50 PRO TIPS FOR WILDLIFE

Wildlife photography is enduringly popular, and most of us love seeing pictures of animals even if we don’t capture them ourselves.

Taking photos of creatures in their natural habitat is often much more accessible than you’d think. Local reserves, patches of countryside and parks can prove fruitful for finding wild subjects, while hiring long lenses can overcome the cost barrier of buying them. The harder part is being patient enough to wait for wildlife to appear and get a shot before they disappear again.

In this feature we’ve asked five pro photographers to share their tips for creating impactful wildlife images. You’ll notice that some advice comes up more than once – and for good reason. Although wildlife photographers need lightning-fast camera skills, they also rely on fieldcraft, great knowledge of their subjects and (yes, you’ve heard it a million times before) plenty of practice. Our pros might use different camera systems, but they’re all able to navigate menus at speed so they don’t miss any of the action unfurling. Turn over to discover their top tips.

YOUR PROS Five experts share their advice

George Turner

Elements beyond the subject should add to the story rather than distract from it

Simple images often have the greatest power, so consider elements carefully

Every assignment, regardless of location or objective, is approached in the same way: subject first. Weeks and months before travelling, I’ll research heavily around the respective species in an effort to fully understand them – their behaviour, habitat, unique adaptations, and so on.

In my opinion, this is imperative to good wildlife photography. Such a deep understanding enables the photographer to predict behaviour, helping you to stay one step ahead: is the bear readying to move? Is the cheetah about to hunt? The lion about to roar? By doing so, preparations can be made with settings to ensure the moment isn’t missed.

On top of that, I also shoot for simplicity. The message I’m