Welcome to my new blog series I am calling “Great Subjects”! The idea behind this series is to give you specific themes to focus your attention on, a quest if you will, for your photography outings.
Expand your horizons! Get outside your comfort zone! Try something new!
You’ll find that once you start looking for a particular subject, you’ll discover it much more often than you might have thought. And, even if the subject isn’t your thing, you’re bound to learn something new by stretching your wings.
So, with no further ado …
The first lesson in the series is on how to photograph small animals. Why are they different than photographing large animals? Because the very small creatures that inhabit our world tend to be skittish and move quickly making it hard for us to sneak up and get closer with our big lenses.
A slight tangent — Did you know there will be more Instagrams of cats posted today than there were photographs made during the entire 19th century? For that reason, I feel like I should point out that we’re talking about animals that are smaller than a kitten! So photographing your cat doesn’t cut it for our “small animals” theme. But you can photograph small birds, rodents, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and even fish.
Subject Ideas
When we think of the word “animal”, we usually picture the larger mammals that we’re so used to seeing every day. Instead, for this theme, focus on the word “small”:
Rodents – This category of mini-mammals reaches far beyond the rats and mice that first come to mind. Squirrels, for example, are found almost everywhere. Depending on where you are in the world, you might also find chipmunks, ground hogs, gophers, gerbils, and prairie dogs.
Reptiles – Some of the oldest species in the world fall into this family, having lived alongside the dinosaurs. Lizards are a subfamily of reptiles which include chameleons, geckos, and chuckwallas. Other types of reptiles are turtles/tortoises and snakes, as well as several that are far bigger than we’re looking for in this theme (alligators, crocodiles, etc).
Crustaceans – Found almost exclusively in or near the sea, this category consists of crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and crayfish, as well as unexpected creatures like barnacles and the little bugs found infesting dead trees (known either as wood bugs, woodlice, sow bugs, pillbugs, or roly-polys, depending on where you’re from).
Mollusks – Also fond of wet habitats, the mollusk family consists of a wide variety of invertebrates including clams, oysters, scallops, cuttlefish, squid, octopi, snails, and slugs. They’re not the most glamorous photographic subjects, but are small animals nonetheless.
Insects – Probably the easiest subjects to find will be insects. They are everywhere all around us and despite their reputation as pests, they can be fascinating photography subjects. Look for flies, dragon flies, ladybugs, ants, praying mantis, bees, and even butterflies.
Small Birds – Since they meet the qualification of “smaller than a kitten” you can also include small birds in this theme.
Optimal Camera Settings
Shutter Speed
Capturing such small creatures can be difficult because they often move very quickly. For the best results, select the shutter priority mode on your camera’s command dial and choose a shutter speed around 1/500th of a second to freeze any motion. You can then adjust your shutter speed depending how fast your subject is moving.
Aperture
Using a very wide aperture, you can blur the foreground and background which will put all the attention on your main subject. Remember, the widest aperture opening is represented by the smallest f-stop number like f/2.8 or f/4. Using this wide aperture will also bring in lots of light which will help keep your shutter speed fast.
ISO
Start at ISO 100. If you are able to get the shutter speed and aperture you want at this ISO then you don’t have to do anything further. But if you need more light, then increase the ISO accordingly until you can get the shutter speed you require. Sometimes high ISO can result in noise, but it’s better to have a sharp image with a bit of noise (which you can correct in post processing) than it is to have an unintentionally blurry image.
Focus Mode
When using auto focus, having it set to continuous auto focus (usually called AF-C or AI Servo) will tell the camera to track the subject’s motion for more accurate focus. However, this mode isn’t always ideal when the subject is still. If you’re not sure what your subject is going to do, hedge your bets by choosing the automatic auto focus (AF-A or AI Focus AF) – the name sounds redundant, I know, but this mode will select between continuous and single-shot (AF-S or One-Shot AF) mode based on the detection of movement within the frame.
Equipment Choices
When I am shooting animals large and small, I rarely use a tripod because I am using a fast shutter speed anyway and without a tripod I can move quicker and get my camera into the perfect angle more easily.
As far as lens choice goes, you’ll probably want to use either a telephoto lens or a macro lens.
