Episode 22: Understanding Behavior is the Secret Sauce of Wildlife Photography
Ethology is the study of animal behavior. As wildlife photographers, what could be more important to our success in the field? Things like autofocus systems and exposure, while important, are the most rudimentary aspects of the craft. The ability to create in-focus photographs that are properly exposed only means you are now able to properly use the equipment in your hand. This doesn’t translate into a compelling or beautiful photograph any more than learning how to hold a paintbrush and mix paints allows you to create the next great masterpiece.
In this episode of the PhotoWILD podcast, we discuss animal behavior, the importance of educating yourself on the subject, and how understanding our subjects allows us to anticipate their behavior and set our selves up for success in the field.
Understanding our subjects, their behavior, their ecology, what makes them tick, and therefore where we can find them and photograph them, is the secret sauce of wildlife photography. To put it simply, if you can’t consistently and predictably find and approach wildlife on their terms, then it really doesn’t matter how sophisticated your autofocus system is or how expensive your lens was because you are going to have a very difficult time being a wildlife photographer if you can’t put yourself in front of wildlife.
While the importance of understanding animal behavior cannot be overstated, so to is understanding how our own behavior is being interpreted by animals. Every time we step into the field, forest, tundra, or whatever habitat or ecosystem you wish to substitute into this statement, we are entering into a two way conversation with every sentient creature within eye, ear, or smell (?) shot.
This episode discusses all of this and more. And for that reason, it may be one of the most important episodes we have done thus far.
Key Takeaways
To truly become a better wildlife photographer, you must start with understanding wildlife behavior
Knowing how animals are going to act, react, and interact with their environment will increase your success rates with a species exponentially
Every time we step into the field, we engage in a two way conversation with every animal around us whether we realize it or not
Just as important as understanding animal behavior, we must understand how our own behavior is being interpreted by wildlife
One of the single biggest impediments to creating better photographs is the inability to put animals at ease with our own presence
Learn how we set ourselves up in the field to keep animals calm and how this allows for wildlife photography you never thought possible.