Photographing animals is always a challenge, but offers chances to take some of the most interesting and spectacular shots available. since stock photos of animals are always in demand, learning to take them is well worth the effort. The satisfaction in getting a good animal shot can’t be matched. Today, I’d like to show you some shots that go beyond “Fido Sitting Pretty” and “Fluffy Takes a Nap”. Welcome to the weird, the wild, the wonderful world of animal photography:
Photo by Katie Brady
One fish, two fish, red fish… Siamese fighting fish! With the clarity of this shot, you can almost imagine there are actually two fish.
Photo by Rootneg2
From fins to feathers. This spectacular close-up of a hummingbird stands out, not only for capturing a rare moment of stillness, but with the contrast. A splash of brilliant color stands out against the drabber browns and greys that make up most of the composition. Beautiful!
Photo by Becky Gregory
This turtle almost appears to be flying. The clarity of the water allowed for a spectacular shot of this terrific terrapin, and the highlights of his bright colors really pop against a neutral background. He may not be mutant or ninja, but this turtle kicks butt!
Photo by Benjamin Dobson
It’s not easy being green… or capturing a shot like this one. Frogs are shy, and disappear with a splash and a swirl if they sense danger, often before you even know they’re present. Kermit’s cousin decided to pose for this photo, and gave the photographer a rare opportunity to capture a charming image.
Photo by Chiara Cremaschi
How do you get a more interesting shot of a cat than the classic “sitting up looking regal” or “curled for a nap” poses? Try a different angle. Check out the rest of this line up of witty kitties:
Photo by O Palsson
Getting up-close-and-personal with this stunning black cat emphasized the contrast between the sleek black fur and her bright green eyes. The white whiskers add a nice visual interest as well, making this a great study that captured this cat’s personality.
Photo by Stephen Heron
There are few more-impressive sights than a predator in its natural habitat. This stunning kitty portrait captured the intent look and the beautiful markings of this tabby, creating an image of the lioness lurking beneath the skin.
Photo by Hartwig HKD
This spectacular shot of wildebeest walking away shows not only a dramatic use of background, but an interesting angle, and compositional genius as well. The animals are ranged across the diagonal plane, creating movement and visual interest, while the colors create a rich feast for the eye that would satisfy the hungriest of big cats. Now we know what Fluffy was stalking in the photo above.
Photo by Pedro Szekely
And finally, a bit of whimsy with this photograph titled “Flamingo Party”. You can almost imagine Richard Simmons off-frame, calling out dance moves and bouncing around like a fuzzy-headed pinball on crack while the birds watch in utter fascination. The fantastic colors and composition of this photo are what make it so outstanding. Notice that the group of beaks create a splash of color across the frame. The photographer has framed the shot so that the beaks are slightly above center, creating interest and movement in the picture.
I hope this inspires you to go out and try your hand at taking spectacular photos of animals of your own.
All images are used under Creative Commons licensing, and can be found on Flickr.com.
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Tom Chu work for PsPrint and PsPrint Blog. When he’s not sitting behind a computer, Tom likes watching sci-fi movies and Japanese cartoons, hitting the golf course and playing with his four dogs. You can connect with Tom via Google+ or Twitter. |
