Photography tips from Andrew Forsyth

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Andrew Forsyth is the RSPCA's chief photographer and photolibrary manager, more importantly he is a long standing YPA judge who looks through thousands of photos every year to find the finalists.  He has some inside tips about what makes a winning photo for each category.

 

 

Each year I’m inspired by the quality of the pictures in the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards and I just can’t wait to look through them and find my favourites. But with so many people entering how can you take a shot that will win you the title of RSPCA Young Photographer of 2010? Read on...

What to take

It doesn’t matter whether you’re photographing a big cat in Africa or a little cat in your garden you need to think about how to make your photos interesting. Colour, action and humour are always a hit with the judges, and experiment with some of the top tips from previous issues of Animal Action (below). Make sure you’re close enough to the action by using the zoom lens to frame your subject properly and try to tell a story in your picture. Don't try to copy other pictures just because they've won as each year we like to see new ideas. By making a special effort to come up with something different you’ll make sure your photos stand out.

Portfolio

The portfolio category might seem to be difficult to win because you’ve got to send in five different pictures that work together to make an interesting set. The good news is that not many photographers can do this well so if you get this right you’ve got a better chance of winning! Try to select a subject or theme that will give you lots of different photos, like five animals that are linked in some way. Then try to take lots of shots of each one so that you can select images that work well together. Get some help to choose the best ones if you find this hard.

Picture quality

Make sure that you send in a top-quality picture that really shows off your work. Keep the original negative or file safe on a CD or computer, as we’ll need this if you’re a winner. And, if you are sending a print, remember to put your name, age and address on the back as without this we won’t be able to give you a prize!

 

Macro photography

Macro photography is about taking close-up pictures of small subjects, and when it comes to animals, that means bugs! Whatever the time of year you’ll find creepy-crawlies all around you; ants and beetles in your garden or local park, dragonflies and damselflies around ponds and lakes, bees and butterflies feeding in flower beds and, if you’re very lucky, you might even find moths and spiders in your home.

There are many different types of picture that you can take, from extreme close-ups of larger insects to shots in the natural habitat. Cobwebs can make interesting silhouettes, and many insects can be photographed from interesting angles. Flower petals can give good coloured backgrounds, but try looking for other shapes or colours in the stems and leaves too. Why not try something a little bit unusual to make the picture really appealing.

You don’t need to have loads of expensive equipment, just a camera that lets you focus on things that are really close to the lens. A good zoom lens may also help as you won’t need to be so close to the subject to get a good picture, a great bonus if you’re photographing anything that might sting you. A tripod may come in handy if you need to hold the camera steady for a long time, but if you haven’t got one try resting the camera on something like a bag or box.

Whether you’re photographing indoors or outdoors try taking your pictures both with and without flash. Your camera flash may be too strong if you’re very close to the subject so try turning it off if you can and see what works best. On sunny days look for subjects in the shade as this can give a nice soft feel to the light. Cloudy days can sometimes work well too.

When you are photographing insects move really slowly and quietly, even after you’ve taken the picture, so that you don’t disturb the animal. You’ll have more chance that the bug will sit still so that you can get the photograph, but if it flies or crawls away be patient and look for another. You will be rewarded in the end.

Active pets

Why spend hours trying to get photos of shy wildlife when you can take fab pictures of an animal that is always easy to find and is very friendly; your own pet. Your pet knows and loves you, may have funny habits, likes lots of attention and is always happy to be given a treat. What better subject could you want?You may think that you already know your pet but take the time to watch it and learn more about its life. Where does it like to sleep? What is its favourite toy? When does it get active? How does it let you know what it wants? All of these things can give you ideas for photos and help you to plan them. Pictures of your pet being active will often be more interesting than a plain portrait so try to photograph it doing things that will show its character. You shouldn’t try to get your pet to do something that it doesn’t like or which may harm it so start by trying some pictures of their natural behaviour in the garden or on a walk. Cats are naturally curious while dogs love to be outdoors so have your camera ready, watching all the time and taking lots of pictures. If your pet is small try getting down to its level by lying on the floor. You can encourage your pet to be active by getting someone to play with it. If your pet is running or jumping around keep looking through the camera and following it so that it stays in the same part of the frame. This will make a better photo because the background will be blurred, not your pet. Make sure that you stop the game as soon as your pet becomes tired or bored. You can always try again another time. Getting a good shot is harder than you think, but that’s what makes an action picture so special.

Birds in flight

Ducks, geese and swans are a favourite with many photographers, as they make great subjects when taking off, flying and landing. Photographing these bids in flight is quite difficult but if you follow a few simple tips you can improve your chances of getting a top shot. Watch the birds for a while and you’ll begin to notice that they often fly in the same direction. This is because they tend to fly into the wind, using less energy to take off and giving them more control when landing. You will need to stand with the wind at your back or going across you so that the birds are either facing you or flying from side to side. If the wind is blowing in your face you will need to move but remember that the sun should be behind you so that the birds are not in shadow. Morning and late afternoon is the best time to take pictures because birds are more active and the sun is at its best angle for photography. Birds in flight are moving very quickly so you need to select a fast shutter speed by setting a high ISO number on your camera – usually 400 or more. If possible use a shutter speed of at least 1/1000 of a second and a wide aperture. Put your auto-focus (AF) on tracking or servo mode to follow the bird as it moves and have the camera set to take continuous frames rather than one shot when you press the shutter. A zoom lens is very useful, as most birds will be quite far away. Hold the camera with your left hand underneath it to support the weight and keep your finger ready on the button. Stand with your feet apart so that you can turn your body as the bird moves. When you see a bird in the air try to follow it and keep it in the centre of the viewfinder so that you are ready to take your pictures as soon as it comes close enough. Press and hold the shutter and try to keep up with the bird and try not to let it get too close to the edge of the frame. It’s not easy, but practice makes perfect.

Check out the past winners' gallery and read more great photography tips from Chris Packham.  If you think you could do better send your photos in now. You’ve got to be in it to win it! 

 

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