Photography Tips: Capturing Wildlife-Eye Contact

I decided to dedicate Saturdays for some photography tips I gathered from different resources like books and internet. This time, I will try to have series of tips in wildlife photography since one of my dreams is to take photos in the wild.

Wildlife is one of the challenging subjects when it comes to photography  since you have to deal with wild animals. The risk is there but one that really challenging is that animals are moving unlike flowers that are just stationary.

First tip is to keep an eye contact. There are some animals that are good to take photos because of their color or some amazing features. It is not bad but it is better to focus on their eyes as much as possible. Never mind the other parts if it will become blurred or out of focus. Animals looking directly on your lens create a connection between the subject and the audience. This also reveals personality of the animals making it more interesting compared to animals looking out of your lens.

Below is an example of capturing wildlife by having eye contact:

Photo by :Grant Ordelheide

Photography Tip: Don't Shoot Flowers Down

Here's another tip and again on flower.

While walking around and found some flowers that really looks great, you can't help yourself but take a photo of it. However, just like on my title, don't shoot flowers down. Instead, you must be the one to go down on their level. Find a good angle that your rarely see and you will get a nicer image.

Here's an example using Euphorbia plant.

Taken downward

Photography Tip: When to Shoot Flowers 2

Here's another simple tip I get from Scott Kelby on when to shoot flowers. You will get a better shot of flowers early morning or late afternoon. It is recommended to shoot them right at the first hour after sunrise or and hour after sunset. Here is an example of a Bougainvillea took at around 5:45-6:00pm.

Photography Tip: What to Shoot After the Rain?

Thinking of what to shoot after the rain? Flower? Perfect! But not only flowers gives a magical effect on photos after the rain. You can also get outside and take photos of foliage or leaves. In this example, I used the Talimun (Talimum paniculatum). 

Photography Tip: When to Shoot Flowers #1

One best time to shoot flowers is right after the rain. The raindrops on petals and leaves will give a magical effect especially the water droplets reflecting the colors of the flowers.

Here is an example.

Photography Tip: Take the Unusual

One tip I read from a photography book is to take photo of your subject at angle you rarely see. Shoot in a way we did not see them everyday.

Here is an example. 

I used the Arctic Snow or locally known as White Angel Plant (Wrightia antidysenterica). For you, which one is a great shot?