Post by @bradscamera

Ad These are the best ways to take yourself out of beginner territory as a wildlife photographer. ⬇️ 1- When you spot wildlife, take a second to analyze the scene before you start snapping photos. Slightly repositioning yourself can be the difference between a photo that simply doesn’t work and one you’d feel proud to hang on your wall. Plus, slowing yourself down makes you less likely to move too quickly and scare away the wildlife. 2- Get eye level with your subjects. This is one of the easiest ways to improve your wildlife portraits. Meeting animals where they are and photographing them at eye level can give your viewer a sense of actually being there in the moment that a steep upward or downward angle often doesn’t. Of course, there’s a time and place for other angles, but if you’re struggling to capture clean wildlife portraits, start here. 3- Stop shooting in auto. When you use your camera’s Auto mode, you give the camera control over most of the decisions that determine how your photo turns out. Your camera doesn’t know the exact result you’re trying to create, which can make your settings unpredictable for wildlife photography. I personally shoot Manual with Auto ISO. I choose my shutter speed and aperture, and my camera fills in the ISO for me. This lets me make quick adjustments in the field so that I never miss a moment because of camera settings. 4- Use the right gear You really only need two main pieces of gear to take awesome wildlife photos. First, a capable camera body. Modern cameras from the major brands like Sony, Nikon, and Canon offer some incredible options for wildlife photography. I personally use the Sony A7 IV as my main camera body. Second, a telephoto lens. I recommend having at least 400mm of reach so you can fill more of the frame with your subject while maintaining a safe distance from wildlife. And when you reach the point where it’s time to upgrade your gear, you don’t necessarily have to start from scratch. You can buy, sell, and, trade with @MPB and put the value of gear you’re no longer using toward the gear you want next.