When it comes to wildlife photography, there is no camera better than the Nikon D750. Aside from its excellent image quality thanks to its 24.3 Megapixel sensor, it’s also compact, light, and weather sealed. Those three factors are essential when it comes to wildlife photography. That’s because you and your camera will spend lots of time outdoors, exposed to the elements. So, having the seals and gaskets on the camera’s body goes a long way to preventing moisture and dust from finding their way inside.
Still, having a great camera like the D750 isn’t enough to produce excellent wildlife photography. Of course, you’ll need your photo-taking skills; that’s a given. But more than that, you’ll need a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of that experience.
That’s where this article comes into play.
In the next few sections, you’ll read the top five tips you need to know to have a great time doing wildlife photography. First, you’ll need to know your camera inside and out. Then, you should put some effort into knowing the animal subjects you wish to photograph. Through experience, you’ll learn that capturing multiple subjects in your shot is usually better than just one. But above all, you should always be patient, and remember to have fun while out on your shoot.
Let’s look a little closer at each of those tips.
Know Your Nikon D750
That’s a universal tip that applies to any form of photography. As a proud owner of the Nikon D750, you should take the time to discover what your camera can do.
There are two ways you learn about your camera. The first is to read through the instruction manual. That’s the one place that will show you, page by page, every single feature the D750 has. Unfortunately, no one enjoys doing that because instruction manuals aren’t attractive to read at all. So, as an alternative, you could find Youtube videos about the D750. Or, you could browse photography forums to see all the protips (or “professional tips”) to master your camera.
The second method is simply to practice. Remember: the skills you gain from using your D750 in other environments will also benefit you when you do wildlife photography. So, even when you’re not out in the wild, you should practice a lot with your D750.
The goal here is to become so familiar with your camera that it’s like an extension of yourself. That way, you won’t waste time fiddling with the camera settings when you’re trying to capture photographs of wildlife. Instead, you’ll know what to do by instinct. Your fingers, acting on muscle memory, will quickly adjust the settings to fit the moment.
The result? When an opportunity for a great wildlife photo appears, you’ll be much more efficient at capturing it without wasting any time figuring out how to do something with the D750.
Know Your Wildlife Subjects
Knowing your Nikon D750 is essential for any form of photography. But when it comes to wildlife photography, you also need a basic understanding of the animals you wish to capture.
That doesn’t mean that you have to become a zoologist or a total expert on the animals you like. But it does mean that you should have a basic understanding of their behaviors and their habitats. Remember: when it comes to wildlife photography, your subjects don’t play by your rules. They are living their lives, and you’re the one trying to capture images of them. So, by learning to understand them, you can ensure that you’re in the right place at the right time to get great photographs.
For example, most people understand that birds will probably be high up in the trees. Some animals spook easily, while others might be extremely friendly with humans. Of course, you should be extra careful when it comes to wildlife that’s capable of hurting or killing you, as well.
How does a photographer learn these things? Well, learning about animals online is very easy. But in the context of wildlife photography, it may be better for you to learn from more experienced photographers.
Wildlife photographers tend to specialise in certain kinds of animal subjects. For example, if you’re interested in photographing wild birds, you might want to speak to a birdwatching photographer. They’ll be able to guide you the best when it comes to that particular type of wildlife.
Capture Multiple Animals
Photos of animals by themselves out in the open can be mesmerising. You can even frame the picture in such a way that the image has a noir type of style to it. Still, try not to limit yourself when it comes to wildlife photography. The fact is that there’s plenty of beauty out in nature waiting for you to capture it on film. All you have to do is know where to look.
One example is the interactions between animals. Sure, photographing one animal is nice. But photographing several of them interacting with each other and their natural habitat is even better. Perhaps you’ll see two animals performing their mating rituals. Or, you may find two young ones playing with each other in such a way that would make for an adorable photo. Think of how you feel whenever you see a picture of a mama bear and her cubs. Multiple animals in one image could be very rewarding.
Another exciting angle you could approach wildlife photography from would be to capture the interactions of animals from different species. An image of a predator animal stalking its prey would create an intense photo. Or perhaps, a picture of two unlikely friends from different species.
As we all know, photography is an art, and art can move people emotionally. We, as human beings love watching wild animals interacting with each other in their natural environment. So the next time you follow an animal subject, take some time to see how they interact with other animals and capture that with your Nikon D750.
Always Be Patient
As mentioned before, when it comes to wildlife photography, you don’t have much control. Sure, you can control yourself and your Nikon D750. But the subjects that you are trying to capture, you can’t tell them what to do. On top of that, even the natural lighting provided by the environment is out of your control. That’s why patience is more than a virtue in wildlife photography; it’s absolutely necessary!
If you’re looking for role models, think of professional wildlife photographers. Some of them camp out in the woods or hike up a mountain and stay there for days. But why do they go to such lengths just to capture some pictures of animals? They do it because they understand just how important patience is. They know that all they have to do is capture one perfect image, and it’ll become a timeless classic.
You don’t necessarily have to those extremes, of course. You could just do some wildlife photography at a nearby park if you prefer. The point here is that when you engage in wildlife photography, you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. Nature controls how animals behave, or if the animal you’re looking for will appear at all. Nature also determines if you’re going to find yourself caught in the rain, or if the natural lighting will be good enough.
So, if you want the perfect opportunity to capture a great wildlife photo, you must be patient. Remember: you’re playing by Mother Nature’s rules.
Remember To Have Fun!
Last but not least, you must have fun. As photographers, we become more serious about our art as time goes by. The better we get, the less we remember how to have fun. Think back to the first time you held a DSLR in your hands, back when you didn’t have much experience. Surely you had fun snapping photos of random items around your bedroom or your home.
When you head out to do some wildlife photography now with your Nikon D750, understand that it’s an excellent opportunity to have a bit of fun as well. As mentioned earlier, some wild animals are more receptive to humans than others.
Dolphins are a perfect example of this. A lot of wildlife photographers enjoy taking a boat out onto the water to capture photographs of dolphins. That’s because those animals are very interactive. They’ll swim with the ship, and if you’re close enough, they may even play with you.
Some wildlife photographers have a different idea of ‘fun’. They prefer the excitement of photographing dangerous animals that might attack or kill them. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with this, as long as you’re aware of the risks and protect yourself as best as you can.
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, having a great camera like the Nikon D750 is good for doing wildlife photography. However, if you’d like to get the most out of your experience, you’ll also need a few tips and tricks like the ones mentioned above. When you equip yourself with the right gear, skills, and knowledge, there’s no stopping you!
