Many photographers wish to capture stunning and memorable images of the natural world, yet the whole process can be a challenge. Not only does getting the perfect shot require a complex mixture of skill and luck, but there is little practical advice available on how to find wildlife to photograph. This unique book describes a straightforward system for how to successfully locate wildlife, the most difficult aspect of wildlife photography. The patience and persistence have to come from you, but equipped with the right fieldcraft there is far more chance of getting the results – and the special moments – you are looking for.
Individual chapters offer guidance on how to photograph birds, mammals, butterflies and dragonflies, as well as reptiles and some of our more elusive species. The particularities of various habitat types are discussed, and there are tips on equipment, technical specifications and how to make a good portable hide. While sharing some of her most successful and beautiful images, the author also gives useful examples of when things didn’t quite work out – reflecting on how things could have been done differently to get a better outcome. With the help of this book you’ll soon be taking the photographs you’ve always dreamed of, sometimes.
Table of Content
Preface
Introduction
Getting started (for the novice)
Chapter 1: Birds
Garden birds
Birds of rivers, lakes and wetlands
Woodland birds
Heathland and moorland birds
Birds of coast and estuary
Birds of prey
Shortcuts to finding birds to photograph
General fieldcraft for birds
Photographic equipment and techniques for birds
Chapter 2: Mammals
Deer
Red Foxes
Badgers
Hedgehogs
Mice and voles
Stoats and weasels
Red Squirrels
Otters
Seals
Shortcuts to finding mammals to photograph
Chapter 3: Dragonflies and Butterflies
Dragonflies
Damselflies
Butterflies
Chapter 4: Other Animal Groups
The easy ones
Reptiles
Other rare and protected species
Chapter 5: Equipment
Camera equipment
Fieldcraft equipment
Chapter 6: Photographic Details
For the new photographer
For the more experienced
Images and their camera values
Appendix
Index
About the author
Susan Young is a photographer and writer living in South Devon. She gives wildlife photography courses, and has had numerous photographic exhibitions, as well as publishing various articles and books – including Wildlife Photography Fieldcraft. She now carries out research with Natural England, the Woodland Trust and the Mammal Society on the use of remote cameras to monitor wildlife.