Outdoor Living
Duane Radford | Article and All Photos
Wildlife Photography:
Get At It!
Wildlife photography is a healthy and rewarding activity that
all seniors can engage in. While the startup costs might be
an issue, over time they are not more than other outdoor
recreational pursuits such as biking, camping, hunting,
fi shing, canoeing, and skiing.
For those on a
budget, there
are lots of
perfectly good
used cameras
and equipment
available. Wildlife
photography can be
done in all seasons and
in rural and urban settings,
is a good excuse to go outdoors
and get some exercise, can enrich your vacations,
and can provide motivation to travel to new places.
I might never have visited Africa or the Galapagos
Islands if not for wildlife photography.
Camera Gear
The type of camera, lenses, and accessories you
purchase will depend on your interests and budget.
You will need a long-focus lens (a telephoto lens that
magnifi es objects) so you don’t have to get too close
for a decent picture. The other two types of basic
lenses are ‘normal’ and ‘wide-angle.’
I usually use my digital single-lens refl ex (DSLR)
camera outside, so I chose a camera with a compact
and light-weight body. If you’re not into outdoor
activities you might choose a camera with a larger
Top: You’ll need a long lens especially for birds
20 | arta.net
body and diff erent features.
The focal length is the basic description of a lens,
and is usually written on the lens in millimetres. The
greater the focal length, the narrower the angle of
view and the higher the magnifi cation. The shorter
the focal length, the wider the angle of view and the
lower the magnifi cation. My camera came with a
14–42 mm lens (a ‘normal’ lens) suitable for some
wildlife photography situations where the
subject is part of a landscape photograph.
However, I also use a 40–150
mm or 70–300 mm zoom
lens that does not require
me to get close to the subject.
These are both ‘long’ lenses.
Some ads portray photographers
holding their camera with one hand,
taking off -hand shots. Don’t do this. Even
with anti-shake mechanisms, a camera must
be stable to get sharp photos, especially with
a zoom lens. You will get the best photos if
you use some type of rest, such as a ‘bean
bag,’ monopod, tripod, gorillapod (compact,
fl exible tripods with legs that bend and
wrap), or window mount. During a trip
to Africa, I used a monopod from a safari