Smaller animals tend to have acute prey instincts, based on their typically low position in the food chain. This can make it difficult to get close to them without frightening them into flight. In some cases (such as certain spiders, scorpions, insects, snakes, and frogs) it can also mean that they have developed dangerous defense mechanisms to protect themselves from predators. While I strongly advise you to stay far away from anything harmful or poisonous, having a long lens on your camera will allow you to get a good close-up while keeping a safe and non-threatening distance.
Not all things are so skittish, though, and some will allow you to get much closer than others. Many small simple creatures, such as worms, ants, and snails, won’t register you as a predator so much as part of the moving landscape. For animals like these, you can get closer to them, fill the frame, and capture fine detail by using a macro lens.
If you don’t have a dedicated macro lens, you can also use extension tubes or close-up filters on a regular lens to get the same effect with a smaller price tag. I use a 70-300mm telephoto lens for most of my wildlife work and, if I am photographing very small animals that I can get a few feet away from, I’ll use my Canon 500D close-up filter on the telephoto lens, which essentially turns my telephoto into a macro lens by allowing me to focus at a closer distance.
Where to find your subjects
Where do you go to find small creatures? Finding an animal that’s smaller than a kitten can be tough because they’re so small, and they don’t always make themselves seen. This usually means that you have to go searching for them. Luckily, once you know where to look, you’ll quickly realize that tiny things are everywhere.
As soon as you step out your front door, they’ll probably be right under your feet. In fact, you might step on them if you’re not careful. You’ll find worms and snakes buried in the grass, and insects hiding in nearby flowers and shrubs. If you listen closely for the telltale cheeping of newly hatched birds, you might find a nest. Remember to keep your distance and never disturb a nest, though, as this can cause the mother to abandon it.
In hot climates, you’ll probably find lizards basking on top of rocks, or maybe hiding in the shade. In wet areas, visit the swampier regions to find frogs and other amphibians among the water plants. Small rodents live in forested areas and park lands, usually buried in small dens among the tree roots. If you’re near the coast, head to the ocean to find crabs and mollusks. They will often hole up in the dampness under stones and in tidal pools, or even buried in the sand.
The city has its share of animal life too. Hit up the city park to find squirrels, pigeons, robins, and other animals that have learned to live off of the surplus of human civilization.
If you’re in a part of the world that is still frozen, you’ll have a more difficult time. If you’re really stuck, take a trip to the local zoo to find all sorts of animals in one place.
Approaching Small Animals In the Field
Small creatures often have highly-tuned “prey” instincts, and have a fear of larger things such as humans. If you want to get anywhere near these animals, it can take a great deal of care to keep from frightening them away.
The first thing to avoid is noise. Keep as quiet as possible to avoid alerting them to your presence. Turn your cell phone on silent and step lightly when approaching.
Sudden motion will also put an animal on guard, so be conservative with your movements. Keep as still as possible and when you do move, do so slowly and carefully, being cautious that you don’t trip or knock into anything. Think like a ninja. Carrying as little equipment as possible will allow you to move freely and easily, with less gear to pay attention to or potentially throw you off balance.
Some animals consider it a threat when you look directly at them, so try to keep your eyes low and watch them from your peripheral vision. When you do approach them, don’t move directly towards them in a straight line, but in a gradual zig-zag pattern. When it comes to easing an animal’s fear, your ability to be hushed, still, and patient will make all the difference.
Sometimes the best way to get close to an animal is to find out where they naturally congregate, go there, set up and wait patiently without moving or making any noise. Eventually you will become part of the landscape and the animals may be unaware you are there.
Light
One of the biggest challenges we face when shooting small creatures is how easy it is for us to get lost in a sense of reverence or affection for the animal and forget to pay attention to the nuts and bolts of good composition.
A good photo is not made by the subject so much as the way the light falls on it, so always keep your eye on the shadows and contrast when framing your shot, and don’t forget to compose your background and foreground elements so that they emphasize the focal point. Animals (even tiny ones) can be full of personality and this certainly should not be ignored, but the forms of their bodies also create elegant shapes (both real and implied) that can be used to create an enticing portrait.
