Digital photography has become an indispensable part of our modern lives. In our digital photography series, we have given you tips and tricks in recent weeks on
Today we want to turn our attention to the topic of photographing animals. Animal photography is an art form that requires both technical skills and a deep understanding of animal behavior. Whether in your own garden, in the zoo or in the wild – animal photography allows the photographer to capture and share the beauty and diversity of the animal world. In this article, we will give you valuable tips and techniques on how you too can become a good animal photographer and take great pictures.
Photo of a dog. Although the animal is lying on the ground and making itself small, it was photographed at eye level by the photographer.[/caption]
The animal in the picture is a toucan. Photographing birds is a special challenge. Often, the photographer has to invest a lot of time and effort in taking his pictures. Especially in the wild, patience is very important for a good photo.[/caption]
10 Tips and Tricks in Animal Photography for…
… Photographing Pets It is best to photograph your pets in their familiar surroundings. Here are some tips and tricks to take better photos and shots of your animal friends:- Eye focus: As a photographer, when taking a photo of your animal, make sure the eyes are sharp, as they will be the most important part of the picture.
- Format: Your pet should fill the frame in the photo. Macro shots are better than the animal in front of a background, e.g., photograph only a characteristic detail of your animal. Experiment with close-ups of details such as paws, fur, or whiskers. You don't necessarily have to get the whole animal in the photo/picture.
- Background: When taking your animal photos, make sure the background is calm and uncluttered, so it doesn't distract from your pet. If you are photographing outdoors in nature, you can use a telephoto lens with a wide-open aperture to blur the background into a pleasant softness, which will make your animal stand out better in the photo.
- Perspective: As a photographer, photograph your animals at eye level. For dogs and cats, get down on your knees. To achieve eye level with guinea pigs, hamsters, reptiles, and co., position the animal on a photo table.
Photo of a dog. Although the animal is lying on the ground and making itself small, it was photographed at eye level by the photographer.[/caption]
- Natural light: As a photographer, use natural light as much as possible and, indoors, seek proximity to large windows. Avoid direct sunlight, which can create harsh shadows in the photo.
- Tripod: A tripod can be helpful to avoid camera shake, especially with longer exposure times. An external flash or LED light can improve the lighting.
- Continuous shooting mode: In animal photography, use your camera's continuous shooting function, especially when photographing your animal playing or your animal in action. This increases the chance of capturing the perfect moment for the photo.
Pet-specific tips for a good photo
- Patience: Pets can be unpredictable. Be patient and take your time until the right moment for the photo with the animal comes. Ask a family member to help you guide your pet's gaze and set the scene for the photo.
- Knowledge of the pet: Observe your pet's behavior to know when it is most relaxed. Plan your animal photos accordingly.
- Props and toys: Use favorite toys or treats to get your pet's attention and position it as desired. Only feed it after the picture, because a full animal may not respond to the treat as desired.
… Photographing animals in the zoo
Photographing animals in the zoo offers unique opportunities to capture exotic and wild animals up close and get them on camera. Here you can relatively easily get close to even shy animals, as they have become accustomed to humans. A nature photographer who travels the world from place to place has a significantly harder time here. Here are some tips and tricks for photographing animals in the zoo.- Research: Inform yourself in advance about the zoo and the animals you want to photograph as an animal photographer. You should know the feeding times as well as special show times and specials. Subscribe to the zoo's newsletter and follow them on social media.
- Best times: For good photos, visit the zoo early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the animals are more active and the light is softer and more pleasant. The golden hour (shortly after sunrise and before sunset) offers the best light for a photographer.
- Equipment: A fast zoom lens (at least 250 mm) is useful for photographing animals from a distance and avoiding cages or fences. In animal photography, avoid digital zoom and ensure a long focal length. A polarizing filter can help to minimize reflections on glass panes in your picture.
- Shutter speed: Use a fast shutter speed (at least 1/250 second) for your pictures to freeze the animals' movements.
The animal in the picture is a toucan. Photographing birds is a special challenge. Often, the photographer has to invest a lot of time and effort in taking his pictures. Especially in the wild, patience is very important for a good photo.[/caption]
- Photo settings: Also use the camera's sports setting for your photos to photograph animals in motion. Use the portrait setting for close-ups.
- Autofocus: Use continuous autofocus for your photos and shots to capture moving animals sharply.
- Perspective and details: Try to establish eye level with the animal and focus on the animal's eyes. Experiment with close-ups of details such as eyes, fur, or beaks.
Zoo-specific tips for a good photo
- Grates and fences: Press the lens as close as possible and permitted to the grate or fence to make them disappear in the blurred area. A large aperture (= small f-number) can help to make the grate "invisible".
- Glass panes: Pay attention to reflections and try to hold the lens directly against the pane or use a polarizing filter to minimize reflections.
- Continuous shooting mode: Tip: Use your camera's continuous shooting mode to take multiple pictures of the desired animal in a short time. This increases the chance of getting the perfect moment. Use it to photograph animals in action, playing, or interacting with other animals or people.
Post-processing and image optimization
Post-processing a photo is an essential step to get the best out of your animal photographs. Often you need to adjust brightness and contrast in the image, correct colors, reduce image noise or – especially for zoo pictures – ideally remove distracting objects such as grids and reflections from glass panes. With Photomizer 3 Premium, we have an image editing program for you that leaves nothing to be desired. In addition to a fully automatic 1-click optimization of images (regardless of format), the software also includes numerous filters and tools to optimize brightness and contrast, intensify colors, reduce image noise, and also brighten the dark, underexposed parts of your photo. The correction of sharpness as well as cropping options are also part of the image editing software. Simply take a few existing photos and landscape pictures and try out what such post-processing can do for your shot. For a small price, you can buy the full version from us. Or, download a free trial version here.
Further information
- Do you want to know more about topics like animal photography or nature photography?
- In addition to animal photography, are you generally interested in tips and tricks for digital photos, whether portrait, macro, eyes, baby, black and white or color?
- Do you have questions about topics such as lens/lenses, aperture, perspective, ISO values, autofocus or horizon?
