Matt Schwartz
10-30-2013, 07:12 PM
A few precursory statements before I jump into the questions that I have...
First, I first introduced myself on the forums several months ago, received a warm welcome and some great help with my tripod question, then I got sidetracked with some things and haven't posted since. Well, I'm back and am excited to join the community.
Second, I'd like to point out that I am a “beginner” when it comes to wildlife/bird photography (I have less than 1 year of experience, and at that, haven't really been in the field as much as I should have been). So, please bear with me if any of my questions seem silly or basic. Although I realize everyone has to start somewhere, I'm slightly intimidated about jumping into the middle of things with people like yourselves who have so much experience, knowledge, and talent.
Third, my goal is to learn how to, and take actions to, create the highest quality, most artistic, and professional looking images that I possibly can. At the risk of being too blunt: I don't want to create average photographs from a pedestrian point of view. I prefer low angle shots with soft and clean backgrounds, intimate close ups, and similar aspects. I am interested in, and willing/wanting to do, things like using blinds, camo, crawling on the ground, using waders in the water, using audio, bait, etc. I realize that such measures won’t always be necessary, but I am just pointing out the level of my commitment to getting excellent photos (and having fun doing it). I have already done some, but not all, of those things at a beginner's level, with mixed results.
All of the previous information leads me directly into my first set of noob questions. In my opinion, the number one challenge that I am faced with currently, is finding excellent locations for wildlife photography. I have found the following factors to be problematic at most of the places I’ve tried:
- Too many other people (making it difficult to get close to animals before they are scared away by people or dogs, to use camo, blind, etc).
- Rules/regulations which make it difficult to get where I need to be (for example, you must stay on the path, boardwalk, and can't do thing xyz). See my comments about this later in the post...
- Gates which are locked/unlocked at specific hours, thereby preventing me from being on location where/when I need to be for the morning light, or to be in a blind before sunrise, etc
- Overall poor locations with too few animals, lack of places to set up for good proximity, angle, and background, etc.
I think you'll get the gist of where I'm going with my questions, and have no doubt realized how naïve I am.
Regarding the rules/regulations at various locations (stay on path, etc), I totally respect these guidelines and feel they are there for a good purpose. I want to do the right thing and do not intend to break any laws or cause any problems. There are already more than enough bad photographers who give the good guys a bum rap by being obnoxious, disrespectful, trespassing, or worse. I want to respect the rules/laws/guidelines, environment, and my subjects...but I have no idea how or where to find places that are more “open” and “wild” where I can get a low viewpoint, get off trail, go in the water, get in before sunrise without a gate being locked to set up a blind, and which have more animals and fewer people.
So obviously, I'm inexperienced and have pretty much no idea where to start. How do you find the right spot? If any of you that are reading this use blinds, camo, get in the water with waders, etc, where do you go? Do you just go wading into a pond in the middle of a park with people staring at you like you’re a maniac, or set up a blind in plain view of them? Are there locked gates where you go in the morning? How do you know whether or not it is okay to use a certain technique or approach at a certain location? Do you go to more wild areas and hike in to get to the good spots? Do you get tipped off from other photographers? Possibly get your foot in the door with someone who owns land and will let you set up there?
I apologize if this is a ridiculous question, but for me, with my limited experience, the issues seem legitimate. Please enlighten me!
Thank you
First, I first introduced myself on the forums several months ago, received a warm welcome and some great help with my tripod question, then I got sidetracked with some things and haven't posted since. Well, I'm back and am excited to join the community.
Second, I'd like to point out that I am a “beginner” when it comes to wildlife/bird photography (I have less than 1 year of experience, and at that, haven't really been in the field as much as I should have been). So, please bear with me if any of my questions seem silly or basic. Although I realize everyone has to start somewhere, I'm slightly intimidated about jumping into the middle of things with people like yourselves who have so much experience, knowledge, and talent.
Third, my goal is to learn how to, and take actions to, create the highest quality, most artistic, and professional looking images that I possibly can. At the risk of being too blunt: I don't want to create average photographs from a pedestrian point of view. I prefer low angle shots with soft and clean backgrounds, intimate close ups, and similar aspects. I am interested in, and willing/wanting to do, things like using blinds, camo, crawling on the ground, using waders in the water, using audio, bait, etc. I realize that such measures won’t always be necessary, but I am just pointing out the level of my commitment to getting excellent photos (and having fun doing it). I have already done some, but not all, of those things at a beginner's level, with mixed results.
All of the previous information leads me directly into my first set of noob questions. In my opinion, the number one challenge that I am faced with currently, is finding excellent locations for wildlife photography. I have found the following factors to be problematic at most of the places I’ve tried:
- Too many other people (making it difficult to get close to animals before they are scared away by people or dogs, to use camo, blind, etc).
- Rules/regulations which make it difficult to get where I need to be (for example, you must stay on the path, boardwalk, and can't do thing xyz). See my comments about this later in the post...
- Gates which are locked/unlocked at specific hours, thereby preventing me from being on location where/when I need to be for the morning light, or to be in a blind before sunrise, etc
- Overall poor locations with too few animals, lack of places to set up for good proximity, angle, and background, etc.
I think you'll get the gist of where I'm going with my questions, and have no doubt realized how naïve I am.
Regarding the rules/regulations at various locations (stay on path, etc), I totally respect these guidelines and feel they are there for a good purpose. I want to do the right thing and do not intend to break any laws or cause any problems. There are already more than enough bad photographers who give the good guys a bum rap by being obnoxious, disrespectful, trespassing, or worse. I want to respect the rules/laws/guidelines, environment, and my subjects...but I have no idea how or where to find places that are more “open” and “wild” where I can get a low viewpoint, get off trail, go in the water, get in before sunrise without a gate being locked to set up a blind, and which have more animals and fewer people.
So obviously, I'm inexperienced and have pretty much no idea where to start. How do you find the right spot? If any of you that are reading this use blinds, camo, get in the water with waders, etc, where do you go? Do you just go wading into a pond in the middle of a park with people staring at you like you’re a maniac, or set up a blind in plain view of them? Are there locked gates where you go in the morning? How do you know whether or not it is okay to use a certain technique or approach at a certain location? Do you go to more wild areas and hike in to get to the good spots? Do you get tipped off from other photographers? Possibly get your foot in the door with someone who owns land and will let you set up there?
I apologize if this is a ridiculous question, but for me, with my limited experience, the issues seem legitimate. Please enlighten me!
Thank you