Wildlife Photography Tips for Point and Shoot Cameras

You may want some wildlife photography tips because you plan to go on an African Safari and want lots of memories to remember the lions and the wildebeest by. Or you may have to potter around your own neighborhood, taking pictures of birds, ducks or the odd deer or hare. Even taking pictures of your own house pets can be challenging. If you don’t want the expense or hassle of buying expensive equipment for this, read on to find out how to use your common or garden variety of compact camera (aka the point and shoot variety) to get good results.

Make sure that your camera has a powerful zoom

wildlife-photography

For obvious reasons you cannot get close enough to a lion to be able to photograph those powerful teeth. Even the harmless like of wildlife is painfully shy and take flight at the slightest awareness of a picture being taken. So since you have to maintain your distance you will need a powerful zoom in your camera. Most of the better compact cameras come equipped with a 10X optical zoom and you should have nothing less than that.

React quickly

Animals and birds typically move like lightning and will not hang around long enough for you to take your picture from an angle of choice. So whenever so see an interesting looking animal, looking unusual or doing something interesting react quickly to capture the image, else you will be left holding the image of an empty frame. For this you will also have to be well acquainted with your camera, as regards the time it takes for a single shot and the time it takes to be ready to take the next picture.

Be patient

This is one virtue that most of us are short of, but is most important for great wildlife shots. You will typically have to wait a long time before your pet makes just that right kind of face, or before that bird alights on just that artistic looking tree branch.

Practice at the zoo or on house pets

This is a useful tip that some experts recommend, that you practice your fledgling animal photography skills on pets in the home or in the neighborhood or make a trip to the zoo. This will help you observe animal behavior and the way that they move and their behavior alone and in groups. Even visiting a ranch or a friend’s farm can prove an interesting learning experience.

And finally be safe and remember to have fun – animals can make exacting but very rewarding photography subjects.

One Response
  1. September 2, 2015