10 Tips for wildlife photography by david hutchison

I have been photographing and exploring the wilds of nature on & off Vancouver Island for close to 17 years.  Like any genre within photography, wildlife photography has tips and tricks that are valuable for the getting the best possible images.  Here are my top 10 tips for Wildlife Photography.

• TRIPOD & HEAD - A tripod is a very handy tool for wildlife photography BUT comes with a few catches. Apart from the difference of carbon vs aluminum, which can be found on my previous blog posts, a tripod for wildlife should be heavy duty and come to at least your eye level.  I often use a tripod for wildlife photography when I understand the subject will be more stationary and I can set up in a location.  I also use a gimbal style (Jobu Designs, made in Canada) head that enables the camera to move freely in any direction while mounted to the tripod.  A tripod can also be useful to reduce fatigue while waiting for the moment.  I use both FLM and Gitzo tripods.  Info can be found at https://davehutchisonphotography.com/affiliates/
• HANDHOLDING your camera - Learning how to handhold your camera effectively to get the best results is invaluable.  Sometimes tripods are simply not practical.  For example, when photographing from a boat, I do not recommend a tripod (or a monopod) as they can often get in the way.  Often wildlife photography requires a photographer to be mobile and able to move quickly.  I start by putting my hand under the barrel of the lens (not on the focus ring, but on the focal length ring (zoom ring) or front of the lens if a fixed prime lens) and use gravity to your advantage.  I often see folks putting their hands on the side or even over top of their lens which is not as effective.  When you press the shutter button, roll over the shutter gently (a light press) to reduce any extra vibrations.  Most modern cameras and/or lenses also have a vibration reduction feature that is beneficial for handholding.  Also, note some lenses have a vibration reduction setting when used on tripods (this does make a difference).  Make sure you have the setting correct depending on your camera gear.
• FAST lenses and FAST autofocus – Ok, we have to talk about camera gear to some degree. Honestly, there is no substitute for fast lenses & fast autofocusing camera bodies.  In a perfect world, a prime (fixed focal length) f/2.8 or f/4 lens will be the best for speed and overall quality.  The drawback is prime lenses tend to be higher priced, large, and heavy.  Technology now is lowering the size and weight of many lenses, but not the price.  As an example, I used to have a Nikon 500mm f/4 VR G lens that was large and bulky (but also sharp and accurate).  When a high-quality lens is paired with an equally fast autofocusing camera body, wonderful results can occur.  Now there is a big shift where DSLR’s are being replaced by high end mirrorless cameras with electronic shutters that are whisper quiet (nice for wildlife), have no blackouts between frames, and fast autofocus.  I am now using a Fuji X-H2s with a Fuji 100-400mm lens for birds and some wildlife.  The bird detect is amazing and fast.  The set up is compact and light.  But if I am far away from the subject, the lens simply doesn't have the micro contrast to compete with the big prime lenses.  All a trade off. 
• Full manual settings with auto ISO – In last 6-7 years there has been a big technology shift where ISO ranges have increased greatly, which has been a huge advantage for wildlife photographers (animals usually move around at dusk and dawn). I now use auto ISO in manual mode for all my wildlife photography.  Within reason, I don’t concern myself with the ISO, but focus on shutter speed and depth of field and let the ISO “float” depending on the light available (and the shutter speed and aperture set by the user).  This has been a game changer for almost all wildlife photographers in the last 6-7 years.

FUJI X-H2s, fuji 100-400mm f/5.6 at f/7.1, 1/3200, ISO 4000

• Shutter speed – Knowing your shutter speed is so another crucial step towards effective wildlife photography. A rule of thumb I use is to at least match your shutter speed to your focal length.  For example, at 500mm I would strive to keep the shutter speed at or above 1/500 sec.  This can have some leeway now with vibration reduction, in body image stabilization (IBIS) but a good rule to keep in mind.  Here are a few other tips.

Eagles in flight – 1/1600 - 1/2000 sec

Ducks in flight – 1/2500 to 1/3200 sec

Bears walking through grass, etc. – 1/500 – 1/800 sec

Whales breaching – 1/1600 – 1/2000 sec

Nikon D5, Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 at f/7.1, 1/1600,
​ISO 250, +1/3 EV

• Control depth of field. Here are four tips to help you control your depth of field and help make you images pop.  First, decrease distance to your subject.  Decreasing your distance to the subject will in essence blur your background and help make the subject pop from that background.  Second, long focal lengths (500mm-600mm) compress distance and create a shallower depth of field.  For example, using a 200mm vs a 500mm lens with the same settings on the composition will reveal very different results for helping make you subject pop.  Third, increase the distance between your subject and the background.  This can often be achieve by getting low or at eye level to your subject where the background is further away.  Lastly, and probably the most obvious is to adjust the aperture of your lens.  Photographing wide open at say f/2.8 or f/4 will result in a blurred background in most cases.  As you move the aperture to say f/5.6 or f/8 the background will come more into focus.
• Keep an eye on your background and any distracting elements. This composition tip is so important.  In short, a cluttered or ineffective background can ruin an image with a great subject in no time.  I strive for clean, non-distracting backgrounds.  Tip, when photographing make sure to scan around your frame and don’t fall victim to subject fixation.  Look around the edges, and make sure the background works and doesn’t compete with your subject.

Nikon D500, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR at f/4, 1/1250,
​ISO 3600, -1/3 EV

• Accessory tip. Years ago I learned about a simple accessory that I have put on all my wildlife cameras over the years – a rubber eye cup.  A rubber eye will not only reduce eye strain, but also reduce vibration by making a better contact between you and your camera.  Nice and simple, but effective.
• Know your subject. Often I will observe wildlife before I start photographing unless I have previous knowledge.  Having the sense of how your subject will move and behave (or not behave) will greatly help you achieve more predictable results.  For example, when trying to photograph a whale breaching, check the currents to see if anything is different or changes in the lead up to a breach.  Do whales play, socialize, or feed before a breach, etc.?  In the birding world, often birds will empty their bowls just before flight giving you the sign to get ready.

Nikon D850, Nikon 300mm f/2.8 at f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO 800

• Last but not least, experiment and try new things. This can mean a blur pan or video of your favourite wildlife, but experimenting is crucial to advancing yourself to another level.

Dave Hutchison is an award-winning landscape & wildlife photographer based near Victoria on southern Vancouver Island.  Dave won Best in Class in “Fine Art” at the 2020 PPOC National Image Salon.  Dave has three PPOC accreditations – nature, pictorial/floral, & wildlife.  Dave is also an International Brand Ambassador for Singh-Ray Filters based in Florida (discount coupon code dhi15 for 15% off at checkout at https://singh-ray.com).  Dave also leads multi day workshops for landscapes & wildlife photography on the BC coast & The Great Bear Rainforest https://davehutchisonphotography.com/grizzlies-workshop/.  Dave also offers webinars & private photography lessons.   Details can be found at https://davehutchisonphotography.com/presentations/.