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How to Take Great Animal and Insect Pictures

By Autumn Lockwood

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 10May2010
Word count: 574
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Many times people think they can only take amazing wildlife pictures away from home, but many times, you can get great pictures right in your own backyard.

Photographing Wildlife with Feathers or Fur

Depending on where you live, there are many ways to turn your yard into a wildlife haven for squirrels, raccoons, birds, deer, frogs and other critters.

If you want to feed wildlife, don't feed them food from your cupboard but instead follow the wildlife attraction and sustainability tips from the National Wildlife Federation so you can be sure you're helping them and not hurting them.

By following the advice from wildlife experts, you will also be creating an environmentally friendly landscape that will be good for the animals and the environment.

Take some time to read up on the species you want to photograph so you can better understand their habits and hopefully take better pictures of them. And by being educated about the species you want to photograph, you can also minimize the chance of attracting dangerous predators into your yard. You might also want to check out the code of ethics posted for professional nature photographers by the North American Nature Photography Association.

Just as with photographing pets, when you take a picture of a furry or feathery wild critter, follow these guidelines:

* Use natural lighting to your advantage

* Fill the frame with the subject

* Focus on the eyes

* Shoot from various angles

* Capture personality

Photographing Insects

Wildlife photography also includes the tiny world of insects. Honeybees, dragonflies, butterflies, bumble bes, spiders and even snails are all popular subjects.

Photographing insects can be tricky. Here are some tips from the pros to help:

* Like with larger wildlife, it will help to know your subject's patterns of behavior. Watch where the butterflies land and see if they prefer one flowery shrub more than the others. Then stake it out and wait for the subject to come to you. And be ready!

* If you want to get the best pictures of small creatures resting, use macro mode (or a macro lens) and fill the frame. Your camera's manual will tell you how close your macro mode works. If you stay within the recommended range and hold your camera very steady (using a tripod) you will get some nice sharp shots.

* Unless the insect is very still, use sports mode or flash to freeze action.

* Most insects are very sensitive to carbon dioxide and will run or fly away if you breathe directly on them. So when you lean in to take the photo, make sure to hold your breath! There are a few exceptions - some beetles will freeze (they won't say "cheese" though).

* Keep in mind some insects and spiders pack powerful, even deadly venom, so know your bug before approaching.

* Because insects slow down with cooler temperatures, early morning and twilight are easier times for capturing them with your camera. Insects can see shadows very well so don't approach from the same direction as the light casts.

Photographs of wildlife can make for beautiful fine art, the type that you'll want to frame and display proudly and give as gifts. Another way to use your animal photography is in photo crafts - greeting cards, calendars, iron on transfers for t-shirts and much more. There are simply lots of wonderful things you can do with your beautiful animal and insect pictures so have fun capturing the wonderful world of nature.

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our large selection of 5x7 picture frames in a wide variety of styles, colors and shapes. Visit our website to see our metal and wood 5x7 picture frames or call 1-800-780-0699.

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