Wildlife Aware Photography
Wildlife photography is a fantastic activity, not only is it fun and creative, but it can also benefit your mental health and is a great tool for helping identify the different species that you see.
There is much more to photography than just simply taking photos and capturing a great image. It’s also an opportunity to learn, connect and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
While we all want to get that ‘perfect shot’, it’s vitally important to remember that the welfare of wildlife must come first, before any photograph.
Ranger Charlotte has put together a few tips below on how to get the most out of your photography, while ensuring we keep our wonderful birdlife safe.
Follow the Coastal Code
The first thing you can do to help coastal wildlife is to keep your distance.
If you notice birds becoming alert (raising and turning their heads, looking at you or calling out) or you see them moving away – then you are too close.
If you’re not sure, the best way to tell is to watch for any changes in an animal’s behaviour. For example with birds, if they stop feeding or resting because of your presence, then that is an indication they have been disturbed and you need to move away so that they feel safer.
Observe
One of the best ways to improve your photography is to get to know your subject. Rather than just taking photos, spend some time watching the birds and observing their behaviours.
What are they doing? Where is their favourite spot to feed? How do they interact with each other?
This little egret for example was watched for some time before taking this photo (using a zoom lens) just as it caught a shrimp.
Little egrets have a pattern of behaviour when it comes to feeding – using their bright yellow feet to stir up the mud and confuse their prey before watching, waiting and then quickly striking.
Timing and light
Good lighting is key, and you’ll find one of the best times of day is in the ‘Golden Hour’ – the period of daytime shortly after sunrise or before sunset. Due to the sun’s low angle, its rays filter through a greater distance and it creates a warm colour temperature. It can also be a good chance to take flight shots as some birds will be moving around at this time, coming or going from their overnight roost sites.
If you are at the coast, it’s also really important to think about the tides. Not just for our own safety, but because birds will behave very differently depending on whether the tide is in or out. Low tide is when they will be busy feeding and high tide is for resting/sleeping. Remember these are important times for the birds, and by making sure they not disturbed we can give them the best chance of survival.
Get the right kit
If you do want to take close up photos, you will need to invest in camera with a good zoom or a long lens so that you aren’t in danger of disturbing wildlife.
Alternatively, if you’ve already got a spotting telescope and a mobile phone, and you don’t want to buy a camera or lens, you can try pointing your phone camera into the eyepiece of your scope –there are even special mounting adapters to help you do this.
This technique is called ‘digiscoping’ and it can be a great tool for helping identify birds.
Consider a distant shot
Not all wildlife photography needs to be close up, sometimes a wider and more distant view can have an even greater impact.
The Bird Aware team loved this image taken by Mary Michael Patterson, so much so it was the winning photo in our last photography competition.
Learn and appreciate
The more we learn about wildlife the better our understanding and appreciation will be, which in turn is reflected in good and responsible wildlife photography.
It’s as much about the pleasure and experience of being outdoors and amongst nature, and isn’t something to be taken for granted.
We are so lucky to have such a variety of birdlife around our coasts, so let’s remember to share the shore so that we can all continue to enjoy our wonderful wildlife.
