Digital Wildlife Photography

Our New Book!!!
We just received our first two copies of our new book, Digital Wildlife Photography! You
can buy it from us now for $30. Like our other books, this one is packed with cutting edge photo
strategies that you will certainly want to adopt and master. This hardcover book is 209 pages
and contains 145 images. Each image caption includes specific shooting data. Just to wet your
appetite for the new book, here’s some of the key tips covered in the book.
209 pages - 145 color images - Hardcover - $30.00




Please feel free to share this e-ewsletter with others. We are always eager to teach. If you wish to share some of these tips written here with your friends or camera club, please do so. Permission is granted.


Ten Key Tips for Capturing Great Wildlife Images

1. Steady the Camera
It’s tempting to handhold the camera when photographing wildlife. However, the majority of
outstanding wildlife photo opportunities happen under dim light early and late in the day. To
shoot sharp images consistently, you must use a sturdy tripod, use higher ISOs to keep the shutter
speed up, and avoid camera shake when you shoot and focus on the animal’s eyes. The gimbalstyle
Wimberley head (www.tripodhead.com) is the favorite head among pro wildlife
photographers because it easily steadies the camera while it lets you smoothly pan with moving
subjects. We normally use Kirk’s BH-1 ball head and a Wimberley Sidekick to convert the ball
head into a gimbal style head.

2. The Optimum Shooting Viewpoint
Avoid shooting down on the animal. This high viewpoint can work at times, but usually it’s boring
and lacks intimacy with your subject. Select a shooting viewpoint that is at the same level as the
subjects eyes or slightly below them. This low viewpoint makes the image more captivating and
appealing.

3. Achieve Precise Focusing with Back-button Focusing
Most cameras let you move the autofocus control from the shutter button to a separate button on
the rear of the camera to the right of the viewfinder. Depending on the camera, this option is
typically set with a custom function (Canon) or menu option (Nikon). With the camera set to
continuous focusing and shooting priority, back-button focusing offers enormous focusing control.
Activate only a single AF point in the viewfinder. If the animal is still, point the AF point at its face
and push in the button that controls the focusing. When the lens focuses on the animals face, let
up on the button to lock the focus, recompose the subject to best advantage, and press the
shutter button all of the way down to shoot the image. The camera will remain focused on the
animal’s face. If the animal flies or runs, press and hold down the back-button focusing control
while pointing the AF point at the animal’s head as you pan with it and fire a series of shots.
Remember to hold the back-button focusing control down while shooting to allow the camera to
maintain focus on the subject.

read more here: http://www.gerlachnaturephoto.com/NewNews/Dec%202012%20Newsletter.pdf


4.Use the RGB Histogram to Meter

5. Manual Metering is Best when Ambient Light Levels are Steady

6. Shutter-priority is Best in Rapidly Changing Light Levels

7. Conquer Dim Light with Auto ISO and Shutter-priority

8. Use Flash as the Main Light

9. Use Multiple Flash to Freeze Action

10.Photograph Wildlife Where they are Approachable

order the book here: Digital Wildlife Photography

Happy New Year!!!!

John & Barbara Gerlach

Yogi, Boo, Mocha, Bandit, Panda, and Teton,

too! Www.gerlachnaturephoto.com