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Capturing the moment -

How do you take a photograph like this? The chance element notwithstanding, it takes years of experience and a thorough knowledge of your subject. But by following a few easy tips, you can at least begin to capture some great moments from the exciting and diverse world that is the animal kingdom.

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Patience is a virtue -

It goes without saying: the key to good wildlife photography is patience. Wild animals do their own thing, and can't be prompted to look this way, or do something cute or unusual. You just have to wait. And wait.

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Understanding your subject -

Animal behavior is complex and unpredictable. But the more you understand about animal psychology, the better chance you have of anticipating an encounter like this: a territorial clash between two male gemsbok on the dusty plains of Etosha National Park in Namibia.

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Know your gear -

In photography, you tend to get what you pay for. If you're truly passionate about wildlife photography, it's worth splashing out on professional gear. A DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera offers the optimum amount of settings, lenses, and accessories. Wise up on technique, and find out exactly what your camera of choice is capable of.

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Understanding your gear -

By definition, wildlife photography means spending a lot of time outdoors in all weather. Ensure your camera body is protected against the elements—rain, dust, etc.— and make sure it can handle an extreme temperature range.

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Remote shutter release -

A handy accessory is a remote shutter release. This enables a photographer to operate the camera's shutter from a distance, whether for practical reasons or for safety purposes.

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Get to know your subject -

Some wildlife photographers specialize in a particular species, and this can bring advantages in that they truly do get to know their subject. Consequently, photographs can end up becoming an intimate diary of that animal's life.

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300mm telephoto lens -

Telephoto lenses are a must for wildlife photography. The length you choose really depends on how close you can get and on the size of your subject. A 300mm 2.8 lens is a good all-round piece of equipment. Incidentally, always try and work with a lens with a large aperture—that is a lens with a smaller minimum f-number, like 2.8. These so-called fast lenses can achieve the same exposure with a faster shutter speed, and speed is often the essence in wildlife photography.

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Teleconverter -

Another useful accessory is a teleconverter. Small, light, and portable, teleconverters come in different degrees of magnification and can increase the reach of your lens. You will compromise to a degree on resolution, and lose some control over light, but you'll bring the world of wildlife much closer to your camera as a reward.

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Bigger telephoto lens -

Using telephoto lenses of 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, and 800mm is the norm when photographing wildlife. Large, heavy, and bulky, these lenses are also very expensive. As your skills and technique evolve, you'll most likely move up the optics scale. But your passion and commitment will have to equal the financial outlay.

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Car door mount -

Be aware that the bigger telephoto lenses are very heavy and can give your back and shoulders a hard time when on the move. Even holding one aloft can test the strength in your arms. It's therefore worthwhile investing in a car door lens mount. Some of the best wildlife images out there have been taken from the comfort of a vehicle.

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Monopod or tripod? -

A tripod is always useful. But again, think mobility. Tripods sturdy enough to support a 600mm lens are big and cumbersome. An alternative is a monopod, but you'll trade some stability for ease of use. Otherwise, find a boulder or tree stump to rest the lens on. And as a last resort, your own camera bag makes a useful cushion.

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Freeze the action -

Always work at a high speed. A bird caught mid-flight for example requires a shutter speed of at least 1/8000 second. Animals photographed in action look very dramatic. But remember: a slower shutter speed can reveal the subject in a totally different light. It all depends on the desired end result.

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Character and environment -

It's always an accomplishment to get a fantastic close-up shot of a wild animal. But sometimes that's only half the picture. Wildlife photography is also about recording habitat and the surrounding environment. Remember to use a wider lens to capture terrain and territory. Fillmmakers call this an "establishing shot."

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Habitat -

Here's a great example. A majestic bald eagle is photographed touching down over a snow-blanketed Alaska. This bird of prey's range is vast, and this image perfectly conveys the scope of its territory.

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Personality -

Now here's the eagle in close-up range: a beautiful profile of the national bird of the United States.

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Habitat -

Here's another example. This time the location is Tanzania during Africa's great wildebeest migration. At its greatest concentration, the herds number nearly two million animals.

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Personality -

And now the isolated close-up shot of a single wildebeest lends the animal a unique personality. So, you see how character and environment work together.

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Think small -

While busy capturing the bigger picture and animal kingdom celebs like lions, tigers, and bears, it's easy to overlook the little guys. A wildlife photographer is an observer of all that's around them, and that includes insects and other tiny critters. Have a lens handy to record the world in miniature.

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Work the light -

Photographers work with light, and the best light, the so-called "golden hour," is first thing in the morning as the sun rises, and the 60 minutes or so before sunset. Get used to getting up in the dark and being in position by daybreak to capture images like this one: a Eurasian reed warbler in full voice during the dawn chorus.

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Remains of the day -

Likewise as the day ends, a beautiful honey-hued light burnishes the landscape to create a warm wash of color that's hugely complimentary to all sorts of  subject matter, including wildlife.

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Use camouflage -

You won't win any best-dressed prizes, but investing in a ghillie suit (a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble the background environment) will save you ending up being sequestered in a cramped hide all day.

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Camera trap -

Consider setting up a camera trap to photograph more elusive animals. The device uses infrared light and a motion detector to trip the shutter automatically.

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Caught in the act -

Camera trap imagery can produce some fantastic results. Here, a red deer is seen at night foraging while totally unaware that its good side has just been captured.

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Working the environment -

Wildlife photography is not for the fainthearted. Besides the aforementioned patience required to do the job, photographers must be prepared to go where the work is, and that is usually well out of anyone's normal comfort zone.

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Develop a story -

While a single image of an especially rare species can draw gasps of admiration from envious colleagues, photographs of a more everyday variety can also be winners. Look at this cute duo: two brown bear cubs playing in a world of their own. Wildlife photography is about capturing the moment, but it's also about telling a story.

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Be ready for the unexpected -

You don't have to be on safari to come away with something special. As you develop an eye for a picture, your visual senses are increasingly honed for the offbeat. A seemingly ordinary domestic farm scene is suddenly turned into a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment as a gaggle of geese waddle over the crest of a hill. The moral of the tale: always have a camera at hand.

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Underwater photography -

A specialist area of wildlife photography is photographing underwater. The laws of physics change when using a camera below the waves, so best to learn the basics on land before venturing below the surface.

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Become a conservationist -

Becoming a wildlife photographer is to join an elite band of men and women passionate about nature and the welfare of the environment. Interact on social media with them, join online forums, and become more vocal about animal conservation and you'll learn so much more besides how to operate a camera. 

See also: Flights of fancy: the most colorful and exotic birds on the planet

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