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Stalking wildlife
Finding & approaching wild animals needs patience
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There are some animals you shouldn't stalk, since you may find them stalking you. Use common sense and employ a guide with experience and expertise when entering a dangerous animal's territory.
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TRAIN YOURSELF
Learn the essentials of field craft so you can approach more closely to animals that are normally wary of predators. Field craft involves finding the animal in its habitat, and inconspicuously getting into a suitable shooting position without its observing you or at least without your startling the animal into flight. In effect, you are acting like an animal that is either on the hunt or looking out for hunters.
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HINTS & TIPS
If an animal does become aware of you, freeze and remain motionless. The animal may or may not bolt. Be ready to shoot quickly if it does; you may capture a good action shot. On the other hand, if you remain still and the animal becomes used to your presence and does not feel threatened, it may relax and you might soon be able to get closer.
Stalking an animal should be done slowly and quietly. It requires patience and self-control.
Keep downwind, preferably with your back to the light when the sun is out.
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Patience and silence will often bring you close enough for good pictures without the animals being aware of your presence.
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Some animals live in open terrain that makes stalking them next to impossible. Shooting from a vehicle or capturing images of them in a zoo or wildlife park is often your only recourse.
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Stay close to cover and in the shade when possible. Stay low. An animal will surely spot you if you stand so that any part of you is above the horizon. Staying low minimizes the size of your shadow on sunny days. Avoid walking on the tops of ridges so you won't have the skyline behind you.
Try to have rocks or bushes behind you at all times so you blend in.
Carry nothing that rattles or might make noise of any kind - keys, for example, or pocket change. Turn off your watch’s chime if it sounds on the hour. Turn off your cell phone’s ringer; set it to vibrate if there is a call, but choose your moment carefully to answer it. Your voice will carry. Keep the volume low on a walkie-talkie you may be carrying. Make sure your camera bag contains padding between the items it contains.
See our section entitled Blend into the animal's habitat for further tips.
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PRACTICE FIELD CRAFT BEFOREHAND
Practice field craft in your garden or a park, selecting small animals or birds to approach. You can even try stalking an unwary cat or dog that is used to the presence of humans to find out just how quickly an animal can pick up on your presence. You may be surprised and perhaps even disappointed at how difficult it can be at first, but you will improve with experience. Animals are incredibly alert to their surroundings, and it takes a great deal of experience to know how to approach them closely without them being aware of you, or with them being aware of you while unconcerned about their safety.
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When a particularly dangerous animal notices you, it's time to back off. No picture is worth risking your safety or your life.
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When an animal suddenly looks in your direction and its ears are aimed at you, those are good indications that your presence is known. Remaining still may cause the animal to resume going about its business.
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