Wildlife Photography How To

Are you dissatisfied with the images you shoot of birds and other forms of wildlife? If so, you've come to the right place today. The video below provides a handful of pro techniques that are guaranteed to up your game—regardless the gear you currently own or the level of your skills.

This helpful lesson comes courtesy of our friends at Pangolin Wildlife Photography, a group of passionate photographers and guides based in Northern Botswana. The good news is that you needn’t travel to an exotic location to take advantage of the straightforward techniques, because everything you'll learn will prove equally valuable when shooting at a nearby park or local wildlife sanctuary.

Photographer Sabine Stols spends much of her time in the wilds of Africa teaching workshops and leading photo safaris for guests who've traveled to Africa from across the globe, so she knows whereof she speaks. She promises that her easy-to-follow advice will "elevate the skills of all wildlife photographers who are  keen to improve their craft."

Today's episode covers a lot of ground in barely seven minutes, and Stols' first tip is to "chase the light, not the subject." We all know that the most dramatic light occurs at sunrise and just before sunset, and this fact is particularly important to wildlife shooters because many animals are most active while feeding during Golden Hour.

In other words, "a photograph of a common subject in great light is better that a less-effective image captured in harsh midday light" when it can be a frustrating  waste of time to be trudging around in the field. One technique that she recommends for Golden Hour photography is to shoot into the light rather than positioning it behind you.

Another technique that delivers compelling results is to capture photos that showcase animal behavior. This is why all accomplished wildlife photographers do their research and spend time observing subjects so they have an informed understanding of exactly what to expect when animals are feeding or engaged in everyday social behavior.

It's also essential to develop your composition skills, especially when photographing subjects in motion, and Stols has some great suggestions on this topic. These include experimenting with different camera angles, as well as "treating the background of a scene with importance."

Stols offers other suggestions for enhancing your wildlife imagery—whether the subjects are exotic big cats in the African bush, or interesting backyard birds that visit your home every day. In either case, you'll be able to make the most of a situation by following her advice.

There's much more to learn on the Pangolin Wildlife Photography YouTube channel, so be sure to pay a visit when you have time to explore. And don't miss the tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who explains why you should ignore the "ISO 100 myth" when shooting nature, wildlife, and landscape photographs.