Page 87 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Wildlife photography

Tip 1
Protect your

camera

Avoid damaged kit
during harsh conditions
with some simple tricks

Moisture and electrics don’t
mix, so condensation building
up on your camera when you
bring it in from the cold can
cause big problems. Make
sure you avoid this by putting
your kit in an airtight plastic
bag when you bring it indoors,
until it’s heated up to room
temperature. When shooting in
falling snow, use a rain cover or
hold an umbrella above you to
protect your camera from the
damp. Also bear in mind that in
the cold, batteries drain quicker,
so carry a spare and store them
in your pocket when they are
not in use to keep them warm.

Protect your camera
while shooting in the
rain with a plastic
cover or even a
plastic bag

Wait for so er Tip 2
lighting during the
golden hours of
sunset or sunrise, Use the
and position yourself
so it falls onto your
right light
subject’s side
Perfect your photograph by
using the natural power of
the sun
With all that white snow around,
the ground will act like a big white
reflector, bouncing plenty of light

into your image. You still need to
think about the direction of your
lighting, however. You might not
want to shoot into the light, as

this could cause lens flare in your
image. Instead, position yourself so
the sun is falling onto the side of
your subject to create a sense of
depth. Shooting in the golden hours
around sunrise and sunset will help
create much softer lighting on the @ Thinkstock; Richard Bowler/REX/Shutterstock
wildlife. Flash is best avoided in most
circumstances, as it could illuminate
the falling snowflakes, distracting

from the animal, and the bright flash
could also startle them.

87 87

086-089_WOA41_Bird_photography.indd 87 30/11/2016 17:29