Tips for Learning to Take Great Animal and Insect Pictures

Often people think that you have to be in exotic places to get great wildlife pictures, however great wildlife pictures may be as close as 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, never feed them human food from your own cupboards. Instead, follow the tips from experts like the National Wildlife Federation so you can feed the wildlife without 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 online or get a book on the species you want to photograph so you'll understand their habits and be able to get more interesting pictures of them. By understanding the subject of your picture, you can get better pictures as well as avoiding any potential problems like attracting a predator 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!

The best way to get pictures of small creatures resting is to use macro mode on your camera and fill the frame with your subject. Your camera's manual will tell you how close your macro mode works. If you stay within the recommended range for your camera and keep the camera steady using a tripod you can get some really clear 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).

Always be respectful and aware of the type of insect and spider you're taking a picture of as some have some powerful venom that can make you very sick.

* Because insects slow down with cooler temperatures, early morning and twilight are easier times for capturing them with your camera. Insects have the ability to see shadows extremely well, so never approach them from the same direction as the light casts otherwise you will certainly scare them off.

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 - calendars, greeting cards, or even iron on transfers for shirts. 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.