Photographing Wildlife Biographies

Though I think it is pretty obvious that I have a particular interest in the landscape side of nature photography, I think there is something about animals in the wild that draws any and all nature photographers.  Melissa Groo is a photographer who has focused her photography work on capturing images of animals in the wild.  She reflects on the whole of her wildlife photography experience in the Outdoor Photographer article “Wildlife Biographer.”  In her article, Groo gives some thoughtful insight about wildlife photography that I think is helpful for a beginner photographer like me to remember.  She says that photographing wildlife is not just about capturing an image of an animal subject but also telling a story with that image; it is not just a photograph but a biography.

Whereas I think landscape photography is about the setting and making the viewer feel apart of the scene, wildlife photography centers on telling the stories of the animal world.  Groo points out that so often photographers forget this important aspect when photographing animals.  Getting a photograph of an animal or animals is not enough.  What makes a wildlife photograph stand out from the rest is its ability to communicate a story to the viewer. 

Groo suggests several tips for getting a compelling, biographical shot.  Using blinds is a good way to get good shots.  Walking into an environment, finding one’s subject, and taking the shot will not usually work if one really wants to get a shot that tells a story.  Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible and waiting for the animals to forget the photographer’s presence is key.  When animals are not aware of a photographer or forget that the photographer is there (achieved by waiting patiently), they are much more likely to act as they naturally would outside the presence of humans.  This gives the photographer a view into their natural lives and behaviors not otherwise seen.  This often involves a lot of patience and sometimes means walking away frustrated and empty-handed but with persistence, the reward is worth it.

As Groo explains, a story is often told by animals’ small gestures.  A lift of the paw, the show of the  whites of a subject’s eyes, the tilt of the head, or the lift of the tail are all gestures that can make a photograph.  Groo says that such gestures reveal a subject’s state of mind, and in effect, tell that animal’s story.  Knowing one’s subject and its patterns and behaviors are extremely helpful in knowing when such gestures are imminent, when a story is about to be told, allowing one to capture and create extra-ordinary shots.

Link to Melissa Groo's article: https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/tips-techniques/wildlife-techniques/wildlife-biographer/