Composition
“Portrait”? I know, the word is usually used to refer to pictures of people, and often only from the shoulders up. This is the traditional artistic definition, but the word itself simply means “a representation or impression of someone or something”. If you think of photographing animals in this way, it becomes easy to create interesting images that depict the subject’s unique charm and character.
In this spirit, you can approach your composition in two ways. One is the classic portrait, which is a close-up that highlights the features of the subject’s face (usually the eyes, but in the case of non-human creatures, it could be fur, scales, whiskers, antennae, etc). This is best done by filling the whole frame with the animal and using a shallow depth of field to emphasize fine details and obscure the negative space around it.
The other method is the environmental portrait. Taken from a distance or with a wide angle point of view, this type of composition incorporates a subject’s location to give it a sense of context. There is a lot to be understood about an animal by the place it’s found in, whether that be its natural habitat or something more artificial. Unlike the classic portrait, this approach will usually use a larger depth of field in order to get more of the surrounding setting in focus.
Consider these ideas as you go looking for small creatures to photograph, and always remember that animals are living things and they (and their homes) can be very sensitive, so take care to treat them with respect as you try to capture memorable images.
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Anne
What a great idea and such a helpful post. There is so much information out on the internet but not much that is as well written as yours. I am glad to see you back after PF.
Hey Mike, great to see you here and thanks for the kind compliment! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Thanks for taking the time to share these great ideas.
You are most welcome Barbara, thanks for stopping by and commenting.
This looks like a lot of fun. Unfortunately, where I live we are having below zero wind chills, and everything is covered in snow. No zoo, either. So will have to pass for now, but will try this after life resumes here!
Hi Shari, Oh no! Well, yeah, I suppose a lot of snow would make things more difficult. But hopefully you’ll get a nicer day and the little creatures will venture outside just like you 😀 Thanks for your visit and comments.
The temperatures here are near zero and will be zero this weekend but will keep my eyes open for opportunities. Great advise. will try to apply when the shots come up.
Fred in New York
Thanks for your visit and comments Fred, I hope things warm up soon!
Great helpful post Anne. I didn’t know you could buy close-up filters for lenses, how great & so much cheaper!
What size would you recommend for a macro lens as I have no idea? My smallest lens is a nifty 50 f2.8 which is great but does not get up close enough.
Thank you very much for your dedicated work & information that you pass on.
Hi Sharon, I use a close-up filter on my 70-300mm lens. It’s called a Canon 550D – this one here:
http://amzn.to/1QfS6iO
My understanding is that if you want to use it with a shorter focal length lens, you would use the 250D.
As far as purchasing a macro lens, if I was going to buy one, I’d buy a 180mm because then you don’t have to be so close to your subject. I definitely wouldn’t go less than 100mm.
I hope that helps! Good luck 🙂
You are getting into my field now and the tips are great. I am much more conscious of composition now than identity snapshots! Glad to say I have a macro lens and love it! Thanks Anne.
You are welcome Elizabeth, I’m glad you find the tips helpful!
I like these ideas…now to find the time to get out there!
That’s also my problem. But I’m struggling with it. Is it because I have a really busy life or is it because Photography is not motivating me enough to make other choices and go out in the cold to find little insects and kneel down in the wet grass and spend my time alone in the field, while at home the coffee is waiting for me. Dear Ann…..do you have tips for us?
Hi Lex, well, I’ve been doing this thing lately where if I am trying to decide between go and no go, I always choose go! I find that if I choose not to go, I sometimes regret it later and feel like I’m not doing all I could do. But if I choose go I rarely regret it, even if I don’t get a great photo, at least I got outside. Also, waterproof shoes and pants 🙂
Thanks Anne for your reply. I very much admire your positive attitude and open mind to experience the beautiful things in life. Thanks for being such a great example!
Ah yes, making the time can be the hard part! But I think it’s important to carve out a slice of your time for doing things you love and are passionate about. It’s good for the soul!
Lovely article with many helpful suggestions and very well written. I do have a macro lens but the Canon 65mm f/2.8 requires being literally on top of your subject so I reserve it for product shots requiring focus stacking. It’s very heavy and not terrific to lug around outside.
Like Fred from New York, I live in a cold zone at the moment (-30ºC today – yep, that’s a MINUS sign) in New Brunswick, Canada. So, any living creatures outside are well hidden. But, I’ll search!
