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From: afc@pucc-i (Greg Flint)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Wildlife photography
Message-ID: <1260@pucc-i>
Date: Mon, 27-Jan-86 12:21:18 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-i.1260
Posted: Mon Jan 27 12:21:18 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jan-86 04:13:49 EST
References: <933@watmath.UUCP>
Reply-To: afc@pucc-i.UUCP (Greg Flint)
Distribution: net
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 46
Keywords: wildlife photography

Before anyone can make suggestions about wildlife photography, it is
essential to know what it is that you want to photograph.  For example,
fish, frogs, birds in flight and racoons all need different film, flash
and equipment.  So, in order to give a reasonable answer to your
question, I'll make the assumption that you do not intend, at least
initially, to do any of the following types of photography:
1) underwater, 2) ultra-high speed, 3) remote control or 4) night-time
flash.

Rather, for the sake of giving a "useful" answer, I will presume that
you want to do something "simple" like take a picture of a bird (e.g.,
a robin) feeding its young in its nest.

If possible, try to use a lens in the 300-600 mm range.  This should
allow you to get a good shot without getting too close.  I prefer a
lens opening that gives about f4.0 (or wide-open, if your lens isn't
that fast).  This allows a little latitude in focusing on the subject
and yet keeps the background (and foreground) from intruding.  The
amount of light dictates what speed of film to use.  A reasonably fast
shutter speed (1/250th or faster) is best, but I have been successful
shooting as slow as 1/15.  I prefer to use the brand of film that best
shows the color of my subject (e.g., Kodachrome for reds and yellows,
Ectachrome for blues and Fuji for greens).  I would rather shoot slide
film than print film even though my final result is a print.  I tend to
underexpose by about 1/3 stop to enhance the colors.

***  NO FLAMES, PLEASE  ***

I've no doubt that someone on the net would be willing to tell you to
use almost the opposite of what I've mentioned (e.g., very long lens,
f22+, ultra-fast or slow shutter speed and a different film).  They
probably are correct in what they say.  The "proper" set up depends a
lot on the image that the photographer has in mind.

-----------------------------------------------
Greg Flint @ Purdue University Computing Center

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