Nature Photography: The Ultimate Challenge for Hunters
When the Lens Becomes the True Measure of Hunters' Skill
It was a long day in the wilderness. It started well before sunrise to capture the golden light. It lasted until the blue hour faded into pitch black. We were exhausted yet elated. We had captured birds, mammals, reptiles and insects – some species we had never shot before. We couldn’t wait to get back, download the photos onto our computers and watch them on our large screens.
This is always an exhilarating process. Sometimes, photos you thought would turn out amazing end up as heartbreaking disappointments. Other times, the exact opposite happens, and a photo you did not think much of turns out to be a gem, capturing elusive magic.
Despite all our excitement and anticipation, we were also hungry. We stopped at a small eatery to try some of the local food. At the next table, four men were eating and drinking beer. As they dressed just like us in outdoor gear – boots and camouflage jackets – we approached them. They were locals who gladly shared insights about the wildlife in the area and where to find it.
They drew on napkins to show us where to find the animals we sought, what their tracks looked like, and we all shared stories and adventures. There was only one thing we could not agree on: we were there to capture the animals in photos; they were hunters.
We did not want to take the moral high ground. After all, they hunted within their quota and ate what they killed. Instead, we teased them about how easy hunting was, how much tougher photography is, and how our mixed group was much more manly than they were.
And this wasn’t far from the truth. While there was much in common between the two groups – we both had to wake up at odd hours, track the animals silently, watch the wind direction, get close to the animals, and put them in our sights – where their job ended, ours as photographers had only just begun.
They only needed to put the animal in their sights, preferably when it wasn’t looking in their direction. We, on the other hand, had to wait for the animal to position itself within the right composition or do something interesting, ideally showing its face and eyes. We have to keep moving to position it against a good background. The light, too, must be just right. And all these factors must align at the very same moment.
Waiting for this magic moment can take hours. Often, we must return again and again for many days. Great photographers have spent years waiting for everything to align for the perfect shot. And sometimes, it never happens. How easy, by comparison, is a hunter’s life?
We teased them, and they took it in good spirit. Whether or not we changed their minds, I hope we planted a seed. Perhaps one day, they’ll reach for a camera instead of a gun, discovering that capturing, preserving, and sharing nature with others can be the greatest reward.
All the photographs in this blog are taken by me, and I encourage you to explore more of my site for additional inspiration. May your nature photography journey be joyful and fulfilling.
While the photo above may be a perfect moment for a hunter, there is nothing in it for a nature photographer. The ducks are boring, and the light is poor.
I was lucky that the duck stayed, and only when the sun broke momentarily from behind the clouds did they start moving and stretching. I was fortunate that both happened at the same time. By no means this is a 'perfect' shot, but what a difference a few minutes and some luck can make for a photograph.
Above: a perfect shot for a hunter.
Below: Many days later, when light was perfect and the doe was looking straight at me before it took off — a nightmare for a hunter, but a magical moment for a photographer.
Comments