Choosing the Right Wildlife Photography Equipment

To enhance your outdoor shooting experience, you need the proper equipment for wildlife photography. In this video, professional wildlife photographers Zac Mills and Ian Plant take you to the Falkland Islands and demonstrate the equipment they use to capture amazing images of penguins, seals, and cormorants. You will learn about the camera, lenses, flash units, and tripod, and how these tools work in varying lighting conditions.

The choices of equipment for wildlife photography are almost endless. Zac Mills simplifies the choices. He recommends a long telephoto lens to photograph small and distant animals. For versatility, he uses a Canon 200-400mm lens with a built-in 1.4x extender. If you are on a tighter budget, you may want the shorter focal length lens in combination with a teleconverter.

For stability, most photographers use a tripod, especially when shooting in low light. However, for flexibility, Zac shows you techniques to handhold your camera and long lens. When he goes handheld, Zac steadies his camera by placing his hand underneath the lens foot, creating stability and support. This technique allows you to also move quickly from the horizontal and vertical formats. If you are seated, you can use your knees as additional support, turning yourself into a human tripod. These methods will help you achieve the sharp images you’ve been looking for.

Ian Plant explains some other choices of equipment for wildlife photography. He shows you how he uses the wide angle lens in capturing approachable wildlife. Wide angles lenses also work when showing the environmental context of wildlife. Ian recommends the use of the dedicated external flash that attaches to the camera. As the primary light source, he depends on natural light, then uses his flash as a foreground fill light, especially at sunrise or sunset. Travel to the Falklands with Zac and Ian who show you the equipment for wildlife photography.

See all videos in our Wildlife Photography in the Falklands Course:

• Wildlife Photography in the Falklands – Course Preview
• Choosing the Right Equipment for Wildlife Photography
• Photographing with Natural Light at the Falklands Islands
• Discovering Wildlife Composition in the Falklands
• Wildlife Photography in the Falklands – Course Wrap-Up