Wildlife and Animal Photography

It's very difficult to stand out from the crowd as a wildlife photographer. It's a genre where one can go overboard with creative editing quite quickly. Many would say not to get creative with wildlife editing at all — that wildlife imagery should be an accurate representation of the animal and its environment. So, how does one create an image that stands out from the crowd?  

Before today’s launch of the Sony a7R IV in the U.S., I had the opportunity to use the new 61-megapixel camera on a few occasions. Ultimately, these hands-on experiences led me to purchasing it for animal photography and in this article I list a few reasons behind the decision. 

Last week, Sony announced two APS-C cameras and two more G-series lenses for their crop-sensor system. In this first-look review, I share my thoughts after photographing birds with the new a6600 and E 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3 G OSS. 

Wildlife photographers have long faced the problem of requiring extremely expensive camera equipment to follow their passion. Then came the budget 150-600mm and similar lenses that lowered the cost of entry while still getting similar looking results. 

Long telephoto lenses are excellent at capturing the rich, intimate details of animals, but there’s a learning curve to using them. Before you miss another shot by not finding your subjects in the viewfinder in time, check out this video. 

Calling all nature photographers and filmmakers. A groundbreaking new media platform designed to connect more of us to nature is launching its apps' first beta iteration this week.

Photographing whale sharks tends to be a top bucket list item for many underwater image-makers, and for good reason. The largest fish in the sea, whale sharks offer uniquely special photo opportunities. For those of you who have yet to photograph one of these gentle giants, I’ve put together a few tips to keep in mind for that first encounter.

We all want to get that stunning animal-in-the-wild shot but it's not always possible or easy to do so. That's when many photographers take shortcuts, and it's not always the best idea. 

The camera was rolling when a shark breached a diver's cage on a photography trip, leaving the diver trapped with the massive creature inside the small steel enclosure.  

A common piece of advice given to street photographers is if your subject seems unhappy about the presence of your camera, it's better to simply not take the picture and remove yourself from the situation.

For some people, photography is more than just work. They put their blood, sweat, and tears into passion projects for which they get no payment. 

In Washington, a woman has been taken to hospital after being bitten and injected with venom by an octopus she picked up and placed on her face in what was an attempt to win a local photo contest. 

New footage recorded at 1,000 frames per second is giving insight into how an ant stinger works. In what is said to be the first recording of its kind, we can see the stinger, which is thinner than a human hair, releasing venom. 

Intimate bird photography has usually been made possible by using some seriously hefty lenses paired with large pro DSLR camera bodies. Can a Micro Four Thirds system really be just as effective while physically being much smaller and easier to carry? 

Cameras these days are smarter than ever, so why go full manual for bird photography? 

Macro photography is the art/practice of photographing tiny things. If you have the spare cash, It's easy to just go out and buy a macro lens to start shooting, but in order to get those crisp, back to front, pin-sharp images, a little bit of technical know-how and computer wizardry is essential.

In his latest video, wildlife photographer and educator Steve Perry talks about specific autofocus problems to be aware of in the field that could prevent you from getting sharp images. 

Remember the cliché expression the eyes are the window to the soul? They aren't kidding around with that one, and when you capture a piercing look, you can instantly and easily grab the viewer's attention. 

An underwater photographer has posted images of a huge, human-sized jelly fish swimming alongside his wildlife biologist colleague. The pair were caught by surprise when the giant, colorful creature swam alongside them. 

If you own a pet, you've definitely taken a picture of him or her more than once. Belgian photographer Vincent Lagrange does just that for all sorts of animals as a big part of his career. Like so many of us, I was raised around animals; cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, even a chinchilla.

A new set of photos released by a wildlife rescue center in Western Australia shows a python incredibly eating a freshwater crocodile whole. The collection of images detail the drama from start to finish, with the outline of the croc evident inside its predator’s body.

A photographer has captured footage of an intense bear fight from just feet away, which saw the two animals growling, launching at, and attacking each another.

You aren’t going to get very far as a wildlife photographer if the animals are constantly being scared away before you get into position. Here are some helpful tips on improving your approach. 

One of the most difficult challenges in bird photography is finding the subjects you want in front of non-distracting backgrounds. With limited means of placing wild birds exactly where you need them, what methods can be used to ensure other elements in the frame don’t overpower the subject? 

An underwater photographer has captured the dramatic aftermath of a pilot whale having its tail sliced off due to a collision with a boat propellor. Now, the image is being used to highlight the dangers that boating through busy wildlife areas poses. 

