I'm interested in learning peoples' views on the main criteria for good to exceptional wildlife environmental images, including birds.
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Huge topic, but I'd just say it comes down to showing some surrounding environment that itself is well shot and doesn't completely distract from the main subject or better yet complements the main subject.I'm interested in learning peoples' views on the main criteria for good to exceptional wildlife environmental images, including birds.
Shots that show the animal in its natural environment is key. This shows in the images of Art Wolfe and Thomas Mangelsen and Frans Lanting to mention a few. All three show images with excellent composition and placement of the subject(s) in the frame. All demonstrate patience in getting close enough for the images they want instead of relying on high lens image magnification.I'm interested in learning peoples' views on the main criteria for good to exceptional wildlife environmental images, including birds.
Seh…Criteria for exceptional wildlife environmental images…
In my opinion, a good wildlife environmental shot is one that would make a good landscape photo even if the animal was not in the picture. Adding an aniimal makes a good photo even better.
Here is a great one from our resident alpine ibex photographer: https://bcgforums.com/threads/ibex-walk-above-the-lake.30145/
Thank you both. The ibex image is stunning, and I must have missed it earlier while travelling. Also love the bearded tits.Seh
My suggestion is to look to this forum's images, rather than those of the 'masters'.
Our latest images are just a click away and are constantly changing. Look at them critically: which qualify as 'environmental'; is there a clear 'best' among the environmental images; perhaps most importantly, did the animal's environment include more than vegetation and terrain?
Here's a link to my choice of the best environmental photo among BCG's current (second week of January 2024) latest images :
… David
Ronny, may I include your image here (as well as the link to it)
Well said WoodyI almost feel like the main criteria is that you'll know a good environmental shot when you see it. There are so many variables with both the subject and the surroundings that I'm not sure any set of criteria can really be applied in each case. As an example, we usually would say that the background and surroundings shouldn't distract from the animal, but sometimes the very fact that the animal does not stand out shows the amazing natural camouflage that the subject has. Very bight and colorful flowers around an animal might, again, be "distracting" to the subject, but it shows the beauty of the natural surroundings.
Just my dos centavos.
Thanks, I'll take a look. I'm cuurently focal length deprived. Had the 200-500 but sold it given the weight (and my age). Have been debating options since then.Not enough focal length = environmental shot.
No but seriously, I think Steve Mattheis does some nice environmental shots with his 400mm around the Jackson Hole area. Check out some of his YouTube video for inspiration.
In my opinion, a good wildlife environmental shot is one that would make a good landscape photo even if the animal was not in the picture. Adding an aniimal makes a good photo even better.
Here is a great one from our resident alpine ibex photographer: https://bcgforums.com/threads/ibex-walk-above-the-lake.30145/
Nice shots, I agree. The animal's story is well shown in a good wildlife/env shot. I love this kind of photography. The wind-blown texture of the snow and the penguin's climb really show how they live in their environment.To me an animal environmental shot is one where I can see where, and perhaps, how the animal lives. The animal is in the shot but the larger perspective makes it environmental. I think it's a close up shot if there is only a little bit of space around the animal. I think both of these shots show what I consider an environmental shot.
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