| When you're just starting up with wildlife | | | | its look to decide on which side to place it. If it faces |
| photography, composition can be a daily challenge. It | | | | right, place it towards the left side and viceversa. |
| gets even more difficult if you're dealing with a | | | | However, don't position it too close to one side or |
| moving, uncooperative subject. There's not much to | | | | another: you don't want half of your picture to be |
| learn on how to deal with such a subject. However, | | | | empty. |
| experience will teach you how to be quicker and | | | | Things can get more complicated with non close-up |
| improve your chances to catch the right moment. | | | | photos. In these cases, it is better to think of the |
| There are a few tips to help you improve your | | | | composition as a landscape. You can use the |
| composition in wildlife photography. First of all, | | | | Rule-of-Third, which is a tried-and-true technique, to |
| photograph the animals in places where they are | | | | decide where you position the subject (google it in |
| used to having people around. They don't necessarily | | | | case you haven't heard about it). For landscape |
| have be closed spaces such as a zoo. You can try a | | | | photos, the composition can look quite unbalanced if |
| picnic ground or camping in a national park, where | | | | you position the subject right in the middle. It is best |
| animals may even come close to look for food. Then | | | | to place it towards one side or the other. Now the |
| you can approach them slow enough not to scare | | | | direction of the subject's eyes is even more |
| them away. Secondly, prepare your exposure in | | | | important. |
| advance so you won't lose precious time when | | | | When we look at a photo, we tend to look in the |
| you're near the animal. If you have constant light, | | | | same direction as the subject. So if your subject is |
| you can position the camera in the right direction and | | | | facing right and you place it on the left side, people |
| set the shutter speed and aperture. Then all you | | | | will look towards the center of the photo. Otherwise |
| have to do is focus on the composition. | | | | they will look outside the photo. It would be nice to |
| However, the composition itself is a challenge and | | | | have something interesting in the center of the |
| many don't know where to start. Let's start by | | | | picture or towards the opposite side from where you |
| breaking it into two types of photos: close-ups and | | | | place the subject. It can be just about anything - a |
| non close-ups. If you have a close up, the subject fills | | | | beach, a tree, a beautiful sky - as long as it has a |
| most of the photo. Many people wonder whether to | | | | strong visual impact. If you can't find anything, you |
| position it in the center or towards one side. You can | | | | can zoom in so that you don't leave to much empty |
| place it in the center, just make sure you do leave | | | | space. |
| some space around it or the composition will look | | | | These small guidelines are aimed to give you some |
| cramped. | | | | ideas in case you get stuck. However, you should |
| This option is particularly good if the animal is looking | | | | use your own judgement and sense of balance to |
| to the camera or just a little to one side. If the | | | | take the best out of any situation. As long as you |
| subject is facing left or right, consider positioning it to | | | | can position the subject right, everything else will just |
| one side of the photo. You can use the direction of | | | | fall into place. |