3 Easy Ways to Plan Your Next Wildlife Photography Trip
When you’re first starting out it can seem like your at nature's mercy, and nature a merciless mistress. You may find it hard to find animals or feel like you never see animals in good lighting. Sometimes it feels like the nature is working against you, but you may have a lot more control over your shooting conditions than you may think! With some planning you can set yourself up for amazing shots that will elevate your photography.
A shot had wanted at this exact location. With simple planning, I was able to easily capture it, exactly as I wanted it.
1. Scout
With some basic animal tracking and scouting knowledge you can learn a ton to help you get great shots. Identify tracks droppings, paths, food and water sources and where animals bed down or seek shelter. Knowing ahead of time what animals are currently in the area and how they are living will let you predict what they are doing at various times of day. That info will allow you to set yourself up for the shots you want.
2. Predict The Lighting
Figuring out where the light will be coming from ahead of time can dramatically improve your photography. If it’s a location you’ve been to before, just take note of the light. If it’s a new area, get out google maps ahead of time or use a compass when you arrive to know where the light will come from (sun rises in the east, sets in the west). If you want to get front lit shots, you’ll need to position yourself with your back to the sun, and the reverse for back lit shots.
3. Reach Out to Other Photographers
Local photographers can give you advice about weather, animals, locations, best time of day and where to go to lunch after your morning shoot. I personally love to use Instagram for finding photographers who are more familiar with an area than I am. Their insight has been incredibly helpful in planning my trips and understanding the local wildlife (especially seasonal changes and behavior).
When I learned these three simple steps I saw my images dramatically improved. I was finding more animals in less time, under better lighting conditions. It felt amazing to get specific about the shots I wanted and execute them perfectly as I had imagined them.
I hope you found this article helpful! The best discussion about this post and more can be found at my new Facebook group, Wildlife Photo Academy, so head on over!