Okay, so today I decided to get out and do some animal photography. I’ve always loved animals, and I’ve been meaning to improve my photography skills, so it seemed like a perfect combo.
Getting Started
First, I grabbed my camera – nothing fancy, just a decent DSLR I picked up a while back. Made sure my battery was charged and I had an empty memory card. I also packed a couple of different lenses, a zoom lens, and a wider-angle one, just in case.
I headed to a local park that has a good mix of wildlife – squirrels, birds, and sometimes even deer if you’re lucky. I figured that would give me a variety of subjects and angles to play with.
The Experimentation Begins
My main goal today was to experiment with different angles. I didn’t want all my shots to be the standard eye-level view. I wanted to see how changing my perspective could impact the final image.
- Low Angle: I started by getting down low, like, really low. I laid on my stomach to get a shot of a squirrel scampering across the grass. This made the squirrel look way bigger and more imposing, almost like a tiny monster!
- High Angle: Then, I found a small hill and shot downwards at some ducks swimming in a pond. This gave a cool overview of the scene and showed the ducks in their environment.
- Eye-Level (But Closer): I tried to get closer to some birds, keeping the camera at their eye level. This was tricky because they kept flying away! But when I managed to get a shot, it felt way more intimate, like I was connecting with the bird.
- From Behind: I also experimented with shooting from behind the animals, capturing their silhouettes as they looked out at the scenery. That created a more mysterious, story-telling feel, and it worked better for some animals than others.
- Weird Angles: And just for fun, I tried some really odd angles, tilting the camera and shooting through branches. Some of these were total duds, but a few actually turned out pretty interesting, giving a unique, artistic vibe.
The Results
After a few hours, I headed home and uploaded my photos. Honestly, it was a mixed bag. Some shots were blurry, some were poorly framed, and some were just plain boring. But… there were a handful that I was really happy with!
The low-angle squirrel shot was definitely a winner. And the high-angle shot of the ducks had a nice, peaceful feel. I also got a decent eye-level shot of a robin that I liked.
It was a good learning experience. I definitely realized how much impact the angle can have on the story you’re telling with a photo. It’s not just about pointing and shooting; it’s about thinking about your perspective and how it affects the viewer’s perception of the subject.
I’m already planning my next outing. Maybe I’ll try a different location, or focus on a specific type of animal. Either way, I’m excited to keep practicing and see what I can create!