Everyone's favorite aquatic marshmallow, the manatee, is having a bit of a moment. Just a couple weeks ago, Florida's warm waterways set the mood for a sizable manatee orgy, causing traffic jams on nearby roads. Rubberneckers first thought they were witnessing a whale in distress, but it was just good old fashioned sea cow polyamory. 

Dog photography can be incredibly rewarding when you do it right, but it can also be quite frustrating when the little puppers are bouncing all around and paying attention in every direction except yours. This helpful video will give you some quick tips to improve your pictures of dogs and to increase your chances of getting the shot. 

As I’m preparing to search for black bears to photograph, my personal safety has certainly come to mind a few times. When photographing wildlife, the combined safety of both ourselves and the species we are seeking out should be the top priority. In this article, I go over a few things to keep in mind when you head out into the great outdoors with your camera.

You've probably seen them before, and the concept is nothing new to the market. However, as LensCoat keeps cranking out new Lens Cover designs to match all the hottest new lens releases, these protective camouflage sleeves are just as relevant today and worthy of taking a closer look at. 

Wildlife photographer Andrew Fusek Peters caught the moment a white-faced darter dragonfly, typically found in peat bogs, molted and left behind its hollow exoskeleton.

 Taken in Shropshire, the pictures show the dragonfly bursting out of its skin as it transitions into being an adult. Peters, 54, claims to have spent three hours in a bog awaiting the incredible moment.

A pair of Florida-based photographers got more than they bargained for last weekend when they caught the dramatic moment a snake desperately tried to escape the mouth of an alligator before being eaten. 

When people in the movie-viewing world think of sharks, the 1975 hit movie “Jaws” often comes to mind. Who could forget its ominous theme song or that menacing movie poster of a massive great white shark about to consume a swimmer? 

Stepping up to a telephoto lens can be a jarring experience for bird photography hopefuls. With such a limited field of view while looking through the camera's viewfinder, how are you ever supposed to find anything? 

Stripped down to the basics, there's really only a few items I find essential to bring with me while photographing wildlife with a handheld setup. 

If you like photography, have a camera, and have pets, they're going to meet sooner or later. Here, Matt Granger gives you his tips for photographing your pets at home. 

The death of the last male northern white rhino last year concreted the species’ extinction. In this photo series, photographer Justin Mott documented a mother and daughter – the last two remaining on earth.

A British photographer has been documenting the life of Emperor penguins in Antarctica over the last 11 years. Sue Flood, who has worked with the BBC, as well as on Blue Planet, says despite the harsh conditions, the experience has been “a privilege.”

One photographer has spent years documenting the local deer who walk the streets freely in the Japanese city of Nara.

 The sika deer have a reputation for being problematic for farmers, given their feeding habits. So much so, local governments actively asked locals to help control the population. As a consequence, almost half a million were eliminated back in 2017.

A photographer has captured a rare sight: the intimate moment he found two bees asleep together inside a flower. 

Wildlife photographer Joe Neely and his wife, Niccole, were shooting images of a flower patch close to a nearby highway when they noticed the bees. The difference was that they were stationary, lying completely still within the petals.

Wildlife photographers have a gift of patience that isn't always required in other photography genres. The key to a great shot is always finding a great backdrop, which can be difficult when your subjects are on the move.  

What seems like it could have been an April Fools joke if it had come out a few days sooner, the Lensrentals blog has posted a great (and enlightening) story on something that apparently has happened more than once: somehow, for some reason, a full-sized fly got into a lens, and the entire lens had to be disassembled to remove it. The question is: did it affect image quality? 

An amateur photographer has captured the intense moment a mid-air struggle happened between an eagle and a rabbit.

 Based in Hampton, Virginia, Jennifer Began was at a Virginia Beach golf club with her camera when the drama ensued. The eagle appeared above the 18-hole Honey Bee Golf Course around 9am, where Began admits she didn’t realize what it had in its claws at first.

Plans are good. Most of us live by plans, and we like things to go as planned. But sometimes just showing up and going with the flow can yield immense rewards for photographers.

One photographer is drawing attention online for his new photo series, which captures portraits of dogs while they’re in the middle of catching treats. 

Sometimes it's the most basic accessories that can prove to be the most relied upon in the field, or in this case, the car. 

Pet photography has become extremely popular, as many pet owners are looking for photographs of their fur babies.  One photographer took his talents to help shelter dogs find new homes and is giving tips to other photographers to do the same.  

A photographer has switched to the Nikon Z 7 and taken to Antarctica in order to test the new equipment’s capabilities in extreme weather. He discusses his findings exclusively with Fstoppers. 

A diver by the name of Rainer Schimpf has miraculously survived being swept into the mouth of a Bryde whale – and it was all captured by a spectating photographer.

Learn how one photographer edits his wildlife photographs in Lightroom.