1 Module # 3 Component # 2 Anticipate your Subject Part # 1 Introduction Good sports photographers are often athletes themselves, who are intimately familiar with the game. This allows them to anticipate events and action, and therefore gives them a huge photographic advantage. The same applies to wildlife photographers - if you know what your subject is going to do next, and are ready for it, you are far more likely to capture exceptional photographs. The key skill that you should develop is observation. Not only of your subject, as the sports photographers do, but of the surroundings and the weather, because animals are sensitive to these external factors. I remember visiting the Paarl Bird Sanctuary for the first time. The sanctuary was noted for its abundance of Malachite Kingfishers. I knew that kingfishers follow patterns, and I had photographed them before. On this particular trip, I went with a photographer who specialised in Kingfishers and visited the sanctuary at Paarl almost daily. I learned a huge amount in a short period of time - most of which is common sense, but that is only apparent in hindsight. For instance, the prevailing wind has a huge effect on kingfishers. Most birds are sensitive to wind, and tend to hide away in windy conditions, (especially small, light birds like the Malachite Kingfishers), but it was not windy at the time, so I well expected to see the kingfishers at their favourite spot. However, this spot was on the leeward side of the prevailing wind, so all of the pond-scum had blown into the bay in front of us. The scum prevented the kingfishers from seeing their prey, so all of the birds were fishing on the windward side of the dam. I noticed that the Black-Winged Stilts were quite happy on the leeward side of the dam, as water-borne food had blown in with the surface scum.
2 If you are not aware of the behavioural patterns of your subjects, then spend some time studying them. I recall reading the notes of another respected South African Wildlife photographer who visited the Paarl Bird Sanctuary. Before he took any photographs at all, he made 8 visits of about 4 hours each, and at different times of the day - simply to observe. He observed using binoculars and made notes. Once he had mapped out the pattern and route of the kingfishers he was interested in, he started observing them through the camera using live-view and video, so that he could study what they did before they dived. Once his preparation was complete, he went back on a suitable day to actually take photographs. Other than recalling the experiences of great photographers, it is hard to offer advice in words as to how to anticipate the future. But I have chosen a number of photographs where the photographer has done so. Look at each photograph and study the planning that went into it. Then ask yourself how you can apply or adapt the technique in your situation. All of the photographs that now follow, have one thing in common - they are the consequence of good observation and planning. Enjoy!
3 I had been studying these bee-eaters for a number of days, and I noticed that before they carried their insects to their young, they first landed on a nearby perch; surveyed the surroundings and only moved on when it was safe to do so. This small twig was a popular perch. I positioned myself for the correct light, chose a low angle to give the photograph depth. From earlier experience, I knew how close I could approach the birds before they started feeling uncomfortable. I focused on the perch (not the birds) and chose an aperture that would give me the depth of field I wanted. With my camera firmly fixed on a tripod, I waited for the birds to fly in and out of the frame. I could use a cable-release here, as the camera had been pre-focused, and just pressed the shutter when I saw the action coming. After a short while, it was clear that I was too close to the birds, as they were unhappy with the noise of my shutter. So I moved back to a position where they were comfortable. Bee-eaters are both intelligent and gregarious - they talk to each other. I got to know their sounds of distress and their chirps of contentment and never presented myself as a threat. I moved slowly, purposefully, cautiously and low to the ground and avoided erratic movements of any kind. Although I got some good shots on my first day with these birds, I got better shots as the days went by - I was with these birds for a week. After the second day, I was accepted as not being a threat.
4 Here is another photograph taken of the same perch and on the same trip. A slightly different angle and camera settings makes it less obvious that I was at the same location.
5 People with pets will know that predicting animal behaviour is not that difficult - when you know your subject. Nesting lapwings often lure dogs away from their nest by flying just out-of-reach and dogs take the bait every time. Knowing that the dog was going to rush towards this plover, and knowing how the plover was going to react, I was able to get a set of really nice pictures that tell a story. Kingfishers will often fish from a "favourite" perch. I had noticed that was the case with this particularly active pied kingfisher. I selected a good shooting viewpoint - noting both the light and the beautiful colours in the hills in the background and set up like I did for the bee-eaters in my earlier example - with a tripod and a cable-release. Although the bird would sometimes approach from behind the perch, I simply waited until he approached from the correct angle, and had a pleasing pose before I pressed the shutter.
6 Later in the same day (slightly different lighting) I was photographing the same bird, using the same technique. While the kingfisher was away, a weaver landed on the perch. Realising that there was only sufficient space for one bird, I anticipated some interesting action when the kingfisher arrived. This is the photograph that I got.
7 In a different location, but again involving pied kingfishers, I noticed that three birds were hunting from a perch that could only adequately house two, and I knew that at some point, all three birds would be at the perch at the same time. As it turns out, one bird flew off as the other flew in and I was ready for the shot.
8 Before the swallows fly off at the start of winter, they gather in huge numbers on the overhead lines. They pack so tightly, there is no space to fit a bird between another two. So, when a bird flies off the line, you know for sure that another one will take its place. Knowing that a bird would soon fill the gap on this line, I could get ready for the action before it happened, making this shot an easy one to take.
9 The photographer was working from the confines of a vehicle here, and there was very little freedom of movement. In fact, the photographer was motionless, and some animals felt safe enough to venture close. That allowed the use of a wide angle lens (this was shot at 65mm) to give the photo a deep perspective. The photographer then simply waited for a good expression to capture.