the river where they were wading, allowing the
photographer to approach closely enough to use a
300 mm lens.