Wildlife Photography How To

There's no better way to learn than listening to a top pro explain the secrets to his success, and that's what you'll find in the following tutorial from acclaimed South African wildlife photographer Mark Dumbleton. His popular YouTube channel has the simple goal of helping other shooters capture better images in the field and make them look amazing.

Jim Graham captured this adorable image of a sleeping sled dog in front of a majestic backdrop during a trip this past summer to Greenland. The image was shot in Ilulissat, which is in western Greenland, approximately 220 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Alexandre Voyer, a freediving photographer, specializes in documenting ocean creatures with the help of his Canon DSLR and some serious lung power. “All the photos are made on a single breath of air—I don’t use oxygen tanks—with natural light,” Voyer says.

Location, location, location. That's what someone who is just getting started in wildlife photography will tell you is the secret to the trade. Certainly, the wildlife available in the remote Sahara of Africa is far more interesting to those who are used to the rolling hills of Ohio, but there are two other key components to successful wildlife photography: preparedness and luck.

Let's face it: Many of us can't afford the latest hi-res cameras, exotic lenses, and other expensive accessories, but we all aspire to capturing great images. If this sounds familiar pay close attention to this quick tutorial that explains how to squeeze every ounce of excellence out of whatever equipment is in your bag.

At my workshops and lectures I am often asked by photographers how I am able to get sharp images at slow shutter speeds out of the affordable 70-300mm zoom I use for backpacking while they are unable to get sharp images with their 70-200 f/2.8 pro lenses. It is true that when it comes to lenses, the price tag does match the quality in terms of durability and sharpness at wide apertures. But by the time my carry-along backpacking lens is stopped down to f/8, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between photos taken with it and images taken with the most expensive pro lenses. Honestly, the lack of sharpness in photos has less to do with the tele lens you are using than it might seem and more to do with long lens technique.