Finding Magic in Wildlife Photography
We’ve been talking about how to create magical wildlife images in the 3-Month Coaching Cohort I’m leading with Syler Peralta-Ramos. From visualizing images to time in the field and then culling and post processing, we are continually looking for elements that showcase magic in our photos.
And in that pursuit, we create our own style or voice. Every step, every choice is our own, and these details matter. They shape what we have to say with our work; each of these decisions communicates layers of time and experience which make that one beautiful moment in time.
What do we look for?
For example, we’ve been talking a lot about what to look for and what to include in the frame and how that carries over into the culling process.
In this image in particular from Grand Teton National Park, I really worked the scene. An autumn sunrise had created a glow that seemed to cling to the atmosphere, and I wanted to take advantage of every second.
What did I want to include in my frame? What told the story?
As I shot I tried different angles and also experimented with the fall foliage in the foreground. I shot wide and horizontal. I used a 24-70mm and also had my 400mm prime.
I watched the bison for their spacing, action, and leg position. I wanted an odd group of bison in a line. I also didn’t want them to overlap with the bison behind them.
If you’ve photographed bison, you know they do what they please! Thankfully, the beautiful light stuck around for a while, and I had time to play and experiment.
8 Things to Look For
When I got home and pulled them up in Lightroom, here is what helped me choose the final image:
- Spacing – all my subjects spaced apart
- Odd number of main subjects
- No overlapping of bison
- Leg position – powerful and forward moving
- Gesture and movement – red dog skipping/running
- Background – Teton range fulling in view
- Light – gorgeous golden hour
- Fog ripple – perfectly placed in background
I used all these elements to help me narrow down the files and tell a story of a quintessential day in the Tetons, one which almost harkened back to a time before cars, tourists, and buildings.
This image means a lot to me because it helps me remember the magic of that morning and what a special place it is to me personally.
If you’d like to talk more about these elements or learn more, please email me. There are a lot of options in terms of private coaching, photography tours, and our 3-month mentoring groups. I’d love to help and encourage you!
