How To Get Blurry Backgrounds?

Wildlife photography is a tough game that takes a toll on many who are new in this field. Whether you are out in the wild trying to capture a herd of elephants or deer near a water body you need to work your way carefully.  Wild animals are your subjects, yet you cannot ask them to stay still or look this way. They will do what they are doing until you enter their area and they feel you are a threat to them. Saxen Van Coller has spent years out in the field taking photographs of wild animals across various nature parks and reserves. She has done various exhibitions across the globe and has been applauded for her work.

Today, let’s talk about ways one can improve your wildlife photography. As we all know in photographing things are a little different when we are dealing with the wild. Here you need to spend more time with the subjects and the more likely your images will be intimate and revealing. Sometime when taking pictures we wish to have the backgrounds blur, so that the subject is in sharp focus.

During my initial days of photography I always had a problem. In order to get a sharp subject and the blurry background all I needed to do was select the widest aperture or use portrait mode. The result of the photographs was disappointing despite the large apertures the images in the background were all either sharp as the subject or only very slightly blurred. The focus was right, the exposure was right, but for some reason there was some issue.

When after repeated tries a lot of thinking I worked out the problem. To get the picture right, you need right aperture and for that light needs to come from one direction. But when we are working in the outdoor light comes from all directions- it’s basically all over the place.  It’s the job of the lens to direct those rays to be focused on the sensor. The further you are away from your camera’s focusing point the less the rays will converge on your sensor and thus the subject will be blurry on the image.

Saxen Van Coller says when you know how to manage the light you can probably get the perfect results an the image that is sharp from foreground to background. Distance is also another factor that matters when taking pictures ,make sure you are at the right distance to get the perfect shots. In the end what matters is how much you practice and spend time in the outdoors.

Choose A Fast Shutter Speed And A Telephoto Lens For Better Wildlife Photographs

Great wildlife photography is a lifetime pursuit. It can only be achieved with hours of scouting and traveling and waiting for better business opportunity. Saxen Van Coller a professional wildlife photographer believes that it is an art that requires much more patience as compared to other forms of photography. It is a form where you can spend an entire day in the hot sun without even getting a single best shot. While there may be a day out in the wild where you have just reached and within just an hour's time you get the best shot.

This is one reality that a photographer has to accept and if you have the zeal then it's time to dig deeper in the details. Today we will talk about telephoto lens and fast shutter speed. These are the two most important criteria that matter the most in wildlife photography. You need to have a very good lens and enough light to get a very fast shutter speed.

When we talk about lens, it is supposed to be a telephoto lens that is somewhere between 200mm to 500mm.  If you have a point and shoot camera you can also take the best shots, but when you are working at the professional level its necessary to work on the lens. Well, when you are out in the wild it is important to use the fastest shutter speed that your camera or the surrounding light will allow. When we are taking pictures of human things are easier, but with animals we cannot work with ease as they are fast, quick and are completely different.

Let’s take an example of a hummingbird and how fast it beats its wings to hover. With such fast speed when you capture it the wings it will probably come blurred.  So in this case to really capture the hummingbird you will need to increase the shutter speed past 1/1500s and you will get the perfect results.

Saxen Van Coller suggests that another reason you will want to increase the shutter speed is when you use a telephoto lens at long distances and you will need a long focal length like 500mm. When you shoot at such horizon, things move differently and at some point you may experience that your camera may shake, making it all the more tough to get those perfect shots.

So the last point is to try to get the fastest shutter speed. Make an effort to go out during the brighter time of the day to capture the best wildlife photographs. 

Saxon Van Coller-Why A Lens Is So Important In Wildlife Photography?

When we are shooting in the wildlife be it bears in Alaska or birds in flight the most important factor is choosing the right type of lens. No matter the subject is near or far the ultimate result is only possible when we pick the lens of correct focal length. The longer the lens and the longest focal length the better the results. When we are dealing with quality wildlife photographs we cannot get away with a cheap lens as we will not get the desired results. Hence we require a high quality and fast aperture telephoto optics lens. 

Wildlife photography is an expensive hobby hence its better to pick the right gear in order to achieve the best results believes Saxen Van Coller. If you are planning to make an investment in a lens, then this will probably give you an idea and help you make the best choice. Below is the list of various types of lens:

• The best all around, zoom lens is the Nikon 18-140mmf/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX. While most camera lenses come with the 18-105mm, but with this lens you won’t find a better kit along with such super good quality zoom. It comes with vibration reduction, ED elements for improved quality and it can also autofocus with the D3200.

