Tony Beck - Photography, Nature and Birding Tours, Local Birding Excursions
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Wildlife Photography Style
Timber Wolves
I recently received an e-mail asking for my views on a hot-topic.
The writer was having a discussion with a friend about two opposite methods of capturing a perfect wildlife image.
Is it better to take lots of images with the hopes that one will turn out?
Or should the photographer focus all their finely-tuned energy into capturing a single perfect image?
This was easy to answer since I had a similar discussion with one of my early photography teachers.
The teacher’s style approached each situation with a single 8 X 10 sheet of film loaded into a huge view camera.
I on the other hand, was a young, energetic student, sporting an itchy trigger finger, and a Nikon FG.
I concluded that it’s all a matter of style.
Some photographers like to wait patiently for the perfect photo.
Others (like myself) prefer to work quickly and take lots of images in the process.
I simply cannot sit and wait.
That would bore me to tears.
And, the photo may never happen.
However, some people can’t work quickly, and are more aware of their situation when they slow themselves down. Many prefer to work in a confined, controlled, methodical manner, making certain everything is perfect.
I can only speak for myself.
I knew within my first year of owning a camera which style I was comfortable with.
I work best when I feel the rhythms of my subject, the rhythms of the surroundings, to be in tune with my equipment, and my own rhythms.
I dance with my subject-of-interest. I’m very focused in the moment, with hightened awareness. And, the images happen as the world’s rhythms flows around me.
I find myself in an almost out-of-body state – I get “in the zone”.
Through years of practice, I’ve taught myself to feel all the subtle nuances, using all my senses, responding immediately upon the perception of a good photo happening before me.
I’m subconsciously reading the light (without looking at my meter), I’m checking all my surroundings to see how they might effect the image, I’m studying the behaviours of my subject (when animals or people are the subject), I’m thinking about my camera equipment, and I’ve got a mental picture of the final photographic result in my head.
All these thoughts are happening at lightning speed as the photographic situation unfolds before me.
And, when I anticipate a good photo about to happen… I let ‘er rip!
I find my style to be very efficient, and I have great success with it.
Often, I’ll be finished a good photo-shoot in 15 – 20 minutes when others are still setting up.
To anyone sitting and waiting – I say “good luck”.
You still require fast reaction, full awareness, with an ability to turn-on the speed and energy when the action happens.
However, to be successful at either style requires practice and experience.
So are the two styles really that different?
They’re simply two different ways to accomplish the same goal.
I know what I need to do.
But, maybe I just haven’t experienced being “in the zone” of the sitter & waiter.
My Camera Equipment
male Wilson's Phalarope
The question most often asked of my photography is “what equipment do you use?”.
I’ve been a Nikon user since I bought my first SLR back in the early 1980’s.
For many years I used the dependable Nikon FM2, later adding Nikon F4 to the mix. I resisted the change to digital until the end of 2006 when I finally bought a DSLR in the form of a Nikon D200.
I quickly realized the versatility of a good digital camera.
Shortly after, the D300 came out, and everything changed for me.
I immediately became comfortable with a fast and responsive auto focus (I preferred manual focus up to this point).
With the D300’s clean, high-quality sensor, and the ability to change ISO in the middle of a photo-shoot,
I found myself capturing images under conditions I never would have tried with film.
Now, with Nikon’s amazing D3s (possibly the best commercial camera ever made), I feel unstoppable as a photographer, approaching any assignment with complete confidence.
Here is what I’m currently using for the vast majority of shoots.
CAMERAS
* Nikon D3s
* Nikon D700
* Nikon D300
LENSES
* AF-S Nikkor 300mm f4D ED-IF (two of them)
* AF Zoom-Nikkor 80 – 200mm f2.8D ED
* AF-S ED Zoom-Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G
* AF-S DX VR Zoom -Nikkor 18 – 200mm f3.5-5.6 GII ED IF
* AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II
ACCESSORIES
* Manfrotto Monopod with joystick head
* Various generic gunstock shoulder supports.
* (rarely used anymore) Manfrotto Tripod
Binoculars for Birding
Black-throated Green Warbler
Birdwatching is greatly enhanced with the right equipment. And, the best place to start is with a good pair of binoculars.
Beginners often make uninformed choices when buying binoculars, sometimes selecting equipment that performs poorly in the field. I’ve watched many frustrated novices struggle with inappropriate optics while others around them easily enjoy the birds in their view.
Making Bird Noises
Barred Owl
A sunny winter’s afternoon, inside a sheltered woodlot, strolling along a well-packed trail, I encounter a family -parents with their youngsters. “Have you seen the owl?” I ask. “No.” they respond, “… is there one here?” I then proceed several metres along the trail, veer off the beaten track another few metres and say, “Up there, in the upper quarter of the cedar.” There it is, a gorgeous Barred Owl, seemingly oblivious to our presence. The young, rosy-cheeked boy, about 10 or 11 years old, lifts his binoculars. “It’s beautiful!” he exclaims. Hearing his innocent enthusiasm and seeing his look of amazement, I’m overcome with feelings of satisfaction and hope.
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