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Wildlife photography is a tough genre to master, requiring not only excellent general photography skills and a keen sense of composition, but also the ability to adjust to rapidly changing situations. While taking good photos of captive animals in a zoo requires skill, actually finding wild animals in their own habitat and then knowing how to work within that habitat to capture compelling photographs is an art form that takes time to master.
While other forms of photography have become more democratized over the years, with talented new photographers in lifestyle and travel genres popping up on Instagram and developing a huge following seemingly overnight, wildlife photography is still a genre that requires significant effort, specialized equipment, and a deep knowledge of nature, animal behavior, and the environment. Unless you plan on photographing close-up wildlife like insects, you’re going to most likely need to invest in some longer lenses in order to fill your viewfinder with distant animals.
Wildlife photography also has an ethical component, a subject every good book about the subject should go into. As photographers, we’ve got the important responsibility of not only sharing inspiring photos with the world, but also acting as stewards of the environment, promoting habitat and species conservation through our wildlife photos. Wildlife photographers should always familiarize themselves with the ethical issues surrounding their work to ensure they can make a difference.
Online guides like our wildlife photography composition tips are great starting points for photographers who want to learn the basics of wildlife photography, but there’s nothing quite like a book when it comes to learning. These books have been written by some of the top wildlife photographers in the world, and we think they’re among the best books about wildlife photography, going into depth about all of the essentials, from exposure and composition to more advanced skills like wildlife behavior and tracking. The links below will take you to the Amazon page for each wildlife photography book:
- Wildlife photography is an adventure—and as any great adventure story unfolds, odds are, there are...
- Whether it’s the risk or the reward—or both—that motivates wildlife shooters, there is one...
- In this book, Joe Classen approaches the art of wildlife photography from a hunter’s perspective
- He teaches readers how to select and use the appropriate specialized photographic gear required for the...
- Wildlife watchers and aspiring natural-history photographers—collect up your kit and get ready for a...
- This "workshop in book form" allows you to absorb the benefits of the workshop experience without...
- Whatever your level of experience, this comprehensive book will help you improve and capture better...
- Be guided by the authors’ breadth of knowledge and follow the progression of technical advice
- Viewing wildlife in action is always a pleasure–capturing that action with your camera is one of the...
- Birders, hikers, national-park visitors, and international travelers are all discovering the joys of...
- Recent advances in camera technology have made wildlife photography so reasonable anyone can get hooked
- But good gear doesn’t guarantee good results, and that’s where Wildlife Photography can help you...
- In Wildlife Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots, author and wildlife photographer Laurie Excell...
- Starting with the basics of equipment, camera settings, and exposure, Laurie covers the fundamentals of...
- The book is packed with details on what seasons are best for photographing different animals, tips on...
- Beautifully illustrated with large, vibrant photos, this book teaches you how to take control of your...
- There is nothing quite so satisfying as capturing a stunning wildlife photograph; a good one will reflect...
- Those challenges are perhaps why so many enthusiast photographers aspire to perfect their images in this...
- This book reveals more world-class images with every turn
- More than that, though, it takes a practical approach
- Using a combination of artistic approach and impeccable technique, professional photographers John and...
- Learn how to integrate equipment with technique to capture superb wildlife images of birds, mammals,...
- This book includes all of the details you need to capture wildlife photos easily and consistently –...
- John and Barbara Gerlach have taken more than a million wildlife images since 1978 and run seminars and...