Carlos Pereira received a qualification from the British Institute of Professional Photographers. He developed a successful business in the UK as a wedding and Portrait photographer. He received further training in the USA from Monte Zucker, a master photographer.
His Wildlife and Portrait photographs have been published in the UK and European photographic magazines.
He concentrates his photography as a travelling photographer and a teacher, offering his expertise as a nature photographer through digital books.
His vision has been moulded by the classic portraiture that was his business for a number of years.
Working in the Field
Photographing Wildlife
A hide is a great addition to a wildlife photographer. My home made hide is always kept in my car ready for use. Hides enable you to be closer to cautious subjects. However, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. It may take a few days for the wildlife to accept the hide, so it must be moved into location slowly.
I’m not suggesting you should always work from a hide, but at least once in a while you may find it useful.
A lightweight, portable hide is best. My simple hide is made of camouflage-pattern material in the shape of a bag which I place over my head and tripod. I cut a couple of holes in the cloth to see out when the fabric is over my head. When I’m using it, I try to position the camera and myself by overgrown vegetation to better blend the hide with the surroundings.
I suggest you learn about working from a hide at a location where you do not disturb the subject you’re trying to photograph.
One of the best hides is your vehicle. Birds and animals are far more tolerant of vehicles than of humans. Have you had the experience of driving close to a bird that seemed to ignore your presence only to see it fly away at the clink of he car door opening?
When possible, shooting from your car is a good option. Visit the location before hand to identify appropriate spots. Take note of the sun and wind direction at the time you intend to shoot. The wind direction may change but being familiar with the area will enable you to select the best position. The wind can carry your scent for long distances warning animals that a human is around. For bird photography knowing the wind direction tells you how a bird is going to take off and land - will the bird have the front toward the camera or away from it?
If you’re working from inside the vehicle, you’ll never get sharp photos if you leave the engine running. Assuming you’re using a long telephoto lens, a tiny vibration will be greatly exaggerated by the gentle tremor of the engine. Unless you’re working with a high shutter speed, a telephoto lens inside a vehicle will most likely give you blurred images. Care must be exercised. Switch off the engine and keep still when pressing the shutter button.
Where do you rest the camera when working from inside the vehicle?
Some people use a window mount, others a been bag. A lot depends on the car. I’ve used a been bag with great success in Kenya and Namibia working from a van. I purchased one kilo of beans from the local market and placed it into a bag made for the purpose. I got sharp pictures every time.
Buy the best equipment you can then learn to use it in the best possible manner. Proper photographic technique is by far the most important factor in crafting great pictures.
