I wouldn’t be able to tell you the number of times that patience has paid off in my wildlife photography. I also couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen wildlife interrupted by impatient photographers willing to do anything to get the shot. Not only does impatience and aggression disturb wildlife, but it often ruins an opportunity for anyone else there.
What ever happened to waiting to get the shot you want? It seems our selfish society’s “me” attitude has worked it’s way into wildlife photography. When the photographer getting their shot takes priority above all else, our wildlife suffers.
The three points below should be cardinal rules in wildlife photography, and there are laws against them in some places. However, laws can only be enforced if someone of authority is watching, which is rare. It’s up to the wildlife photography community to uphold a guide of ethics, and stop promoting photos captured at the the expense of wildlife.
All of these follow one simple concept: photograph nature as it is. Do everything you can to avoid disturbing the wildlife you photograph.
1. NEVER CHASE AN ANIMAL
This should go without saying, yet I see it ALL the time. Impatient, desperate photographers will chase an animal to no end so they can keep getting their close up shots. Not only is this unnecessarily stressing the animal out, but do this with the wrong animal and it may turn back towards you with a different attitude…
2. DON’T MAKE NOISE TO GET ATTENTION FROM AN ANIMAL
This is a pet peeve of mine, but it still breaks the ethical guide of disturbing the animal. If you whistle, clap, make a call, or purposely do anything to make an animal look up at you… you’re disturbing it. You should be photographing nature doing what it does naturally, not doing what you want it to do. You don’t need an animal to look directly into your lens, and it doesn’t make your shot better.
With that said, animals are curious and may look at you on their own, but it should be temporary. If they look up at you, then go back to whatever they were doing before, you’re not really disturbing them. They’re aware of their surroundings, but aren’t feeling alarmed. Even if you aren’t making a noise to get their attention, they may look up because you got too close.
3. DON’T GET TOO CLOSE
The specific (legal) distance you should keep between you and wildlife varies from one location to another, and an actual law may be absent in others. In Yellowstone specifically, you have to remain 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and 25 yards away from everything else (even birds). There are instances where a ranger is on scene and allows you to get closer, as long as the animal isn’t being disturbed. Another point in the law mentions that if you ARE causing the animal to change its behavior, you are too close (even if you’re outside the legal distance). That’s the key – if you’re causing the animal to change its behavior, you’re too close.
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Perhaps the most egregious example I have witnessed of overt self righteous behavior hogging the scene was a National Geographic photo team in Masai Mara in mid September 2017. A group of 6 or 7 safari vehicles were enjoying an incredible back and forth between a pride of Lions and a herd of Cape Buffalo when 2 vehicles filming a Nat Geo special decided they had superior rights to the rest of the viewers. First they interdicted themselves and vehicles between the other viewers and the ongoing action pretty much blocking the view of the others. Then in their “we’re better than anybody else exhibition” drove closer and closer to the center of the war between the two groups driving them further and further from the view of the original group of viewers.
This all took place within a literal stone’s throw of the Governor’s Camp entrance. I sure that they and Nat Geo as well as I know who they and their leader are. The group leader is as well recognized wildlife photographer and was written up in a KLM on board magazine article that month.
Great rules to live by. I get so tired of photographers who make noise and get too close.
Thank you. I agree with you on not disturbing the wildlife. I used to hunt and loved just watching animals do their thing. Now I am trying to capture that in photos.
This is a lengthy comment that I posted in Flickr in 2013 the image where it can be found is titled “Watching Us In Disbelief”
The day before my planned trip to Glacier National Park I received a phone call from a fellow photographer, he told me that he had just returned from Glacier and that there were a lot of bears also he was surprised that in the time he was there he did not see a park ranger.
When I arrived, I had not been in Glacier 10 minutes when I drove into a bear jam and discovered a sow and her two cubs up on a hillside with their noses buried in the bushes devouring as many berries as they could. No more than a few minutes had passed when a ranger arrived and moved everyone back 100 yards. This was a Thursday. Friday morning there was another bear jam watching yesterdays sow and cubs who had returned to the same berry patch. Part of the bear jam were 4 men with cameras, who began shouting and whistling to get the bears to raise their heads. After the second time they did this, I felt their actions were harassing the bears so I went and told them to cease and desist. I never saw a ranger the whole of the day.
Saturday morning I drove up on another bear jam and standing in the group was a park ranger. He was wearing the green uniform but did not have the brown leather belt with a gun, bear spray, two way radio, etc, etc. Nor was he driving a white truck with the green National Park Service logo/identification. Standing there he was answering questions and as the bear jam got larger he also kept the traffic moving. The next thing I know, he was shouting and clapping his hands together to get the attention of the bear so that it would raise its head, making for a better picture for the photographers. The way I see it, these actions of shouting, clapping hands and whistling is HARASSMENT plain and simple. Then he walked along the line of people asking “how far do you think we are from the bear?” While at the same time reminding everyone that we should be standing 100 yards away from the wildlife. After a few guesses from the crowd he proudly announced that using his rangefinder binoculars he learned that we were only 42 yards away. He made absolutely no effort to move anyone back to the 100 yard mark. A short while later another ranger arrived in an official vehicule, the two discussed the situation and the newly arrived ranger parked and took out two orange traffic cones from this truck and announced to everyone that we were all too close to the bear and we immediately had to move back to 100 yards and to stand behind the orange cones.
For those of you who are familiar with the steep hillside of loose rock about 200 yards from the turn off to the Many Glacier Hotel, this is where the bear was busily devouring berries. The bear had no intention of leaping off this 30 foot high cliff to cross the road and then again leap off into obilivion. The reason for moving everyone was if the bear wanted to cross the road.
Can someone explain why a ranger would intentionally harass the wildlife and then encourage people to take pictures at 42 yards then another ranger strictly enforces this 100 yard rule while telling me the distance will allow the animal to cross the road if it wants? It would be good for both the animals and visitors if the rangers all referred to the same rule book and also were visible every day. I am very disappointed that this is the method of wildlife management in Glacier National Park.
Nikkor 200-400mm f/4.0
I totally agree with you! These are also some of my pet peeves.
Your images are wonderful.
Many thanks for all that you share with us.
I just want to say thank you, for all your sharing. My Fiancee does Photography as well. What she is showing me and what I am reading from you, I can only get better.
Thanks Again
Chuck