Wildlife Photography Thread
Discussion
Smollet said:
swanny71 said:
Great shot. Whereabouts was this taken?
VTECMatt said:
Some amazing photos on here, any tips as I’m off on safari in a few weeks, best lens I have is 70-300 Nikon.
Been practicing with a dog
Looks as though you are on the right track and 300mm should be fine, as most safari vehicles will get quite close to your chosen subjects. It is likely that you will be shooting in well lit areas, so may be worth stopping down the lens to avoid 'bleached out' images. You don't say what 'body' you are using, but make sure that you have suitable memory cards, as it is very tempting to keep your finger on the shutter trigger!Been practicing with a dog
Enjoy the experience and post some images when you get back.
https://imageweaver.blogspot.com/
Here's what I managed 13 years ago with a Canon 40D (crop sensor) and a 70-300 IS f/4-5.6
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48052912@N05/albums/...
There were occasions I wanted more range* (and if I'd got a full-frame sensor I'd have wanted to take a TC), but a better modern sensor with more MP should be able to support image cropping better.
My advice:-
- Make sure your kit is reasonably dust-proof. DO NOT change lenses in the field unless you can do it inside a bag.
- (not essential) With the above in mind, borrow a second body if you think you might want a wide-angle lens as well. Note that elephants and giraffes do a VERY good job of filling the frame when you're up-close!
- Get the fastest-recording card you can - if something's happening you WILL want to leave the shutter button down, and it gets very frustrating when the buffer fills and you're stuck at 1 or 2 fps.
- Get spare cards. I think I took >3,000 photos in 7 days and I was trying to husband the cards I'd got.
- Keep an eye on your aperture / mode (full manual or aperture/shutter-priority) - it's a right b
d when you need to switch from shallow-DOF for a still shot to shutter priority for an action shot and forget to change the settings! Make sure the ISO setting is OK as well, esp. if you're out early or late - sunrise and sunset are far more sudden things in the tropics than in the UK.
- In line with the above, pay attention to where you've set the focus point. And on that subject, how quick is the AF on the Nikon body you've got? Anything with a slow-ish AF is going to frustrate as well...
* Why the F does the forum filter not like the word r e a c h ???
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48052912@N05/albums/...
There were occasions I wanted more range* (and if I'd got a full-frame sensor I'd have wanted to take a TC), but a better modern sensor with more MP should be able to support image cropping better.
My advice:-
- Make sure your kit is reasonably dust-proof. DO NOT change lenses in the field unless you can do it inside a bag.
- (not essential) With the above in mind, borrow a second body if you think you might want a wide-angle lens as well. Note that elephants and giraffes do a VERY good job of filling the frame when you're up-close!
- Get the fastest-recording card you can - if something's happening you WILL want to leave the shutter button down, and it gets very frustrating when the buffer fills and you're stuck at 1 or 2 fps.
- Get spare cards. I think I took >3,000 photos in 7 days and I was trying to husband the cards I'd got.
- Keep an eye on your aperture / mode (full manual or aperture/shutter-priority) - it's a right b
d when you need to switch from shallow-DOF for a still shot to shutter priority for an action shot and forget to change the settings! Make sure the ISO setting is OK as well, esp. if you're out early or late - sunrise and sunset are far more sudden things in the tropics than in the UK.- In line with the above, pay attention to where you've set the focus point. And on that subject, how quick is the AF on the Nikon body you've got? Anything with a slow-ish AF is going to frustrate as well...
* Why the F does the forum filter not like the word r e a c h ???
I'm not one of the pro's on here, so my advice should be taken as experienced-enthusiast only, but I've been messing around with SLRs for c.20 years, so PM me if you want a quick primer on what the various camera settings do / suggested settings for different circumstances. Let me know what you currently know so I don't teach you to suck eggs...
PS - if you've got the time and want some good advice on how to take photos, get the following book:-
https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/bryan-peterson/und...
PS - if you've got the time and want some good advice on how to take photos, get the following book:-
https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/bryan-peterson/und...
Edited by havoc on Sunday 18th December 20:43
havoc said:
I'm not one of the pro's on here, so my advice should be taken as experienced-enthusiast only, but I've been messing around with SLRs for c.20 years, so PM me if you want a quick primer on what the various camera settings do / suggested settings for different circumstances. Let me know what you currently know so I don't teach you to suck eggs...
PS - if you've got the time and want some good advice on how to take photos, get the following book:-
https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/bryan-peterson/und...
Thank you sent a message.PS - if you've got the time and want some good advice on how to take photos, get the following book:-
https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/bryan-peterson/und...
Edited by havoc on Sunday 18th December 20:43
VTECMatt said:
Wildlife is abundant out here in South Africa, one of my top places and got another week to go!
I haven’t touched them up yet but quite like these, compressed when uploaded on here I think as quality not as good. What’s the best way to upload high quality images?
Nice shots Matt - not sure you'll be able to upload uncompressed images but a lot of us host on Flickr (or similar) and you can link through to the full quality image that way I haven’t touched them up yet but quite like these, compressed when uploaded on here I think as quality not as good. What’s the best way to upload high quality images?
Loved my time in South Africa, at some point I’ll post a few more up. Fortunately didn’t come across anything too lethal, although a Puff Addar was enough for me to scare the living life out of me. One of the staff got stung by a scorpion fortunately one of the less dangerous ones but still took her off her feet for up to two weeks..
My only picture albeit a poor one of a white lion, need to invest in a very good distance lens as whist the 300mm was sufficient it was lacking at times.
My only picture albeit a poor one of a white lion, need to invest in a very good distance lens as whist the 300mm was sufficient it was lacking at times.
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