Wildlife / nature photography
Wildlife / nature photography
Wildlife photography deals with taking photographs of wildlife, or non-domesticated animals. Here the focus is on nature and wild creatures. Unlike any other genre of photography, Wildlife photography can be most challenging. It's an adventurous career that demands mental as well as physical fitness besides general aptitude for the job. If you're a photographer who is fascinated by animals, nature and enjoy travel, Wildlife/Nature Photography can be an ideal career for you. It can be taken as part of ones hobby as well as a profession.
Wildlife photographers shoot photographs of animals and plant life in its most natural and habitual form. Photographing wildlife in their natural habitat provides one the chance of experiencing the sheer thrill and rare excitement of their fascinating world. Wildlife photographers need to spend a great deal of time traveling the world to remote locations for that perfect shot. To take it up as a profession, aspirants of Nature / wildlife photography requires a keen eye, and sense of composition, along with the technical knowledge to use cameras and lenses properly and creatively. They should know how to safely locate and observe wildlife without endangering themselves, the animals, or the environment.
Wildlife photographers may work full-time for a publication, on a contract basis for an agency, or as independent freelancers. Some wildlife photographers concentrate on specific environments or animal species, such as birds and insects in tropical climates, or bears, wolves and other species in mountainous settings.
Eligibility
Educational
As specialized degree courses for wildlife photography is rare in India, one can enter the field with a Bachelors degree in photography or photojournalism. One can even do a Diploma/Certificate course in Nature and wild life photography OR Wildlife and Travel photography or so. Anyone can take up these courses after completing 10 +2. It would be a good idea to work with an established photographer before starting out on your own. There are seminars, workshops and conferences being held on wildlife photography which one could attend to further ones knowledge.
Courses –
- Diploma Course
- Certificate Course
- BFA Photography
- MFA Photography
College / Institute –
- Delhi College of Photography, New Delhi
- Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad
- AJ Kidwal; Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi
- Asian Academy of Film and Television
- Osmania University, Hyderabad
Job Roles –
Wildlife photographers produce images of animals or plants in their natural environments. These portraits often convey a larger picture of life in the wild. In order to do so, wildlife photographers may enhance the photographs or the image through natural or artificial means. From altering the light to utilizing various cameras and lenses, wildlife photographers understand how to produce compelling images through the tools and techniques at their disposal. Finally, wildlife photographers understand how to coax the best images out of a variety of environments and conditions, using equipment that might counteract difficulties or enhance the focus in any natural setting.
Wildlife photographers must also understand the importance of designing and displaying the images to best convey the message of their photographs. Photographers may employ digital techniques to enhance their images in print, and they may also work on printing the images on the type of surface that best allows the images captured to appear lifelike and natural. Depending on the type and stock of film used, photographers can develop their own prints or outsource development to a separate company or individual.