Norfolk Field Naturalists host wildlife photographer

Understanding the habits of the wildlife you want to photograph can boost your success, says Brantford photographer Anca Gaston. Knowing that kingfishers often return to favourite perches allowed her to set up a camera in the right place to catch this shot. 

Lisa Timpf

Advocate Contributor

Snapping, compelling photos of wildlife is no easy task as birds, butterflies, deer, and other creatures are not always cooperative subjects.

Brantford photographer Anca Gaston, a guest speaker at the Norfolk Field Naturalists’ September speaker night, shared some tips for improving the odds of success. Gaston also shared some of the photos she has taken over the years, including shots of bald eagles, deer, birds, and butterflies.

Being at the right place at the right time, Gaston admits, plays a part in successful wildlife photography. But the more you know about wild creatures, their preferred environments and their habits, the more likely you are to be in the right place when the opportunity presents itself. She cited the eBird app as one resource that can identify locations where certain bird species might be found.

Having a camera that can shoot at a high frame rate is helpful, says Gaston. She also advises taking multiple photos of the same subject. That way, you are more likely to catch them in an appealing or unusual pose.

Though some people travel to exotic destinations to take nature pictures, Gaston suggests we shouldn’t overlook the photo-taking opportunities in our own back yards. As an example, she showed several appealing photos of red squirrels, which might be found in many urban areas. Planting shrubs, trees, and flowers that attract wildlife can be helpful in drawing potential photo subjects to your yard, she adds.

Gaston says that wildlife tends to be more active in early morning and later afternoon. Natural lighting can create attractive effects during the “golden hours,” the hours just after sunrise and just before sunset. Photos taken during these time frames tend to have a warm, golden glow. 

One of the most important tips, Gaston says, is to get down to the level of the wildlife when taking their picture. As an example, she showed photos of a heron taken from above, versus at the same level as the bird. The photo taken at the same level was much more visually appealing. 

When photographing wildlife, Gaston also suggests focusing on the subject’s eyes, rather than using a more general focus point.

To photograph skittish or shy wildlife, Gaston places the camera on a tripod focused on the desired location, then uses a remote shutter release. This lets her sit or stand some distance from the camera, and trigger it remotely while not disturbing the creatures she is photographing. She has used this technique when photographing woodpecker nests, and to get shots of kingfishers landing on favorite perches.

One’s subject matter might vary depending on the season, Gaston says. In springtime, many migrating birds have bright plumage. Summer brings the opportunity to capture shots of butterflies and young animals, while autumn brings fall colours. 

In addition to providing enjoyable images, wildlife photography also “enables us to see details we normally couldn’t see with our own eyes,” says Gaston.

Photographing wildlife can also inspire greater appreciation of the natural world. Those interested in seeing more examples of Gaston’s work can check out the photographs posted on her Facebook pages, www.facebook/anca.gaston.

Gaston’s “Introduction to Wildlife Photography” was the first Norfolk Field Naturalists’ speaker event after the summer break. Their next speaker event, “The Niagara Escarpment,” will take place Tuesday, Oct. 21, starting at 7 p.m.

Mushroom Hike field events are also scheduled for Sept. 27, with a rain date of Sept. 28. While NFN speaker events are open to all, pre-registration is required for some field events, including the mushroom hikes.

More information about the Norfolk Field Naturalists and their upcoming events can be found at https://norfolkfieldnaturalists.org/.