Hand-Handled wildlife shooting

I always mentioned in my blogs that every photographer must carry or use a tripod for a better photography career. but here some things are pretty opposites that I ever mentioned in my blogs. There are few photography genres were carrying a tripod is a headache, unnecessary accessory etc. Wildlife photography never allows a tripod to carry and use. Carrying a tripod for wildlife photography may create some issues. let discuss those issues when carrying a tripod.
Tripod’s issues

• Carrying a tripod is an extra weight on your shoulder, which may make you tired soon
• A tripod can distract you to capture animals, birds and other species
• Sometimes you do not get a better place to settle your tripod
• fixing and unfixing a tripod consume more time, energy and sometimes you spend the whole day adjusting the tripod.
• A tripod hardly supports you to capture better shots in wildlife photography.

Well. when there is no tripod required to shoot wildlife animals then hand-handled photography is the best option. The crux of the story, every photographer must have good practice of both options 1 Tripod, 2 hand-handled, 3 Monopod etc. The hand-handled option also delivered you better images but you must have good practice of hand-handled. Let’s discuss few important things that help you to shoot hand-handled

Hand-handled tips

• Use faster speed to capture the shoot like 1/1000sec, 1/2000sec
• Use a wide aperture to get more light into the sensor
• Control your breath and body.
• Hold the camera tightly or in a better position to avoid shake
• Must balance your body and always settle yourself in a comfortable position,
• sometimes putting yourself in a discomfort zone may give you injury.
• must carry a good telephoto lens to capture quite sharpen photographs.
• Do not be impatient to capture animal, give a thought before capture.
• There always a second chance, never be disheartened when you missed the shot.

Monopod – Another good option

• When carrying a heavy lenses like 800mm, 200-500mm, 160-600mm. then carrying a monopod may be a good option. It really helps when you carry a heavy lens. try this monopod and feel the difference. I use monopod sometimes and captured good stunning photographs.
• Always experiment with a monopod in your town parks, garden, street etc in the beginning and be comfortable with this, once you are capable of handling monopod efficiently then shoot wildlife animals, birds with a monopod. Do not use monopod without proper understanding, knowledge and handling expertise, Without proper understanding, this might have shaken your photos. Remember,

Conclusion – Every photographer is free to choose the best option to capture the wildlife but experiment may create a difference between good and better images.

Keep experimenting! have wonderful and happy photography life to you all

Photographer and Blogger Prasenjeet Gautam (www.prasenjeetgautam.com) has captured and posted above all the photographs. INDIA