What is the First Important Decision A Wildlife Photographer Makes When Taking A Photo?
The image frame determines what's in and what's left out of the photograph, and it is one of the first important decisions that a photographer will make when composing an image. Successful Wildlife photography is much more than just finding an exciting animal and filling as much of the frame as possible.
We see and experience a great deal more than we see in the camera viewfinder. As a photographer, your task is to compress a large amount of three-dimensional visual information into a limited, two-dimensional rectangle we call a photograph.
The photographer should ask the following question – what are the essential elements of the scene or subject? Any essential visual elements should be included in the photo while non-essential elements should be omitted. This form of visual editing is achieved with the placement of the image frame.
When deciding where and how to place an image frame, you can do a close-up of the animal with the telephoto lens – where the eye, feathers, or fur detail is visible, or you can go wider and include some of its environment. If the surrounding environment adds to the photo's feeling or helps tell a bigger, more captivating story, then, by all means, go wide. If it doesn't add to the photo, then leave it out.
Animal and bird close-ups of bold and dramatic, transporting the viewer to a front-row seat, giving them a perspective they would probably never see otherwise, except for in a Zoo. This requires the use of a super-telephoto lens and a very narrow image frame that excludes almost everything else around it. Doing animal close-ups seems to be the default choice for most wildlife photographers. Its achieved by grabbing the longest telephoto lens available and zooming in as tight as I can.
Going wider involves embracing a more inclusive image frame. While the wildlife photographer's initial impulse is to use the longest telephoto lens in the bag, you can try resisting this urge and explore a wider view instead. Think about it as placing the animal in its environment. This can give perspective to the moment. It will tell a story about the creature's life and habitat and can also create a more compelling composition by bringing him complementary lines and visual elements. When using a telephoto lens, pull your eye away from the viewfinder every so often and look around at the subjects surrounding the environment and ask yourself if the excluded environment can strengthen the image.
The frame boundaries should also be considered as visual elements in their own right. Take a peek at the corners of the viewfinder. Each edge should be visually scanned for errand tree limbs, shadow, or other distractions that can appear in the photograph. Plenty of ample breathing room between the animal you're shooting, and the image frame should be considered as well
OK, so let's recap this section on the images frame.
1 – This can be your first compositional decision. Scan all four corners of the frame, then look at the scene. You are going to decide between the following
Is this an environmental Capture
Is it a portrait style tight crop
2 – Essential visual elements should be included in the photo while non-essential elements should be omitted.
3 – When taking a wider, environmental type of photo, think about it as placing the animal in its environment. This can give perspective to the moment. It will tell a story about the creature's life and habitat and can also create a more compelling composition by bringing him complementary lines and visual elements.
4 – Animal and bird close-ups of bold and dramatic, details will offer a perspective the viewer a perspective they would probably never see otherwise, except for in a Zoo. This requires the use of a super-telephoto lens and a very narrow image frame that excludes almost everything else around it.
5 – When you scan the four edges of the frame for errand tree limbs, shadow, or other distractions that can appear in the photograph.