Tips for
Photographing Undomesticated Animals
Author : Debbie Jensen
Much of the
same principles apply towards photographing
animals as it does towards humans. Keep
these basic principles in mind as you
photograph animals:
1) Eye
contact is important, but not always
necessary. In some instances, a pose with
eye contact with an animal works. In my
opinion, this type of pose is equivalent to
a traditional, formal type of portraiture.
When the pose works, the body position is
natural and shows the full-body. From head
to toe and from the animal's nose to the tip
of his tail, we should be able to visually
appreciate the form and beauty of the
photographed animal.
2) The
surrounding setting is important too. If
there are two background textures and tones
which complement the animal, this would be
perfect! In this way, the animal and setting
(the background) contain visual unity.
3) Use your
flash outdoors. The camera's flash fills in
shadows and enhances the appearance of
humans, as well as animals. Take a flash
photograph, and look for the shadows on the
animal's body; look at the shadows
underneath him too. Now, take another
photograph without the flash, now look at
where the shadows are. Part of the face will
probably be darkened and the shadows are in
different places. This is one way of telling
if flash was used or not. The shadows tell
us about the form and shape of an object.
Shadows can add beauty to forms.
4) Viewpoint
perspectives can make or break a photograph.
Shooting down on an animal could work while
maintaining eye contact, if the animal is
not straining his neck to look up at the
camera. Make sure the pose of the animal is
not disturbing to look at―the animal should
look true to form and natural.
Debbie
Jensen, Graphic Designer and Photographer
http://www.debjensendesigns.com
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