Watching, waiting and finally capturing the moment when an animal emerges from its hiding place is what wildlife photography is all about and from action shots to lengthy stake-outs, the natural world holds untold photo ops for the patient and the brave.
Competitions such as the Wildlife Photographer of the Year show just what can be achieved if you put your mind to it and there are many entrants that have simply been in the right place at the right time and managed to encapsulate an incredible scene on film. If you’re lucky enough to live in the countryside or close to a lake or beach then you’ll be well aware of what you can achieve during just an afternoon stroll however, if you live in an urban area you might find it slightly more challenging to get a really exciting and unique shot.
One idea for wildlife lovers who live in a built-up area is to go on holiday with the sole intention of tracking and photographing animals in their natural habitat. This is an exceptional means of combining rest and relaxation with a truly magical hobby and if you’re hoping to head off on your photography holidays then check out the destinations below that are packed-full of exotic beasts and colourful birds.
Australia
Well-known for marsupials, such as: wallabies, kangaroos and koalas, Australia is also the home of some, not so well-known critters, and if you get to see a bandicoot, echidna or even a platypus in the wild then make sure you don’t forget to take off your lens cap as this will be a real treat to remember. Head out from Sydney into the Blue Mountains or, better still, grab your underwater camera and head north-eastwards to the Great Barrier Reef for a marine photo shoot like no other.
Thailand
As soon as you reach the capital of Bangkok you’ll be taken by the colourful sights and sounds of Thailand and from temples and deities to street sellers and passing monks, this is a photographer’s dream destination. If you really want to get under the skin of Thailand’s wild inhabitants then head north to the hills surrounding Chiang Mai and you’ll be met by some indelible subjects including: monkeys, fruit bats, water buffalo and working elephants.
America
The national parks of America, including: Yosemite and Yellowstone, are literally teeming with wildlife and thanks to the country’s conservation ethos, you can expect to find numerous animal encounters appearing right before your eyes. Bears, moose, bison and bob cats, can all be found with a little bit of patience and if you’re interested in bird life then make sure you keep your lens trained overhead in search of low-flying eagles.
Alaska
No matter whether you’re on land exploring the snow-covered wilderness in search of wolverines and mink or out in the ocean hoping to catch the spray of a surfacing orca, Alaska tours are simply as good as it gets for wildlife photographers. Vancouver Island is an excellent place to start any trip and the whale-watching tours are abundant throughout the area. Of course, the Canadian Rockies are no slouch when it comes to animal action and choosing between land and sea is something that you’ll have to decide for yourself.
There are places to see wildlife in their natural habitat and then there’s Africa! Spotting any one of the legendary Big Five (elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards and rhinos) is an amazing and unique experience and from the safari parks of Kenya to the peninsula of Cape Town, Africa is indeed the number one destination for lovers of wildlife photography. Grab your safari hat, jump on board the 4×4 Jeep and follow your guide across the plains and into the jungle because right here is where things start to get seriously photographic.
Biog: Chris loves going on wildlife photography trips and can often be found with his tripod and polarising filter sneaking through the dunes on the Norfolk coast.
