Articles

See the Image

Text and Images by Eric J. Landsberg

Impala

(Aepyceros melampus)

The mistake most aspiring photographers make is to rush out to the nearest photographic shop and buy equipment that might not be suitable for wildlife photography. Before you set aside a budget for equipment, visit your nearest bookshop and spend some money on books regarding wildlife photography. My recommendation would be the following: The Art of Bird Photography by Arthur Morris - USA (a must have for every wildlife photographer). Closer to home I would recommend the following Practical Wildlife Photography by Darrel Balfour - SA and Getaway Guide to Wildlife Photography by Nigel Dennis SA. The South African photographers mentioned above also provide tips on local conditions. By reading these book you will get an idea of the equipment used by professionals, and get a view on the artistic and technical side of wildlife photography.

For the wildlife photographer there are two technologies available Digital and Film based, both technologies contribute to the requirements of wildlife photographers. My advice to all new Wildlife Photographers would be to look for good secondhand equipment, buy the BEST LENS. With the change in digital technology almost yearly you could get good secondhand bodies. Did I mention buy the BEST LENS you can afford.

I once read an article on equipment (lenses) required for wildlife photography and the author gave some good advice, Buy the big 600mm Prime Lens only after your first National Geographic assignment. National Geographic I am still waiting. The 600mm Prime Lens will definitely help, but unfortunately you must be able to see the opportunity before you can seize the moment. Prime Lenses will set you back $7200.00, this might not be the best investment for aspiring wildlife photographers and with a price tag like that I would definitely consider the advice above. You dont have to invest in a 600mm Prime Lens, but if you are passionate about wildlife photography you should at least consider a good 300mm f/4 or f/2.8 lens with or without IS/VR. (Focal length will vary according to your style and the type of photography you would like to pursue.)

Enough said about the equipment required for wildlife photography. Read the countless amount of books available by wildlife photographers on this subject. Before I forget you should first invest in the BEST LENS you can afford, then only buy the camera body. In this article we will ignore the technical side of photography again there are numerous books available on this subject. (Exposure etc.)

Burchell's Zebra

(Equus burchellii)

Burchell's Zebra

(Equus burchellii)

Wildlife photography requires hours of learning and developing your own style as an artist. Ask any professional wildlife photographer and you will soon find out that it took him hours behind the lens, and countless amount of film to achieve his goals. Wildlife photography is also about constantly learning new techniques, and professionals will agree that there is always room for improvement.

You need to spend the hours behind the lens, teaching and training your eyes to see the image before you take the picture. The skills required for wildlife photography is unfortunately not provided with the hardware, again you can only acquire the skills by spending hours behind the lens. I am not saying that novice wildlife photographers cannot produce outstanding images, but with practice you will increase the quantity of outstanding images. Read all about wildlife photography techniques; look at other photographers work, especially professional photographers. If you cannot see the image before taking the photograph, you will overlook opportunities that might have resulted in outstanding images.

The next question would certainly be, where can I obtain the training and hours required. The best advice would be to find a wildlife sanctuary close to you. You dont have to visit an exotic destination to acquire the experience. Spending time on a regular basis in the sanctuary of your choice would be worth more than the once a year holiday to the exotic destination. The problem with once a year holiday photography, is that you dont get the regular training required that will enable you to create photographic opportunities from every subject you encounter. Attending seminars and courses provided by reputable photographers will provide you with a base, but you still have to develop and build onto that base.

White Rhinoceros

(Ceratotherium simum)

White Rhinoceros

(Ceratotherium simum)

I can already hear you saying that the local sanctuary cannot provide the opportunities you will get in a place like the Kruger National Park. That might be true, but each country has its own unique wildlife and you could turn any subject into a great opportunity. Many photographers find a subject to photograph and after one or two shots rush off to find the next, with this way of photography you will not be able to gather the experience required for your eyes to see the image. I cannot tell you how many images I have taken of Burchells Zebra or White Rhinoceros, frequently encountered at Rietvlei Nature Reserve just outside Pretoria.

The training you would obtain from visiting a place like Rietvlei on a regular basis will provide you with a solid base. You will learn to make the best of what you have at your disposal, and strive to improve on the images you have. With frequent visits to a wildlife sanctuary, you will be able to gather experience, and your ability to see the image before you take the picture will improve. Knowing the subject also adds to the success you will achieve in the field. You might find that birds use certain perches regularly and at specific times, or White Rhinoceros wallow in the same mud bath, capitalise on the knowledge gained from regular visits.

In his book Getaway Guide to Wildlife Photography by Nigel Dennis he quoted form Gary Players well-known comment with regards to luck. - The more I practice, the luckier I get This statement is so true about every thing we do in life and photography is definitely no exception. Again if you practice on a regular basis your senses will develop and this will increase your photographic opportunities.

Burchell's Zebra

(Equus burchellii)

Patience:

You would also require a good understanding of the artistic impact focal length, subject to camera distance, Angle of View and light conditions have on the end result. Remember photography is about capturing light reflected from the subject/scene, and the technical aspect of photography must be understood. By learning all these techniques, and with some patience, you will be able to change an opportunity into an outstanding image.

Lilac-breasted Roller

(Coracias caudata)

Lilac-breasted Roller

(Coracias caudata)

Lilac-breasted Roller

(Coracias caudata)

With this article I hope that all the novice like me photographers will pickup their cameras and visit the nearest game reserve on a regular basis to create outstanding images of the abundant wildlife that share this planet with us.