Compared with big game animals, with tiny creatures you should get much more close to get a full frame image. Often you have got to sit in blinds for hours, sometimes days, with a long lens and wait until the animal is sufficiently near to get a shot. Not so on the island of Madagascar, off the southern African coast. This huge island is home to a few of the world's most endangered animals, most of them tiny to downright small. One of the best ways to photograph little animals there is by joining one of a few Madagascar tours which visit some of the finest places to photograph with a leader who knows the subjects.
In Madagascar it is comparatively straightforward to shoot animals because lots of the animals, like the chameleons, don't move very fast and are almost tame. The fun thing about photographing chameleons is that they come in different colours and sizes. For some you want a macro lens because they're the size of your thumb, for others a short zoom lens will do. I love to find some grasshoppers and place them within about 3 feet of the chameleon. The chameleon slowly moves closer and when inside striking distance, the tongue shoots out and catches the grasshopper. To capture this, you've got to set your camera on continuous photographing and use the speediest shutter speed or flash.
The lemurs are rather more challenging! They regularly speed through the trees, jumping from branch to branch. I watch the groups carefully and go in the direction they're moving. I look for a couple of trees that are a little apart so that the lemurs must jump thru the air to get to the other tree. This is excellent for photography: the first animal jumps and you can watch what occurs and get ready for an ideal shot when the remainder of the lemurs follow. One at a time the lemurs will use more or less the same path and over the next few minutes you can capture the same action.
On the ground, it's easy to get close to the lemurs. Moving extremely slowly, avoiding unexpected movements, I've been ready to get almost in reach of them. With a 70-200mm zoom, everyone can get good lemur pictures.
Birds are always more difficult to shoot. Luckily , some of the lodges put out food to attract them and get them out into the open. With a lot of patience and a longer lens like a 400 or 500mm, you will be able to get some good pictures.
For me, Madagascar is an incredible place to visit. You have got everything from engaging local folk and landscapes to engaging wild animals. Frequently the smallest animals are overlooked. A lot of them are prey and have to cover or come out at night, such as the Glass frogs. I mostly find a Leaf-tailed gecko. This lizard has a great camouflage that it's fun to shoot. Often spectators of the photographs can't even find the gecko!
Good luck with your shoot and remember: When you are photographing wild animals รข€" wherever you are , -- remember the tiny blokes!
In Madagascar it is comparatively straightforward to shoot animals because lots of the animals, like the chameleons, don't move very fast and are almost tame. The fun thing about photographing chameleons is that they come in different colours and sizes. For some you want a macro lens because they're the size of your thumb, for others a short zoom lens will do. I love to find some grasshoppers and place them within about 3 feet of the chameleon. The chameleon slowly moves closer and when inside striking distance, the tongue shoots out and catches the grasshopper. To capture this, you've got to set your camera on continuous photographing and use the speediest shutter speed or flash.
The lemurs are rather more challenging! They regularly speed through the trees, jumping from branch to branch. I watch the groups carefully and go in the direction they're moving. I look for a couple of trees that are a little apart so that the lemurs must jump thru the air to get to the other tree. This is excellent for photography: the first animal jumps and you can watch what occurs and get ready for an ideal shot when the remainder of the lemurs follow. One at a time the lemurs will use more or less the same path and over the next few minutes you can capture the same action.
On the ground, it's easy to get close to the lemurs. Moving extremely slowly, avoiding unexpected movements, I've been ready to get almost in reach of them. With a 70-200mm zoom, everyone can get good lemur pictures.
Birds are always more difficult to shoot. Luckily , some of the lodges put out food to attract them and get them out into the open. With a lot of patience and a longer lens like a 400 or 500mm, you will be able to get some good pictures.
For me, Madagascar is an incredible place to visit. You have got everything from engaging local folk and landscapes to engaging wild animals. Frequently the smallest animals are overlooked. A lot of them are prey and have to cover or come out at night, such as the Glass frogs. I mostly find a Leaf-tailed gecko. This lizard has a great camouflage that it's fun to shoot. Often spectators of the photographs can't even find the gecko!
Good luck with your shoot and remember: When you are photographing wild animals รข€" wherever you are , -- remember the tiny blokes!
About the Author:
John Randall is a 1 leader of adventure travel. Read more detailed info regarding Madagascar as a photography destination in this Photographing Madagascar Tour.
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