These tips articles are very useful and I share them on my FB page (/imagesbyceci) regularly. Thanks!
I completely envy your lifestyle and have often dreamt of following a similar path!
Hi Ceci, thanks for your kind compliment and for sharing my article on FB! Yeah, -30 is a bit much!! I hope things warm up for you soon, brrrrr!! If travelling is something you have often dreamt of doing, I hope you get an opportunity. I highly recommend the RV lifestyle! I can’t imagine living any other way now.
Well done. And your results are spectacular.
Thank you so much Judy, I really appreciate it.
Very informative and well written in a down to earth way. Thanks for the challenge and the prod in the ribs to get out there…….
Great info and very helpful and easy to understand.
Thank you so much Victoria, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you so much Mavis!
Glad to see you back after PF ( so sorry it ended), Great tips its now in the single numbers now so I will keep this until spring.
Hi Steve, great to see you here. Yeah, I miss Photo Forté too, but it’s time for a change and new projects are on the horizon! Hopefully the little creatures will be on their way outside soon — and you too!
This is a well written introduction. Thank you. I’d love to see more detail on the macro methods to image the smaller creatures and tips on photographing birds too.
Hi Denny, thanks for the suggestion, I think I will do an article on macro photography! There is definitely one on bird photography coming up soon as well. Thanks for your visit and comments!
Thank you for sharing good information, Anne! You always make it clear, strait to the point and encouraging!
Love your work and/ or hobby 🙂
Irina
Scotts Valley, California
Thanks Irina! That is my goal: clear, straight to the point, and encouraging! I’m glad to hear I’m hitting the mark. Much appreciated.
Great tips as always! I’m so envious of your traveling photography life and so grateful that you share your beautiful images and lessons. Thank you!
Monica
Maryland
Hi Monica, yes, I am very glad I took the plunge and changed my life. It was all worth it! Thank you very much for your visit and comments, always appreciated!
Thank you for your amazing pics and info.. very much appreciated…
You are most welcome Rose, thanks for your comments!
I love your photos. I have a question, what zoom lens do you use for the hummingbirds/bees etc.
I have a 70-300.
Hi Cyndy,
I have a 70-300 also and I use it for wildlife photography quite a bit. I used it for the bees, along with a 500D close-up filter. I love using the close-up filter for small animals that allow me to get close to them. Otherwise you have to be quite a ways away with the 70-300 lens. For the hummingbird, because it was close to me, just on the other side of the window, I used my 24-105 lens. I hope this helps!
Oh Annie.
you are truly amazing,
Absolutely amazing clicks….
These clicks seems like someone professionally shot.
Great post keep on continuing with the stunning clicks, waiting for some more interesting pics. 😉
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment Vidya 🙂
Hey Anne, I’ve been following you since early Feb.,’14, and enjoying your blog and advice, and envying your decision to change your life so radically. A dog, 3 cats and living practically under “Galloping Gerty”, on a house on pilings, over the water on Puget Sound makes it impossible for me, but the seals, otters, orcas and the view make it a bit more endurable! As you know, the scenery in the Pacific Northwest is gorgeous, and the ability to be in radically different country within a 2 hour drive affords lots of different photographic opportunities. When you first started PF, I was wondering how long that would last, because I’ve made my living as a guitar instructor for the last 45 years, and know how time consuming it is, coaching people, no matter how much you love the subject. Keep up the great work, and gracing us with both your photos and your knowledge!
Hi Ed, thank you very much, I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the blog. You live in an amazing part of the world and are lucky to be right on the water with the constantly changing views and activity every day. I’ve also enjoyed some of that scenery not too far from you in Palouse – which is a total opposite of the water view. Yes, PF was a lot of work not only with the coaching but maintaining the back end of the system. But it was very rewarding as well. Now I’m looking forward to some new projects. Thanks for taking the time to comment, it’s great to hear from you.
A great idea Anne, thank you. Hope you do a blog on BIG animals. Off to Africa in April. looking forward to your lightroom video also. Do you have a launch date?
