Nature Photo

I know the title of this article is “Wildlife Photography”, but before I get to the photography, I want to spend a little time talking about nature itself. Modern man has the unfortunate tendency to see his existence as something separate and apart from nature. This disconnect has led to some of our most profound misunderstandings. When one lives life inside a well insulated cocoon, it’s quite easy to overlook the fact we are still entirely dependant on nature. Ecopsychology is a term coined by Theodore Roszak, in his work, “The Voice of Earth”. It’s Roszak’s assertion that the physical separation from nature most modern humans’ experience can result in psychological dysfunction, which in turn leads to bad decision making.

Many of our most cherished assumptions have been wrong. Replacing tens of thousands of acres of east coast wetland with expensive ocean front homes may have enriched developers, but it had a devastating effect on the Atlantic fisheries. Coastal wetlands and estuaries are the nurseries of the ocean, and it’s where the food chain begins. Conventional wisdom held that old growth forests were essentially static and needed to be harvested. In fact, old growth forests have ecosystems so complex we don’t even begin to understand them. Often times, we simply do not know exactly what we are destroying. So much of the destruction we see today is the direct result of short sighted greed and ignorance.

Biodiversity plays a critical role in our food production systems, and all living creatures have the inherent right to survival. Habitat quality is crucial. All species, both plant and animal, cannot survive without a home. Some animal species are referred to as “unsympathetic”, as many people are repelled by snakes, bugs, and reptiles. Remember this, if those creatures didn’t have a role to play in nature, they wouldn’t be there. That’s the way nature works. If you encounter one of these “unsympathetic” creatures, give it room, and leave it alone.

Mankind lived in and with nature for uncounted millennia. People not only lived in nature, they transformed it as they went. Fortunately for the natural world, technologies were primitive and people relatively few. Mans’ impact was slight, and change happened slowly. Man’s impact on the environment accelerated rapidly in the nineteenth century. With the advent of the industrial revolution the burning of fossil fuels increased exponentially. Factories, mills and railroad belched out toxic clouds of progress. The industrial revolution also drove massive relocation of people. No longer did the bulk of the population take their living from the land. People crowded into cities, and the great separation of man and nature was underway. It’s been said the steam engine was the first man made device to alter the human gene pool. It was with the coming of the railways people, in large numbers, began traveling more than a few miles from their place of birth.

The world seems to be heading in the wrong direction. The sheer amount of bad environmental news can leave us desensitized. It is entirely possible that people now living could see most coral reefs, all of the worlds rain forests, and a quarter of all living species vanish. Almost everything that has ever lived on earth has done so within five vertical miles of sea level. When one looks up at the sky, it seems to go out forever. In a sense it does, but the earth’s breathable atmosphere only extends a few miles up. If more people realized that, proportionately, the earth’s biosphere is thinner than the skin of an apple, we might have very different attitudes about conservation. We not only need to preserve and protect what we have left, we must exercise preventative measures. Preventing problems is vastly more effective than trying to undo them. It isn’t difficult for the wildlife photographer to conclude, he or she is only recording what’s left.

Since returning vast areas of the earth to its natural sate is unlikely, conservationists need to focus on what’s possible. We must protect our remaining open spaces, not just for wildlife but for people as well. Spending time out of doors, away from the crush of city life has marvelous mental health benefits. I cannot walk through a forest without experiencing the deep sense of being a guest in someone else’s home. I know I’m in a place where I’m not needed. Nothing here requires my presence to survive. Since man’s footprint isn’t going away, we must take advantage of that footprint when we can. Native vegetation should be planted and nurtured along highways, railways, and power lines. All large buildings should have ponds that collect parking lot and building runoff. Ponds not only make for attractive landscaping, they act as natural filters for parking lot and building runoff. The creation of habitat is perhaps the best benefit of all.

These are things the urban dwelling wildlife photographer can take advantage of. While you’re probably not going to spot a moose grazing by an urban pond, frogs, butterflies, dragon flies, turtle’s, ducks, and geese are common. Learning how to take good photographs of these small creatures, can help prepare you for the time when you do spot a moose in the wild. Animals living in and around urban ponds are often accustomed to people, and thus more approachable. Top professionals use very large and expensive lenses. These tools are beyond the means of most amateur photographers, but there are things you can do that cost little or nothing. Modern high resolution digital cameras make cropping easy. Cropping a picture can do a lot to offset the lack of a long lens. Wading into shallow water wearing rubber boots, then standing very still is one example. A little patience may well reward you with a nice picture of a frog or a dragon fly. An inexpensive portable blind is a great option. Blinds allow you to get quite close to birds and small game. Remember, you’re a guest, so don’t disturb your hosts.

Great wildlife photographers have great patience. The photographer must adjust to nature, not the other way around. Nature operates on its own time schedule, and nature always wins. Learn the appropriate techniques for the time of year. You must realize you’re not going to get a great photo every time out. While you may not get that ‘keeper’ photo, it’s a learning experience, and that’s what makes you better. After patience, the next great virtue is persistence. Keep at it, and remember animals rarely pose for the camera. I’m reminded of the story of a fisherman who, when asked how the fishing was, responded, “I didn’t catch anything, but the fishing was great”.

Know your gear. Learn your cameras controls thoroughly, so there’s no fumbling when that magic moment arrives. Be able to react quickly to changing events. As a general rule, shoot at the highest practical speed. Using ISO values of eight hundred or higher will result in more noise, but you’ll get much less blurring. Blurring increases with distance and that’s especially true when using a long lens. If you’ve ever used high powered binoculars, you know what I mean. When using a lens, 400mm or larger, always use a tripod. It’s all but impossible to hold a large lens steady by hand, especially if the subject is some distance away.

To successfully photograph wildlife, learn to be totally aware of your surroundings. Employ all your senses. So often, people are utterly unaware of what’s going on around them. There have been many times when people have stopped to ask what I was taking a picture of. I then point out the beautifully camouflaged little toad hiding in the weeds, or the interesting insect perched on a leaf. Wild animals don’t have to be big animals. If at all possible, photograph the animals’ eyes. A photo that looks deeply into the eyes of a wild animal has great power. Practicing total awareness adds to your overall outdoor experience.

Above all, be prepared. Have an idea of what you’re going to pursue. Hauling every piece of gear you own isn’t always an option, but take what you can reasonably carry. Make sure your batteries are fully charged, lenses clean, and memory cards are adequate. Leave the IPod home. Take your cell phone, in case of an emergency, but turn the ringer off. Learn to work with what nature gives you. Who knows, maybe you’ll that ‘keeper’ photograph that helps nudge people in the direction of conservation.

By: Patrick Simons

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