Be Prepared to Capture the Moment

Photographing animals is easy only if the animal is asleep. Otherwise all we have is varying degrees of difficult. Part of being a photographer is being ready to grab a great shot wherever you happen to be. It’s as true for hobbyists as it is for pros.

This guy was the king of the hill where he lived. I don’t know that he had a name.  After a campout on the property, during which he crowed all night, I wanted to call him breakfast. He posed for this image just before the festivities began at an outdoor birthday party. It looks almost surreal—almost like a painting you’d see made into a jigsaw puzzle.

How do you get memorable photographs, as a hobby photographer?

Some of my pictures have been just spectacular and some would be described as blah, and that would be generous. I read a lot of photography content, and, as a result, I’ve learned how to be ready to capture that perfect moment. Here are a few of the things I try and do to capture memories and feelings in pixels.

1. Carry a camera everywhere.  Yes, this is much easier with a smaller camera. I’ve graduated to a DLSR which is bigger, bulkier, heavier, and more complex to use. As a result, I’ve neglected carrying it the way I did my smaller, lighter camera.
2. Take LOTS of pictures. LOTS of them! With digital photography, we aren’t paying to develop a whole roll of film anymore. As a result, we don’t have to worry about wasting money on bad shots.
3. Walk all around the subject, if the subject will let you. Granted, with this particular subject, the subject would not tolerate a human circling around. But, for more gentle animals, you might try seeing it from every angle. This might include above and below if possible. It will give you more composition options.
4. Consider where the light is coming from. Side light on a subject can be less harsh than back light or front light.
5. An animal can add interest to a landscape. Often the landscape, even a breathtaking one, can be more real with a bird, or a deer, a rabbit or a bison. Not in this case, unfortunately. All that was behind us was a boring pasture.

The camera settings were full auto for this shot, and the camera is a Canon Powershot SX110i.

What is one thing you could share below that has improved your photography? I’m always ready to try a new method.