Wildlife Photography Tips and Tricks - How to Get CLOSE to Wildlife

How do we get close to Wildlife? Once you've figured out how close you need to be for reasonable photographs, it's then a case of deciding the best option to employ. If you have any experiences of stalking, hide use and other techniques as mentioned in this video then please share with everyone in the Comments Box below. Please, always remember, nothing should come above the Welfare of the bird or animal you are trying to photograph.

Filmed with Canon M50 and 15-45mm lens.
Equipment: Canon 1DX Mark i; Canon 400mm f/5.6 lens; Canon 500mm f4 lens

My equipment: If you purchase any of these items, that I use and recommend, through the Amazon links I receive a small commission which is massively appreciated and it helps me to keep creating new videos.

Music:

Birdseye Blues by Chris Haugen
Play-Doh Meets Dora by Carmen Maria & Edu Espinal

[skakdosmer]

I’ve seen the “I don’t care” technique described as the “lost wallet” method (by an American wildlife photographer): You pretend to have dropped your wallet, and you walk in an apparently random zigzag direction looking down, slowly approaching the animal.

[michaelingledew]

I decided to change my approach. I used to be a walk around opportunistic photographer. I now take a chair, using my old army skills and ‘make like a tree’. After a few hours the wildlife comes to me. I was sat minding my own business and a Bank Vole appeared, a first for me and the best photo I’ve ever taken from 12” away.. great tips. Tomorrow I’m testing being further away with a remote trigger on where I know the Vole lives.

[TatraScrambler]

At last! Thank you. This should be the first video on every bird photography playlist; none of the technical skills matter if you can't get close enough to the subject.

[sinetwo]

That last tip is so funny but apt! I do it with park squirrels all the time, they usually circle around your back, so if you don't care they'll go for the seeds/nuts immediately. But the times I have my fisheye near the food, and actively looking, no bueno.

[jamesmcleod]

That smile at 4:16 warmed my heart so much.

[MW-tydv]

I consider my photography as part of my daily exercise, so I hike with my camera and keep vigilant. Just sitting still in a hide /camo or car is definitely not for me. Keep up the good work.

[RetrieverTrainingAlone]

EXCELLENT! THE 3 Ps help me...1) Photography position, 2) Planning, 3) Patience and persistence.
Photography position...try to position at subject eye level or slightly below subject eye level. Try to position with darker background and framing foreground.
Planning....for mammals, position upwind so the mammal can not smell the human. For birds, position downwind as birds launch into the wind (waterfowl launching from water, raptors launching from perch, etc.
Patience and persistence. For example, here in Alaska if I see a herd of caribou or sheep or a bull moose, I position myself out of sight, but in the
direction the animal is head, using the terrain to anticipate eye-level location, then wait with binoculars on the mountainside.

[tausiffarooqi]

Great video, Paul! Thanks for sharing these excellent tips!

[lewissaundersguitar]

I combine the 'I don't care' method with a 3D Leaf Poncho I wrap a certain way just to break up my shape with great success. 

I got within 10m of a buzzard last night and within 5m of a Muntjac just by appearing disinterested. It regularly gets me within 20m of Red Kites too. If I'm using my tripod I can fully conceal myself and it just by kneeling, so good video with effective and practical tips.

[gerryboyd]

I find with things like oyster catchers, as I slowly move towards them they slowly move away! This is repeated across the mud bank : ) I have convinced myself it's not a fear circle but just doing it to annoy me!

[kendalloei]

Okey Dokey definitely works for deer in California. I like how you put the camera up before turning your eyes to the animal. Definitely going to incorporate that.

[m.dielitz]

Great Video could you maybe do a Video about how to find Owls for Photography in the future. There are a few out there on Youtube but i really like your style of teaching people about photography and it would be great to see something like that in the future. Ps i really enjoyed the video and i´m sure your tips and trocks will help me on future phototrips

[Mikedegot]

I need to find a good spot. Most places near me in the US are private property or "stay on the trail!" parks. I miss the days when I was a kid and I'd roam through the woods on an adventure. I think I found a good trail near some water with some room to explore but haven't been over there yet to check it out. And I need to invest in tick repellant.

[thepassionatepackrat]

Great tips! I am not a wildlife photographer but I am an opportunist, and when the moment arises hopefully I can capture it. Your viewers may like Wildlife in my Back Yard! Images shot over the past 30 years have provided some very unique photos.

[joetag]

The “oakey doke”, head fake works well for shore birds. It also works sometimes with raptors, but as soon as raptors see that lens and your face pointed at them, the shift, the mute and off into the wind. Mike Lane’s channel is excellent. His knowledge and passion for bird photography is on full display in his videos.

[rafapajestka-nalesnychscie]

Jeden z najlepszych kanałów pokazujących piękno przyrody. Brawo. Pozdrawiam serdecznie i zapraszam do polskich lasów. Rafał.

[BrentTouchstone]

Pretend you don't notice the animal works amazingly well. During the Rocky Mountain National Park rut, I watched thousands of photographers stalking animals and failing. Meanwhile, Elk was walking right up to me as I just took landscape photos, then I'd move slowly to grab stellar Elk shots when they were just feet away. I had large groups of people asking what I was wearing. Some people were upset saying I had to be using hunting urine or some BS. Same thing with black bears. After building trust with Mama, I've spent hours watching cubs play from my car. I pay attention to other things like birds and such, advance slowly over time, and eventually get close enough that with a 500 I can get pretty cool shots. Doesn't work always but works a lot better than stalking the animal hunting the pic above anything else.

[jackkrijthe]

First of all I love your videos. Clear explanation in simple language. and watch almost all of them. Thanks for that. I regularly drive through the polder by car. photographing from the car is not that easy. Drive along at your normal speed, the birds will stay there, but as soon as you slow down, they quickly increase the distance or are gone. And with my 100-400mm they are soon too far away. So often a lot of cropping, which does not benefit the photos. But the polder and especially those along large lakes are very interesting. love to walk on the dike with the shrubs and reed forests along the water on one side and the polder on the other side where a group of farmers optimize their land for meadow birds, so I keep trying.

[paulgibbings]

I had an interesting experience today. I often shoot in a cemetery over the road from my house. I don't use camouflage or a hide as the birds are quite tame. There is a great spotted woodpecker that I regularly see, but it always stays right in the top of the trees, and never close enough to photograph. I went over there today for the RSPB Birdwatch, so quietly sat with pen and paper on a little portable stool. Twice during the hour, it landed on a branch less than 10 feet away. I had my camera in my bag, but for that hour had decided just to observe, so was delighted to see it so close, but also silently cursing.
After the hour was up, I got my camera out, but didn't see it again. I plan to go back there again and just sit quietly with the camera on a tripod and see if that works. I do have one of those bag hides, but I'm not sure how comfortable I would feel using it in a cemetery.

[bio]

Very nice video and entertaining too in parts 😂thanks for the great info👍