Settings for Wildlife Photography

There aren’t necessarily right or wrong settings—there are settings that work well for you and your specific shooting situation. I chose the following video because it perfectly explains my approach and settings to wildlife photography.

Bird Photography in New York City

Believe it or not, I had more opportunities for bird photography when I lived in South Florida than I do now living in a small town north of Tampa.

Surprisingly, bird photography in New York City isn't uncommon, as explained in the following video.

Swans in Florida

 Yesterday we visited the city of Lakeland, Florida, specifically Lake Morton. The main reason of our visit was to photograph the Swans that were gifted to this city by Queen Elizabeth II.

Using a Canon R6 w/EF100-400L

Using a Canon R6 w/EF100-400L

 

 Above you can see two of the pictures I took while admiring the beauty of these birds.  For more pictures, please visit my Flickr page.

 

Image stabilization

Image stabilization is crucial for any type of photography. Here’s a picture I took using a super low shutter speed to capture the movement effect in the water. I used 1/15s; at this speed, without image stabilization, there would have been no way to shoot this image without a tripod.

Love is in the air

In my opinion, this is the best picture from today’s photo walk. The two lizards look like they're hugging each other. 

Botanical Gardens are ideal for good pictures

Botanical Gardens are fantastic places for a day of photography, brimming with natural beauty and diverse subjects. I spent some time at one yesterday and captured this photo. The gardens are perfect for taking vibrant and detailed shots of plants, flowers, and even butterflies.

For example, these pictures of a butterflies showcases the delicate details and vivid colors that the gardens have to offer. The setting provided an excellent backdrop for highlighting the intricate patterns and textures of the butterfly, making for a captivating image.

Using a Canon R6 w/EF100-400L.

Using a Canon R6 w/EF100-400L.

Exposing for the brightest subject

I really enjoy using this technique in photography. The concept is straightforward: you focus on a subject illuminated by a spot of light. To ensure the subject is properly exposed, you need to adjust the exposure compensation on your camera. This adjustment will naturally cause the background to appear very dark, often reaching black.

In post-processing, you then refine the image by trying to keep the background as dark as possible. The result is a striking photograph where the subject stands out vividly against a nearly black backdrop. This method is excellent for creating dramatic, high-contrast images that emphasize the subject.

Using a Canon R6 w/EF100-400L.

The above photo is part of an album created with Pictures taken at Spring Hill Coastal Botanical Garden.