Do you feel like you are a photography generalist—like you’re taking photos of things that look good to you, but you don’t really know why? Do you feel like you read articles and listen to photography presentations, and although you may be inspired you never quite feel satisfied? I’ve had this feeling myself, and I found a cure.
One of the things that I think is important to do as a photographer is to pick a type of photography in which you want to excel and focus in on it. The best choice of what to focus on should be based on what you love to shoot*. It can be macro photography, sports, portraiture, travel or one of the many other options that are out there. Choosing one area to focus on will let you improve your skills and techniques, and you’ll be able to apply them to other areas as you improve.
My choice and my passion—my focus—is wildlife photography. For over 20 years I have been shooting wildlife. It gets my mojo going. It helps me find my Zen. Shooting wildlife (photographically speaking), lets me create a place in which I leave the stress of the day behind, and I feel hugely fulfilled. Why? Because I love watching wildlife. Give me a pair of binoculars and a camera and I’m set for hours.
So what is wildlife photography all about for me?
Wildlife photography is about catching animal behaviors in action. Taking a shot of an animal that is at rest is cool, and I take plenty of them, but nothing is more rewarding than catching an animal in the act of doing its “thing.” To get the shot requires:
knowledge of the animal
patience
technical skill
Why do you need to have knowledge of the animal and its environment? Because to get the best shot it helps to know what the animal does, when it does it, and how often. Without this knowledge, most good shots are pure luck. I’ve been lucky this way, but it’s WAY more fun (and consistent) to be able to predict behavior.
Then there’s patience. Without this you’ll miss most of the shots. You have to be willing to sit and wait and watch what is going on around you. To get a flight shot, I’ve stood in sunny, 90-degree weather for a couple of hours waiting for a bald eagle to leave its perch in a tree and take to the air. I consumed gallons of water while I waited. When it finally dropped from its branch and flew, my camera and I were both ready. Was it hard? Yup. Was it worth the wait? You can guess the answer.
Then there’s technical skill. I’ll be honest, it’s hard to get a good photo of a moving object. I’ve spent a lot of time talking with other photographers and reading articles about techniques that get good results. But nothing substitutes for getting out there and practicing.
I can hear you asking, “But Neal, I have a job, a family and things to do. I can’t always be out there waiting for animals to do something.” Good news, folks! I have the same demands on my life, but I can take photos of cars driving by using the same settings I’d use to catch a bird in flight. I can pan my camera as people run past me in an effort to freeze them in the frame. Neither is a perfect substitute for photographing real birds, but they get me out there practicing and testing techniques.
So the moral of the story is find something you want to shoot. Portraits? Find subjects. Landscapes? Get out into open spaces. Pets? Beg your friends for time with their pooches, cats and iguanas. If you’re not sure what your “thing” is, pick one that you think will be fun and go for it, and pair up with a friend who’ll do it with you. Pile up the bad photos. I guarantee over time you’ll have fewer and fewer of them.
* Tip of my hat to Don Toothaker, photographer and teacher extraordinaire.
© Neal Skorka