Wildlife photography is an adventure—and as any great adventure story unfolds, odds are, there are bound to be some great risks involved. Whether it’s the risk or the reward—or both—that motivates wildlife shooters, there is one pervasive truth: Preparation is key to success—and survival.In this book, Joe Classen approaches the art of wildlife photography from a hunter’s perspective. He teaches readers how to select and use the appropriate specialized photographic gear required for the rigors of wildlife photography—as you’d expect. However, he also teaches you how to mentally and physically prepare for an outing in which your wits must be as keen as your eye. Classen provides detailed insights into planning and packing for a wilderness adventure. Readers will learn how to securely pack their delicate photographic gear for a rugged, outdoor environment but will also learn how to choose and tote the best clothing for the site, accessories to ensure your personal safety, and even basic cooking and drinking requirements for days spent shooting in remote areas.Once you’ve scouted your location, you’ll learn how to track and lure your photographic subject using time-honored practices (calls—from lust to hunger, to anger and sloth; decoys; attractor scents; working invisibly, etc.) while “shooting” (your camera!) from a blind or stand—or, conversely, by using a more aggressive stalk-and-ambush approach. You’ll learn how to read animal behaviors—from eating to mating—and predict how, when, and where your best photographic opportunities will arise—and when your safety should be a greater concern than your shot.With this soup-to-nuts approach, readers will find, in this book, a compendium of information about wild-animal behavior, wilderness survival and safety, the art and science of photographic capture, and even storing and processing your prized digital files once you return home from your adventure. Armed with Classen’s suggestions and strategies, you’ll maximize your photo opportunities and increase the odds that your wildlife images are the mount-and-frame trophies for which you risked life and limb.