Hi Peter,
Yes, I’ll be doing an article on big animals 🙂 I hope you enjoy your trip to Africa, it’s pretty amazing to see all the big animals in the wild. No launch date on the LR course yet. Soon!!
Very useful sister. i love this lesson.
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Anne, this is one of the most well written and easy to follow pieces that I have read. Being a photographer of small things for many many years the way in which to presented the info was outstanding. I enjoy your blog and all the emails I receive from you. Keep up the great work and it’s photographers like you that share what they have learned that keep this profession fun and interesting. Thank you!!
Hi Ben, thank you so much for your very kind comment! I love sharing what I have learned with others and seeing their photography improve too. It’s a great way to stay focussed on the good things in the world. I really appreciate your words.
I have just finished a basic photographic workshop, which I have enjoyed. All the things you are talking about is reinforcing what I have learned . Thank you for your wonderful link.
Thanks for your lovely comments Elisabeth, much appreciated.
Thank you Anne. Now that Spring is ‘officially’ here, it will soon be time to get out and give these very helpful ideas a try!
Yay! Everyone is glad to see spring!! All the little creatures will be making an appearance giving us lots of photography opportunities. Thanks for your comments Sharlene, always appreciated.
What an awesome Post with lots and lots of Humor, loved it.
I must say you have a great sense of lives Anne.
What a great helpful post. There is so much information out on the internet and some of it is so hard to figure out and understand,yours is so well Written and easy to read and understand Thank you for the free eBook it’s great.Learning so.much. Thank you for all the effort and time you give to your work so we can learn.
Hi Anne, I am blown away by your photography. I am teaching myself photography; call myself an advanced beginner, LOL. I struggle with “how to use the right settings”, If only I could master that. Again love your work.
Hi Andes, Many thanks for your wonderful comments! I am going to have an ebook coming out soon all about using your camera and all the various settings because I get a lot of people say the exact same thing as you. You are not alone there!
Hello Anne. I must say I’m very new to photography, but I’m definitely passionate about it. I don’t have a dslr camera now, I’m still saving to buy one. For now I shoot with my Samsung Galaxy s7 and the pictures are just incredible! I was hoping I could get into this challenge of ‘Photographing small animals’ and share some of my photos to see if I’m up to the task. But how do I share my photos or get to see other peoples photos?
Hi C’say, thanks for your visit and comments! I don’t have any way for readers to share their photos on this site, but I encourage you to get on Flickr or Instagram or Facebook and share your photos there. Social networking is a great way to share and learn. Don’t forget to “friend” or “follow” me on whichever social network you choose and then I’ll be able to see your photos. Have fun, glad you enjoyed the tutorial.
What a great idea. It is a complex subject for experience “Great Subjects”. I will try to stretching my wings. Thanks
You are welcome Mohammed, glad you enjoyed it.
I love to photograph small and large animals. This was VERY interesting and full of information ideas!
Thanks!
You have made me think about selling my house and moving into an RV and travel. I also liked reading your RV info, travels, and your husband adding sun metals to the top to help your electricity back before.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the post Sue! RVing is wonderful, I highly recommend it. The solar panels mean we can camp off grid and be totally self sufficient. Thanks for your visit and comments.
Ta Anne for sharing your expertise…it is a great help and very much appreciated…cheers. Al
Great articles Anne, and your tips and hints very useful. One comment if I may, and I suspect you have had this before. It would be very helpful to show key setting for each photo – that I think would be very helpful, especially when trying to understand the finer points of speed and apperture, to demonstrate for example freezing a bird in flight but with a slight blur of the wingtips. Just a thought, and keep up thhe great work and photos
Just like everyone, wonderful articles and well written. Thanks for sharing.
Birds and other small animals are still active even in the middle of winter. We just need to get out there and take advantage of the light, especially as it reflects off the snow.
Keep up the great work. And thank you again.
Hans
Hi Anne I have just watch photographing small animals. I really
enjoyed it. I have just started using Manual setting which I am finding very good
I can get some good photos and it is nice and a challange.
Thank you once again for the information you provide.
Kind regards
Jackie
Hi Jackie, you are most welcome, I am glad you found the post helpful 🙂 Thanks for your visit and comments.
Great idea and I like the way you share your thoughts. I’m using my Olympus 70-300 more often these days.