Simplicity is often the key to composing a successful photograph. A well composed image should never look cluttered, and the main focal point or subject should be obvious. When composing an image decide which parts of the scene are most important to you and try hard to exclude any elements that are not, or don’t have a role or detract from the composition you are trying to achieve.
I did an interview not so long ago with Olly Mann for the Modern Mann series of podcasts. It was to help and inspire people from all backgrounds to embrace nature into their lives and to never give up.
Dawn and Dusk are your best friends as a wildlife photographer, once you understand this and what happens at these times of the day it will change how you think within your own wildlife photography. It will also improve your own images , fieldcraft and general understanding of our beautiful yet fragile natural world.
Winter is a testing time for all living animals, always remember when working with wild animals they come first and the last thing you want to do is to impose yourself to quickly or scare the animal you’re wishing to photograph. It’s also very important to know that calories are burned off more quickly during the winter months so fieldcraft and respect have to be the first priorities of any wildlife photographer.
New Year brings increased snaring in the Peak District National Park. Snares are cruel, inhumane and indiscriminate and most European countries have banned them. Please be vigilant on the moors and report all snares urgently. Walkers and pets are at risk as well as wildlife.
If you’re out in the Peak District National Park and come across any snares, traps or see any suspicious activity from gamekeepers take photos, mark the location, take a short video if possible, using your watch or a GPS to show the date, time and location and report that information to Moorland Monitors and Hunt Investigation Team. Or call 101 for a non-emergency; 999 in an emergency and ask for Derbyshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team.