Photography Tips

Bears, elk or perhaps moose are wonderfully photogenic animals, yet experienced photographers tend to think outside the box when shooting wildlife.  Most birds have been captured, although rookie cameramen love finding that rare one to send into National Geographic to get their name out there.  For the middle of the road camera bearer, or slightly above novice picture snapper, we present five simply gorgeous animals that, with the right backdrop, could make an excellent photo shoot and send your career soaring northward.

Hedgehogs

Sonic has nothing on these needled beauties, who spend their winters sleeping off their rampant summer months – without once waking up.  Primitive to Asian, New Zealand and African terrains, the right backdrop could provide photographers an epic opportunity to capture nature’s hidden gem, provided one could get close enough to control shutter speed necessary for an effective shot. Their presence is limited since they’re known for hibernating for several long months; catch them while you can.

Badgers

Nocturnal summer dwellers of North American, Asian and European territories, badgers aren’t afraid of bears, coyotes or even your sack lunch.  Numerous camera bearers pack their native areas to snap action photos of badgers who, from a distance, somewhat resemble skunks with their striped facial features.  While they’re comfortably feasting on main courses consisting of several hundred earthworms in underground setts, perhaps brave the underground and find them for your next photo spread.

Sockeye Salmon

Although normally salmon present mankind with a traditionally bluish-silver hue, hang around until these exciting fish, primitive to U.S. and Canadian territories, spawn.  Sure, photographers may treat the sockeye salmon as simply embarrassed when changing into their red and green spawning shade; this is simply their way of continually blending into the fresh waters during their skin shedding episodes.  Catch them frolicking in and out of waters for an even more breathtaking pictorial account of their existence.

Bird of Paradise

Avian action shots have always clamored experience from photographers, yet with the Bird of Paradise, even rookies can capture this beautiful flutterer, indigenous to Indian Ocean climates.  Unfortunately endangered due to feather and pelt popularity, these lovely male birds schmooze the ladies with dance, poses and shape shifts to ward off ‘skanky’ females.  Those who could freely travel to New Guinea could traverse the forest on any given warm day to find the Bird of Paradise.

Temminck’s Tragopan

Normally the bored hunter’s prized kill target, this pheasant features a red and multi-blue chest and stands proudly for cameramen in Southern Asia’s Tragopan area.  Another commonly extinct fowl, finding this bird roaming around shouldn’t prove problematic for aggressive photographers, although getting too close isn’t advised.  The bluish area on their frontals? It’s actually skin, not feathers.

In Closing: Tis The Season

Summertime creatures residing within our planetary confines present wonderful opportunities for savvy, or newbie, photography lovers seeking interesting waterfowl, avian or aquatic animal shots. Make sure you’re prepared for whatever challenges the backdrop – in this case, water or wilderness – presents.  Finally, always respect the critters’ domains since many have issues with extinction, and are guaranteed to be protected locally. 

About the Author

Roger Kowalewski is a freelance writer and photography buff from Indiana.