5 tips for budding wildlife photographers from award-winning Jayaprakash Bojan

CNA Lifestyle

5 tips for budding wildlife photographers from award-winning Jayaprakash Bojan

National Geographic'southward Nature Photographer of the Year offers five tips to become you started.

SINGAPORE: Whether you lot're shooting grey herons at a longkang or stalking tigers on a safari trip, shooting wildlife photographs can be merely as tricky every bit information technology is heady.

But inquire Jayaprakash Bojan, National Geographic'south Nature Photographer of the Year for 2017. The 41-year-old Singapore-based lensman recently won for his intimate portrait of a male person orangutan peeking from backside a tree every bit it crossed a river in Kalimantan – and it took a lot of effort to become it.

So what does it take to get a proficient wildlife photographer? Here are some tips from Bojan.

A stockbilled kingfisher in Singapore. (Photo: Jayaprakash Bojan)

1. OBSERVE BEFORE YOU EVEN Starting time SHOOTING

Spend a lot of time agreement and watching creatures before you lot start jumping in and photographing them. At that place was a time when I was trying to photograph kingfishers and I would always make the mistake of trying to go closer (and they would fly away). Then I realised I needed to invest more time agreement their behaviour. Later on repeatedly observing them, information technology became a lot easier because most animals have a routine, a blueprint, a favourite location.

Mr Bojan'south winning photo was of a male orangutan crossing a river in Borneo. (Photo: Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan)

2. DON'T (JUST) RELY ON YOUR Camera KIT

Information technology's a very expensive hobby. But an expensive camera and kit doesn't always equal corking photographs. Things like composition, and understanding brute behaviour and animal psychology tin give yous idea-provoking pictures.

An elusive tiger in Bharat. (Photograph: Jayaprakash Bojan)

3. Be Really, REALLY PATIENT

I would similar to say photography isn't rocket science – simply you volition also take to have passion, and invest a lot of time and patience. (For the National Geographic-winning orangutan photograph), I sat on a boat for two days not doing anything. And back in India, it took me peradventure xv or maybe 20 safari trips – or a total of peradventure 30 to 45 days – into the wildlife parks before I even saw my first tiger!

Elephants in India. (Photograph: Jayaprakash Bojan)

iv. Always RESPECT NATURE

Wildlife photography has its dangers. There'south always this element of danger and risk. For example, if you're in the river or the sea, remember that these are more than powerful than the states. I've also been mock-charged past elephants, had snakes crawling around me on many occasions – especially in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, yous have to exist careful where you pace in the wood. I've besides taken a few falls hither and there. Concluding year, I was in Nepal looking for red pandas. The terrain was terrible and slippery. I've broken some equipment but nothing serious. This comes with the job.

A starfish at Pasir Ris Park, taken with a handphone. (Photo: Jayaprakash Bojan)

5. USE YOUR HANDPHONE IF YOU Take TO

I've taken a lot of pictures with my handphone – some of the new ones have decent cameras. Just a few days ago, I posted a moving-picture show of a starfish in Pasir Ris (on Instagram). Information technology was low tide and the embankment had become bigger. Sometimes the starfish become washed aground. I was simply there for an evening walk and took it with my telephone.

5 tips for budding wildlife photographers from award-winning Jayaprakash Bojan

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