How to Photograph Wildlife Safely and Ethically
Wildlife photography is a powerful tool to draw awareness to biodiversity and environmental conservation. It inspires us to develop a relationship with nature and serves as an educational resource. However, if a photographer is not careful, their actions can disrupt an animal’s ecosystem and natural behaviour such as resting, hunting, foraging, mating, and caring for their young. These disruptions can threaten an animal’s life. It is important to understand the ethics of wildlife photography and be respectful when capturing images of wild animals.
Putting wildlife first is the foundation of being an ethical wildlife photographer. Studying your subject, their natural history, habitat and behaviour in different circumstances will help you recognize signs of stress and discomfort. For instance, by learning the distress calls of various bird species, you’ll know when one is agitated. A bird acting aggressively indicates you are likely too close to their nest. A pacing fox, coyote or wolf may mean you need to walk away. Your wildlife knowledge is imperative to the animal: for you, it’s just a photo; for them, it’s their survival.
Here’s what else you can do to be an ethical wildlife photographer.
- Be aware of your effects: Avoid actions that can threaten an animal’s life. Altering or destroying vegetation around nests or dens may leave the young open to predators or to the elements, especially during the breeding season.
- Master your skills: A good photographer will be able to produce incredible images by mastering the skills of waiting, watching and listening. Simply let nature unfold around you.
- Follow the laws: Laws and regulations exist to maintain wildlife and keep humans safe, and may vary by location and species.
- Keep it natural: Avoid baiting and feeding wildlife. If an animal is attracted to roadsides, it puts them at risk of being hit by a car or may even change their behaviour.
- Inspire others: Educate people through your images. As the adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, so use your photos to tell a story that raises awareness about a particular endangered species, for example, or the effects that humans have on wildlife and how communities can ease these impacts.
Best Wildlife Photography Cameras and Lenses
Beyond taking an ethical and responsible approach when capturing images of animals, using the correct cameras and lenses, as well as knowing the proper settings for your equipment, will allow you to produce images without getting too close.
A reliable camera body allows you to capture images of wildlife without missing the moment. The EOS 6D Mark II is not only a sturdy DSLR, but also the world’s lightest 35mm full-frame DSLR. No matter where your photographic adventures take you, you won’t have a heavy camera hanging around your neck or weighing down your pack. Weather can be unpredictable, but the camera’s dust- and water- resistant body ensures uninterrupted performance, even when conditions get messy.
The EOS R6 full-frame mirrorless camera boasts impressive features to help you capture stunning photos. Equipped with animal detection auto focus, it will consistently capture crisp photos of your wildlife subjects. Thanks to the latest technology, the EOS R6 can effectively track the entire body, face or eye of an animal with speed and precision.
If you are looking to keep a safe distance from your subject with your DSLR camera, both the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM telephoto zoom lens and EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM ultra-wide zoom lens enable you to capture high-quality images of animals in their environment without disrupting the ecosystem. For anyone who owns an EOS R Series mirrorless camera, the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM telephoto zoom lens and RF 14-35mm F4 L IS USM ultra-wide zoom lens take advantage of the advanced performance of the new RF mount.
Telephoto lenses are ideal for pulling an animal into focus and pushing its environment into the background. Wide and ultra-wide angle lenses allow you capture wildlife and their environment. No matter which option you chose, these lenses produce stunning images in the most challenging conditions. If you find your wildlife photography gear difficult to hold steady, opt for lenses with built-in optical stabilization (easily identifiable via the IS designation in the lens name), which can help mitigate and correct any blurring caused by camera shake. Alternatively, a tripod also helps keep your camera steady, and when paired with a remote shutter, allows you to trigger the camera without needing to handhold the system.