As you may already know, nature photography is quite challenging. The majority of us feel excited when we come across wildlife or a beautiful landscape. However, our main purpose is not simply to witness these scenes, but to capture them through photography. We go to great lengths, carrying our equipment and tripods, traveling long distances, and enduring unconventional hours because we strive for that perfect shot. Sadly, moments of perfection are rare and far in between. But we do not lose hope – if we fail to achieve perfection, we persist, venture out again, and try once more. The allure lies in the challenge, and we keep on trying because we simply love what we do.
In this week’s tip, I will present 10 of my top criteria that we should aim for when capturing action in nature photography. Nature photography is undeniably rewarding. It is truly wonderful to capture stunning portraits in the golden hours of early morning or late evening. However, as technology advances and more photographers achieve this feat, it is time for us to raise the bar. My suggestion is to seek out great action, movement, and various forms of motion in our images. Capturing nature “in motion” elevates the image to the next level. Nevertheless, the rules and guidelines for capturing a perfect wildlife portrait still apply. Just because a photographer captures a photo that depicts movement does not excuse poor technique.
1. Backgrounds, Mergers, and the Decisive Moment:
In the image of the two bear cubs standing upright, pay attention to the position of their mouths, the out-of-focus background, and the exact moment the image was captured. The faces of the cubs draw the viewer in, and it is crucial to note that the key parts of each mouth are separated by blue. The impact of the image would be diminished if the mouths merged. Additionally, observe that the background is intentionally blurred compared to their feet. This effect was achieved by using a long lens and a wide-open aperture. Lastly, the shutter was fired when both bear’s faces were facing directly towards the camera, ensuring that the viewer can see the facial features and expressions.
2. Get Low and Freeze the Action:
To capture the photo of the avocet and its reflection, I had to lay on the grass to achieve a low angle. This allowed me to place the subject and myself on the same level, avoiding the perspective of looking down on the animal. In order to freeze all movement, I used a high shutter speed in combination with a wide aperture. It was crucial for the bird to remain perpendicular in order to maintain sharpness throughout the image. When the avocet dipped its bill into the water, I began capturing multiple shots, and this particular frame turned out to be the best.
3. Edge of Light, Motor Drive:
Good lighting plays a significant role in photography. There are certain ways to make use of it in a special manner. Take note of the egret about to walk into the shade in the image. Whenever possible, utilize “the edge of light” to enhance your photographs. I set my motor drive to a high speed (10 frames per second) to ensure that I captured the exact moment. When action photos are the goal, a high-speed drive is usually expected.
4. Panning:
The key to panning is to sharply capture the most important feature of the subject. If everything appears soft, the photo will look more like an abstract piece rather than intentionally revealing exaggerated motion. It often takes numerous attempts to produce one good panning image, so do not give up. The approximate shutter speed depends on the speed at which the subject is moving. Each situation is unique, so experimentation and careful note-taking are essential.
5a. Abstract Scenic Blurs:
Impart motion to stationary subjects. For the top image of the lodgepole pine trunks, I used a tripod with a pan and tilt head. I set the aperture to ƒ/22 to cover the depth of field and create a slow exposure of 1 second. For the bottom image, I loosened the knob that allows the head to pan vertically. During the 1 second exposure, I gradually moved the head upward with fluid motion.
5b. Multiple Exposures:
Another scenic technique to showcase movement in partly stationary subjects is to use multiple exposures. In the photo of the seascape, I set the camera to capture 10 exposures over a three-second duration. The camera’s technology automatically adjusted the exposure, making the process easy. This technique allowed for more action to be captured in the ocean waves. Since it was low tide and calm, I wanted to create the illusion of more active water using the multiple exposures feature.
6. Aperture and Focus Point Importance:
In photographing the blackbird, I used a 400mm lens at ƒ/4. Due to the extreme magnification, precise focus was crucial. At ƒ/4 and 400mm, the focus becomes extremely shallow when the subject is close. To address this, I set the focus point to Dynamic and Continuous, ensuring that it would stay on the bird’s face even if it moved. When the bird began calling, the focus point followed its eye, adjusting accordingly. This allowed me to maintain focus on the bird, even when it was in motion.
7. Shoot Wide:
Animal images do not always have to be captured with long lenses. In fact, I encourage you to try something different from the norm. In the photo of the sunset and pelican, I used a wider-than-normal lens to capture the entire scene. As the pelican flew in and out, I continuously captured shots using the motor drive, and I was pleased with the composition of this particular photo – with no merging of the bird and the background clouds.
8. Pre and Follow Focus:
We came across a leopard in a tree and hoped it would climb down during the late light to begin hunting. Our excitement peaked as the sun began to lower and the leopard became more active. The purpose of showcasing this image is to emphasize the importance of beginning to follow focus before the subject reaches the optimum point of action and continuing to focus even once it does. The initial pre-focus allows the focus to lock on, while the follow focus ensures sharpness if the subject continues to exhibit great action.
9. Odd Number and Storm Light:
I previously mentioned the significance of dramatic lighting in tip number three. One type of lighting condition I personally enjoy photographing in is storm light. While in Bosque del Apache for the winter arrival of snow geese, clouds suddenly rolled in towards sunset. As some of the geese took flight, a small window opened, and the birds flew into patches of sunlight. Another important aspect to consider when photographing multiple subjects is to seek odd numbers. I find that including either three or five subjects in the frame keeps the viewer engaged, exploring the entire photo. Having an even number of subjects often causes the viewer to go back and forth between the pairs, while odd numbers create a natural visual flow.
10. Display Behavior:
Animals are most active when they hunt and feed, making it an opportune time to capture high-action shots. Whenever possible, try to seek out these behaviors and capture them in early or late light when the lighting conditions are optimum. It is easier said than done, so persistence is key. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the subject you intend to photograph, allowing you to predict when it will move, walk, run, hunt, etc. Lastly, make sure you are intimately familiar with your gear so that you don’t fumble over controls when the action peaks. Unfortunately, animals aren’t going to offer you a second chance if you miss the shot. Beginner’s luck may allow a photographer to come across one or more of the situations mentioned above early in their career, but over time, they will come to realize how fortunate they were on that particular day. As time goes on, they will appreciate that day more and more. So, be persistent and stay determined. After all, it is all about embracing the challenge.
Feel free to explore more of my photography on my website: www.russburdenphotography.com or visit my SmugMug page: https://russburden.smugmug.com. Originally published on April 27, 2023.