Wildlife photographers can often share rare and spectacular images of wildlife with us that touch our hearts and motivate us to want to make a positive impact on the natural world around us. Because they often grab our attention with stunning photos, our CSERC staff wanted to share some stories over the next few weeks of why and how photographers do what they do - and get them to tell us their secrets for capturing these special moments.
You may remember Carolyn Silva, our Members’ Choice Wildlife winner, with her photo of a garter snake battling for its life against a Great Egret that found it to be a desirable snack! She teaches us the magic of patience - the importance of also being prepared for that unique moment:
The other day, I was sitting in a chair in my own yard when this quail family suddenly appeared, coming down the walkway right towards me! Eight little quail chicks that appeared to be only a few days old were being escorted in a single file line by their mom and dad. Just a few feet from my feet, they paraded past me before they finally turned and headed into some nearby shrubs. Oh! How I regretted not having my camera in hand for such a rare close-up encounter. Unfortunately, my camera was in the house, just steps away, but too far away to be of any use. Not even a cell phone in my possession at the time either… I know, can you believe that?
How many times have I said to myself, “I wish I had my camera with me right now.” Too many times, I must admit. Fortunately, the day I witnessed an egret plucking a garter snake out of a garden in Amador County was not one of those days. I had my DSLR camera in hand with a 70-300 mm zoom lens attached. It appeared to be a standoff for the longest time, with that snake wrapped tightly around the egret’s beak. My mind led me to wonder if the egret would be the loser and would starve to death, never being able to open its mouth and swallow a meal again. I couldn’t leave the scene until I had my answer, plus lots of shots. After ten minutes or so, the egret finally did manage to win the battle, as was evident when a large bulge showed up inside the egret’s neck and the snake had disappeared from sight.
You would think that making a meal of that snake would have been enough to satisfy that egret for a long while, but that was not the case. Just seconds after devouring that snake, that egret was poking around again, in that same garden, in search of its next victim.
Here are a few valuable lessons I’ve learned from enjoying photography, as a hobby over many years:
- Sit quietly, and nature will come to you!
- You don’t have to travel far and wide to capture interesting photos, just look around your own home, yard, or neighborhood
- Carry a camera with you (Cell phone cameras take great photos too!) You just never know when that once-in-a-lifetime shot will appear before you.
- Learn how your camera equipment works (take classes and read books). You don’t want to be fumbling around trying to figure out your camera settings or equipment when a shot presents itself.