When The Animals Don’t Cooperate

By John Reed, Photography Volunteer & Snapshot Society Instructor

It can be frustrating when our subjects are not in the best position for us to capture the type of image we like. But we must always remember, they could care less about us and are simply going about their lives. This is true not only for photography at the Zoo, but all wildlife photography. So, what to do?

First things first, be patient. Often, a more interesting photo results when you wait for the animal to come to you rather than clomping around looking for it. This is less of a problem at the Zoo because the animals are in their habitats, but that also can make it tougher as there is less incentive for them to change position. How many times have you camped out waiting for a sleepy lion to wake up, or for any animal with its back to you to change position? Sometimes you wait and wait, and nothing happens. That is life. Move on!

That said, there are a few strategies you can employ, starting with “be ready.” By that I mean, do not just stand there staring with the camera hanging on your shoulder. Do some homework to be aware of your subject’s behaviors. Then as you watch it, you can pick up cues alerting you to bring the camera to your eye. An easy example is with any grazing animal. Every once in a while, they will raise their head to look around. That is usually your shot. If you observe long enough over time, you will learn some traits of the specific animals and know when they are likely to do this. See photos one and two.

All the big cats, some grazers and many other animals will also smell the ground and then raise up with a sort of grimace as they enhance their scent sensation. These can be really cool shots. With big cats, it can even appear to be a snarl! See photos three and four (above).

Finally, while the rear of an animal with its back to you is usually not the shot we want, if you are ready and they look back, it is a winner. See photo five.

Remember…be patient, and have fun!

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The same strategy goes for birds. If they are on a perch with their back to you, it is likely they will eventually fly off but return to the same perch with a different pose, or even just hop to change position. You just have to wait.