Wildlife Photography for Beginners and Amateurs (Udemy.com)

<< One of six digital photography courses by Villiers Steyn >>

UPDATED in November 2021! ...and earning the status as the BEST SELLER in this category!

Do you want to take wildlife photographs like the pros? Master the most important technical and creative principles of wildlife photography and take wildlife photographs that are not only sharp, in focus and well-exposed, but also creative and beautifully composed.

Take your wildlife photography skills to the next level!

• Learn what equipment is necessary and how to use it correctly;

• Master all the most important camera settings;

• Become aware of different light sources and how they influence the look of your wildlife photos;

• Develop and eye for striking composition and learn to look at your animal subjects and their surroundings with more creative eyes; and

• Increase your knowledge of animal behaviour, further improving your chances of getting that perfect shot.

Content and Overview

This course is divided into different sections, each consisting of a varying number of short and concise video lectures (typically between 4 and 8 minutes long) that cover specific aspects of wildlife photography. I use a carefully-chosen combination of clips, consisting of 1) me talking directly to you; 2) settings diagrams; 3) videos of wildlife; and 4) striking wildlife photographs. The lectures don't necessarily have to be watched in order. You can jump around and watch whatever catches your eye or specific lectures about topics that you know you are struggling with.

THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM THIS COURSE:

What makes a good wildlife photograph!

• Four things you HAVE to get right plus my personal TOP 5 Wildlife Photography Trips.

What Camera Equipment is best for Wildlife Photography:

• Choosing the right camera for the right situation - crop-factor vs full frame | entry-level vs professional.

• Which lenses to use for which photos - so that you can best capture a specific subject or scene.

• Why and when you should support your camera on tripods, monopods, bean bags and gimble heads.

• What extra gear to buy - laptop, external hard drives and camera bag.

How and when to change Camera Settings:

• Choosing between Jpeg and RAW files - why you should be photographing in RAW!

• What camera mode is best for wildlife photography and what the difference is between them.

• The best go-to settings for wildlife photography and what they look like at different times of the day.

• How to take perfect wildlife portraits - thinking not only about your settings and subject, but also about the background.

• The importance of depth of field and how to calculate it using a depth of field calculator.

• How to never lose focus by choosing the right Auto Focus Mode and number of focus points.

• How to take photos in low light that are sharp and not too grainy.

• Why you should change exposure compensation instead of metering mode to get the perfect exposure.

• The importance of white balance in wildlife photography and how it influences the temperature of your images.

• How to capture birds in flight...finally!

• Capture movement in your photos, including those highly sought-after panning shots!

• What settings to use when you photograph animals at night.

How Light influences your photos:

• How to take colourful, representative images in front light.

• How to highlight detail and texture in side light.

• How to capture dramatic back light images that contain silhouettes and golden rim light.

• How to make the most of harsh light in the middle of the day.

• How to take photos in diffused light on overcast days.

• How to use flash light and spot lights effectively for animals.

What perfect Composition is:

• How to zoom out and capture animals in their environment.

• When to zoom in and photograph animal body parts for striking close-ups full of detail.

• Why it's so important to leave enough space around your subjects.

• How and when to change your angle for the most striking results.

• When to turn your camera vertically for optimal composition.

How to become a more Creative wildlife photographer:

• How and when to take black & white photos.

• What the difference is between high key and low key photos and why they are so impactful.

• Why blurring the foreground is just as effective and important as blurring the background.

• Look for repetition, natural frames, scale and reflections to make your photos more creative.

• How to tell a story with your wildlife photographs.

The importance of understanding Animal Behaviour

• Why you should always do research about your destination.

• How knowing your subject's habits increase your chances of getting better photos.

• Why it helps to look for relaxed animals.

• Why your hit rate will increase dramatically if you go with a guide.

Please take a moment to view the course Promo Video, as well as those lectures that have been made available as free previews.

Keep in mind, if you're not happy with the material, there's a 30-day no-questions-asked full money back guarantee! So don't hesitate and enrol today, because my personal guarantee to you is that by the end of this course your wildlife photography WILL be on a whole new level...!

“Villiers's presentation skills are superb and better than anything else I've attended or enrolled in before. Not only is his technical knowledge of his subject outstanding, but he is also willing to share practical advice accumulated over years."

Helgard de Preez – South Africa