• If you are running on a tight budget and need to get to this safari and capture wildlife photographs then the Nikon 70-300mmf/4.5-5.6G VR is the lens you will want. It is a great buy as its autofocus is pretty good in daylight and its versatile zoom is ranged between 70-300mm which is perfect for large animals. The lens is compact and easy to carry around when you are scouting for animals in the wildlife spots and safari. You may face a problem in low-light, well this is expected when we are dealing with a slow variable aperture zoom lens.

• The next one is the Nikon 70-200mmf/2.8g VR II this is a superb lens that not only is perfect for portraits but also a perfect lens for wildlife photography. It’s rather short on long-side is one the few on which the Nikon lenses work.

With the difference in features we also see a price difference, hence it entirely suits your pocket which you wish to buy. For me these have worked perfectly and I recommend using them as they are versatile and easy to carry. In our next blog post we will elaborate and discuss about some more lenses.

Canon Or Nikon The Better Choice For Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography is all about the thrill and excitement.  Yet one has to be extra cautious while taking pictures as we are dealing with the untamed. Photography is not all about the subject and the location along with this what matters is the use of the perfect lens. No matter if you are a pro or a beginner if you do not have the right equipment you cannot capture great shots. Shooting images that are not that sharp as they should be creates an enormous problem for beginners and even for experienced photographers. Capturing truly sharp images is the result of using excellent lenses, employing superb shooting techniques, and accurate focusing.

After you have prepared your field of play the next thing to work on is the camera and the lens. Today we will talk about two companies Cannon and Nikon. These are the most preferred camera sellers that have helped photographers give excellent results. Well I personally use a Canon while some use the Nikon Tele primes and I have personally met a number of wildlife photographers who have created astonishing results using the Nikon equipment.

There is probably no difference between the two it’s just the photographers personal choice says Saxen Van Coller. No matter what company you choose, but before you make a purchase look at the camera and lenses you want to buy, check the prices of both the companies and whichever is in your budget buy that. A professional photographer will need the lenses that have at least a 400mm, 600mm or 800mm along with a Teleconverters. 

While most accessories give same results yet one difference that we see due to technology is that the Canon long tele primes are slightly smaller and lighter in size when compared to Nikon. This is an important factor as when you are out in the wild you need to walk long distances and one should not be carrying any heavy equipment. Most cameras offer a dipodic adjustment knob that lets you adjust the clarity of the viewfinder to best suit your eyesight. This should be done before anything else as it will help you determine when you have pinpointed focus unless you see the subject clearly in the viewfinder. Check and ensure that your camera has this particular feature.

Apart from this there are also a number of common lens accessories available in the market such as polarizing filters, extension tubes, and the Teleconverters, all these device cost less suggests Saxen Van Coller. Don’t use any of them unless you have an exceptionally good reason to do so. Try to add on minimum accessories use only in case there is a dire need. No matter what you prefer Nikon or Cannon it’s entirely up to you to produce the best results. A choice cannot be made between both the companies as both are superbly good and give amazing photos.

Wildlife Photography What It Is?

Photography gives a new definition to the things that we see around.  Wildlife photography is one of the most challenging aspects, but the results are extremely rewarding. The best wildlife images, create a powerful emotional connection for the viewer and the photographer. When out in the wild what matters most is planning, timing, and technique. If these are in coordination then the results are worth the risk.

 
Saxen Van Coller, who has spent a substantial amount in the wildlife taking pictures of the untamed. She has traveled to various national reserves and parks and taken risks to capture shots of her favorites. Like human portraits, wildlife portraits gain life when there is a connection between the viewer and the photograph. When we are working in nature, there is a very narrow depth of field, and nothing else to be in focus. When you are in the wild many shots are taken and you never know when the body position, the facial expression, and the composition of the image are in motion.

Another important fact that we can learn from human portraits states Saxen Van Coller is that the idea of composing based on the facing and direction. Moving animal is best captured when enough room is given to them and there is ample space. When out in the wild use light in every possible way, be it sunrise or sunset. With these you can create picturesque effects with back-lighting as it presents one of the most dramatic types of lighting a photographer has to work with, and when you are shooting an animal with a beautiful form, it can help you produce striking results.

Our brains are almost hardwired to notice faces and to look for the eyes, hence when taking photos your sharp focus should be on the eye. A tiny bit of fill light from a flash will help create effective catch light in the eye to enhance the effect.  Wildlife photography is a big game so it’s important that you know who you are playing for. Along with that you need to maintain your safety when around the animals for the best shots. Spending time and knowing the movement of the subject will help to capture them in the best way.