Observing the individual beforehand is a major part of getting great photos of wildlife behaviour. Animals often behave in similar ways or have a pattern they follow, making it much easier to predict where they might go or what they might do. You can have the settings on your camera set, with your finger on the shutter button, ready to take the shot.
If you have an idea of what kind of animal you plan to photograph, you can read up on common behaviours in advance, which is helpful. However, there is no substitute for observing them at the moment.
In this example of a Leopard Seal in Antarctica, I had been observing it closely as I tracked it with my camera while it was swimming. It would swim for a while, then open its huge jaw briefly before closing it and swimming on. It repeated this pattern a few times, so I knew the chances of the seal opening its jaws again were quite high.
My camera was set up with a single focus point and continuous focus mode (or AI Servo for Canon users). I focused on the seal’s head, then half-depressed the shutter button while tracking the moving subject. When it opened its jaws, I hit the shutter button, which was set to ‘burst’ mode, making sure I captured all of the action.
Of course, it’s always prudent to maintain a safe distance from the animals you are photographing, especially if the animal is a wild predatory animal like a leopard seal. These magnificent creatures of the Antarctic only have two known predators, orcas and sharks, and they tend to be intrigued by humans. However, while you might not be much threat to them, they certainly are to you, so always be alert, minimise your presence (and disturbance) and stay safe.
If you have a passion for wildlife, nature or travel photography and would love to go on a small-number, professional photography adventure, please get in touch with Michael Snedic at WildNature Photo Expeditions. You can call him on 0408 941 965 or fill in this Contact Form and he will get back to you ASAP.
