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How to Make The Most of Light When Photographing Wildlife

Light and how you make the most of it when photographing wildlife carries the biggest punch when trying to make your images stand out. Its what truly makes your photography unique.

Back in my early days photographing wildlife I'd go out on a shoot for the whole day and come back with plenty of shots - front lit, side lit, back lit - every possible lighting combination.

When reviewing them afterwards I was always disappointed by how many shots I rejected because the subject didn't stand out and "pop" out of the picture.

I soon realised that I needed to study what it was that made these images really stand out. I figured that if I knew a lot more about it I would come back with far more "keepers" in the time I had out in the field. Here began my study of light.

As wildlife photographers, nature provides us with the light but by understanding it we can manipulate it so that our images portray our intended message.

Front Lighting

If I'm not careful with front lighting it tends make my images look flat and two dimensional with a lack of depth. During the day front lighting is extremely harsh and contrasty which is why I tend to make most use of it during the magical hours just after sunrise or just before sunset.

During this time front lighting is mellow and much less harsh. Because the light source is low the subject is evenly illuminated with little or no shadow so the camera rarely gets the exposure wrong. Its hard getting out of bed for sunrise but well worth it!

Side Lighting

I love side lighting because the shadows created give my shots lots of depth. Most people don't realise it but its a combination of highlights and shadows in a photograph that gives it that wonderful three dimensional look. I love to take shots where one side of an animal is quite bright with lots of detail and the other side quite dark with less detail, making it come alive.

The great thing about side lighting is that it can be used anytime od day as long as the subject isn't in direct sunlight.

I took the shot above of a red stag during the deer rut in the late afternoon sun. I like the way the side lighting draws the eye to the stags head and the shadows highlight the muscles in his body.

Because side lighting is very contrasty - all of those highlights and shadows - its more difficult to expose for. Even so, its still my favorite type of light because it always gets a stronger response from my viewers.

Deer are magnificent animals and a wonderful subject for wildlife photography. You can read more about this on my deer photography page.

Back Lighting - Silhouette

Using back lighting to take a silhouette is a great way to convey drama and mystery to the viewer.

Deer Silhouette

I took the silhouette above during low light in a deer park. I've described it in more detail on my Low Light Photography page.

Back Lighting - Halo of Light

Another great back lighting techniques is the "halo of light". In the shot below I positioned myself so that the meerkat was backlit and took the shot. I love the glow of wrap around light that it creates - very effective with fur or feathers. Meerkat Back Lighting

Meerkats are fascinating animals to watch. They live underground in burrows and when they come out in a morning sentries are posted on mounds and bushes. They stand up on their hind legs to get a better view and scan the area for danger. They take it in turns to be sentries while the others either search for food, groom or play. If a sentry sounds the alarm then they all disappear underground within a few seconds.

I took the shot below of a Meerkat on sentry duty to show this behaviour. Throughout my wildlife photography I strive to understand the animals and show their behaviour in my photographs.

They are perfectly adapted to digging and can move their own weight of sand in a few seconds, sometimes disappearing in a cloud of dust!

Overcast Lighting

When the lighting is overcast I take it as my cue to be more creative!

Overcast lighting causes images to lose depth because of the reduction in contrast - there is a lack of highlights and shadows and the colors are less vivid.

I do find it has plenty of advantages. It allows me to be photographing wildlife all day including the taboo hours around midday. It allows me to photograph animals from any side without worrying about where the light is coming from. Most of all there tends to be wildlife around for more of the day - a wildlife enthusiasts dream!

I also tend to keep an eye out for taking shots of subject and backgrounds that have plenty of natural contrast and its a great time for me to work on my black and white photography and macro photography.

The Best Light For Photographing Wildlife

So, you're probably wondering what is the best lighting for photographing wildlife? My answer is simple - all of it!!

It is the wildlife that I love. The most difficult part about photographing wildlife is getting close enough to the animals, seeing their behaviour and understanding them. Nature can present these opportunities at any time of the day and under any lighting conditions. As a wildlife photographer I see it as essential for me to make the best of these whenever they are presented to me. Being able to see the light and how it can best be used allows me to do this.

Now that you know some of the basics, the best way to study light is to get out into the field, observe it and use it!