Wildlife photography

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A few principles on wildlife photography,
before purely technical considerations…

Patience :

It must be the first quality of any wildlife photographer, as well as a regular practice of this type of photography. Knowing the terrain and the environment where you practice is essential to capture interesting photos, and avoid disturbances of the fauna. The local fauna near your home often allows you to take very beautiful photographs, without looking for exotic fauna.
Do not hesitate to revisit places or shooting spots. There’s always something going on, it’s all about being there at the right time. Just because you didn’t see anything last time doesn’t mean nothing is going on! There is undeniably an element of luck in wildlife photography. But devoting enough time to your shooting projects will increase your chances of success.

Light :

The light of the early morning or the end of the day provides a superb atmosphere. On the other hand many animals are often very active at daybreak.

Composition :

Scenes are often very fast in wildlife photography. Animals are often unpredictable, and one forgets a little about the composition of one’s image. However, if you know the fauna well and if you observe well, you can anticipate the behavior of an animal or a bird.
In wildlife photography, we are often tempted to use large telephoto lenses to get closer to the animal and frame tight. Sometimes a larger composition makes it possible to highlight the environment in which the animal evolves.

Speed ​​:

The choice of speed is essential in wildlife photography. A high speed is often necessary to avoid camera shake. Especially with large telephoto lenses, although the stabilizers have brought us some comfort at this level.
However, a slower speed is sometimes preferable in order to make a photo more dynamic (such as the blurring of the wings of a bird in flight).

The focus :

If you have time, always focus on the eyes. (Latest autofocus systems can do this, for those lucky enough to have this kind of equipment). The eyes are always the expression of life for all living beings.

The discretion :

A few points that seem obvious, but a little reminder is always useful:

• Avoid noise, most animals are fearful, have very keen hearing and excellent eyesight.
• Sudden gestures.
• Clothes with too showy colors depending on the environment. The hunting department of some sports stores makes it possible to find appropriate outfits. These outfits allow camouflage according to the environment practiced and are comfortable if necessary.

The sometimes unpredictable side of animals is part of the interest that wildlife photography represents for me.

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Some technical considerations for practicing wildlife photography…

Many photographers who are new to this discipline ask themselves the question about the photographic equipment necessary to practice it.
First, you need to ask yourself several questions:

• What type of fauna do you plan to photograph (birds, small fauna, large mammals…).
• What environment are you going to practice (marine environment, humid environment, snow, rain, undergrowth, etc.). Are you considering using a floating blind.
• What budget do you want to devote to your passion.

Big telephoto lenses in the 500mm f/4, 400mm f/2.8 style are always the dream of amateur photographers. However, these certainly have advantages but also disadvantages:

I used a Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS-VR telephoto lens for over 10 years until this year. When I switched to a hybrid with a Nikon Z9, I parted with this one (with regret). I use a Nikkor Z 100/400mm f/4.5-5.6 S series zoom instead. If I have good proximity, I work in FX mode (full frame), otherwise I switch to DX mode which allows to have the equivalent of a 600mm. The definition of the Z9 sensor (45 mp) allows me to work in DX with a definition equivalent to a D500.

With age, the 500mm had become too heavy for me (3.9Kg, almost 6Kg with a D4) and difficult to use freehand. The 100/400mm zoom weighing 1.4 Kg allows me to work freehand and to have great mobility for tracking certain birds. The 5.6 to 400mm aperture remains very good for the shooting conditions encountered in the Camargue. Bokeh is certainly less beautiful than with the 500mm in certain conditions, but remains very pleasant.

Possible choices :

If you are new to wildlife photography, If the weight of the equipment puts you off, If your budget is limited, what choice?

• use an APS-C sensor box, sensor smaller than the 24×36 format (16×24 at Nikon – 15×22 at Canon) which allows to have a coefficient of 1.5 at Nikon, and a coefficient of 1.6 at Canon compared to the format 24 x 36, your 300mm thus becomes a 450mm or 480mm without loss of brightness. (the aperture of the optics remains the same).
• Using a typical 300mm f/4 lens (such as the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR that I used with the D850) this lens weighs less than 800gr. Its new price is around 1800€.
• Use a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM style zoom, around 2200€ or Nikon AF-S 200-500/5.6 E ED VR, around 1400€.
• Use a TC14EIII style converter from Nikon, around 520€, which allows you to have a 1.4 coefficient (your 300mm becomes a 420mm, however at the expense of brightness because you will lose an aperture) to be reserved for fairly bright optics f/4 minimum preferred; on an optic opening at f/5.6 the aperture becomes f/8, and this can affect the functioning of the autofocus, the quality of the background blur, and the rise in Iso…
  Personally, I do not recommend using a TC20EIII type doubler converter, unless you are lucky enough to have a telephoto lens opening at f/2.8 because this type of converter makes you lose 2 apertures.
• Combine an APS-C sensor box with a coef.1.4 converter. In this case, your 300mm f/4 becomes a 630mm f/5.6 at Nikon. I sometimes used this option (Nikon D500 + Nikkor 300mm f/4 PF E VR + Nikon TC14EIII converter) which allowed me to have very light equipment.

Some examples in photography :

• Common Shelduck : the interest of this photo is largely linked to the weather conditions.
• Glossy Ibis: here it is the behavior of the birds that brings dynamics to these images.
• Kingfisher : here the 500mm telephoto lens allowed me to isolate the bird on its fishing post.

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A dream telephoto lens

In January 2024, I had the opportunity to try out a dream telephoto lens, the Nikkor Z 600mm F/4 TC VR S. This telephoto lens has a built-in 1.4 converter, making it an 840mm f/5.6 telephoto lens with the converter activated. This telephoto lens was lent to me by Nikon France during a material presentation day at the Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau in Camargue.

Below you will find a photo taken with this telephoto lens at a focal length of 600mm (hand-held) and with my Nikon Z9, as well as a crop of this same photo to appreciate the definition of this lens.

But the dream has a price: 17,000 euros …

Here, I hope that this article will be able to enlighten those who hesitate in their choice. You can leave me your comments, or your questions if you wish.

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Quote of the moment

The man tumbled down to Earth,
– exterminate the beasts,
– split the atom,
– tampered the gene,
– changed the organisms,
– acidified the soil,
– plasticized the seas,
– and pollute the atmosphere.

All this in such a short time: what talent!
Then he named “harmful” those who did not participate in the business.

Quote of Sylvain Tesson