Starting point
I’ve been taking photographs of domesticated animals for a very long time, but it’s been a sideline that happens while I’m doing other things. I’ve accumulated experience and altered how I work depending on what works and what doesn’t, but I haven’t actively tried to analyse my work and understand what needs improving. I’ve been largely on autopilot.
I want to improve so that I can more reliably get good results and that starts with understanding what I’m doing now.
This post will cover my current approach, equipment, chance, and problems that I face.
Photographing animals
A 2005 image taken with a fisheye lens and very close range.
When I’m out walking or on the bike, I often encounter cattle, sheep and horses and I’ll stop to take photos. This is easier on my own or when in a small group. If I’m out with a big group on a bike ride, that’s the main activity and it’s harder to stop for these things.
When encountering these animals, I rely on their curiosity to approach me - or at least look towards me. I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable so if there’s any sign that they don’t like my presence, I’ll leave them to it.
Mostly they’re happy to see somebody - especially if that somebody is calm and respectful. Some cattle and horses quite like a bit of fuss as well.
Because animals approach me, they tend to be moving towards me, or right next to me, so a wide-angle lens with a short minimum focus distance is really useful.
Using fixed lens cameras and prime lenses is a habit that has stuck, I’ve never been a fan of having a long zoom to photograph an animal a long way away - it’s much more fun for me if I’m within talking distance.
Photographing Pets
I’ve found it’s easy to photograph pets when they’ve been playing, a bit tired and not running around. To get action shots you really need somebody else to play with them, otherwise, you’re the focus of the playing and taking photos has to take a back seat.
Stationary photos
Almost all of my dog photos feature stationary dogs.
Molly here moves like lightning and is often airborne - so being able to capture that side of her is one of my goals
Equipment Highlights
I’ve owned many cameras, but the photos here are a subset of cameras that had a special impact on me - in the order I obtained them. These cameras have really baked into me what I like and what I don’t about cameras.
Canon Ixus 400 (PowerShot S400)
This was one of my first digital cameras. The tiny size meant I took it out a lot and used it. I had an Ixus V first, but the quality wasn’t great. It was this one that was good enough to be enjoyable.
Nikon D50
My first DSLR and such a quick and easy to use camera with a big quality step up from my little point and shoot cameras. I had my first taste of a wide lens (18mm) and then later a Tokina Fisheye which I really fell in love with.
Ricoh Caplio GX100
I wanted a smaller camera to take out and about when I really didn’t want a bag full of DSLR and lenses. I fell in love with this little camera. It had fantastic controls that could be used one-handed. When I got this, the Ricoh GR cameras were also around but at that time I couldn’t understand why anyone would want a camera without a zoom.
Ricoh GR
I’ve had a few versions of this, but I fell in love with them - and I fell in love with fixed focal lengths and prime lenses. Not having a zoom made me think more and primes have become a habit for me ever since. Primes are theoretically better quality than zoom lenses, but it’s really the effect it has on me taking photographs that resonated with me.
FujiFilm X-E1
My Nikon DSLR was increasingly staying at home in a bag of lenses and I was taking a small Ricoh out with me most of the time. When FujiFilm started releasing their X cameras, this one looked like it had the important guts of a DSLR and some lenses that were highly regarded. I took the plunge and purchased one along with a 35mm F1.4 lens and fell in love with them I sold the DSLR and committed to this. I’ve had at least one FufiFilm camera ever since.
Using it was fun - a lot of fun.
FujiFilm X-T2
The X-E1 was fun, but it wasn’t great at photographing moving animals - it wasn’t quick enough. By the time the X-T2 came out, it was as fast as I would ever need and I could operate it with my eyes shut.
