Close up photography in the field

You are trying to photograph that elusive bird / deer etc; others have done it as you have seen their photos, now you want to capture that special image. If this is the case then you will need to understand a few things before you start.

Most animals run for cover when they see the human form (outline of a man/woman). Therefore getting close enough to photograph any animal that is not tame is a challenge and needs some tools and skills to enable you to blend into the background.

The main area of concern is being able to either break-up or hide your outline. This can be achieved in several different ways and will help you to get much closer. 

Options

Getting close normally depends on your requirements once on location and the answer you provide to the following questions:

1.  Do you want to stay in one location and be able to move around without being seen once positioned?

2.  Do you want to be able to move to different locations and blend in to the background?

If you want to go for option 1 then you need to build yourself a hide of some description. This can be done in many different ways and with many different materials.

1A.  You can buy a purpose-built camouflaged tent suitable for photography which has netting and lens holes in the right places. These enable you to sit unnoticed for long periods and still be able to move around inside… JUST.

1B.  In many Army surplus stores you can buy camouflage sheets and netting. These make excellent screens and covers for use in the field.   I have chosen this option and cut holes in my camo sheet for my lens to push through.  I can then string this up between trees or bushes to act as a shield from the animal or birds vision. This works well if you are in dense woodland and you don’t have a large enough space for a tent hide. The camo sheeting and netting are also cheap and can be left in the field for next time, or for the animals to get used to for a few days or weeks.  Another advantage for the sheet / netting is the weight and size. I have a 10ft x 6ft camo sheet and this can easily be packed in to my small LowePro bag along with my 300mm Lens and body.  You have to think about how much you are going to have to carry on your trip, it might not be far to the location, but you might have climb hills, descend steep valleys or even clamber over fences. This is all much easier if you have your hands free, remember you will have a tripod to carry as well and may be even some food and drink for those long days.

1C.  You may also want to camouflage yourself within the hide, and also protect your clothing by wearing camo trousers and jackets.  See 2A below for more detail.

If you want to go for option 2 then you need disguise yourself to blend into the background. This can be done in many different ways and with many different materials.

2A.  This option I use because it is not expensive and I don’t mind getting it very dirty. Camo trousers and coats, these again can be cheap from your local Army store and can be extra handy as they have numerous pockets and draw strings around the ankles to stop the bugs from crawling up your legs. I bought Army trousers and a waterproof coat and it still only set me back about $70.  Just make sure the coat is big enough to perhaps get a fleece under as it can get very cold in the winter and you will need as much warmth as possible. When in full camo you will be able to blend in to the background if sat for long periods of time. The jacket and the trousers are a start but your head is still a bright light to wildlife, so you also might want to get yourself a small camo net to cover over your head. Some places call these sniper veils but they all do the same thing and should be very cheap. 

2B.  A more extreme version of this is the Army Ghillie suit, which is basically a camouflage jacket and trouser combination with the camouflage netting built in over the top, they also have a hood on the jacket with more cover, but allowing you to see out.  This is perfect for blending into rural surroundings, but please don’t try this in the city centre.  You will be able to move locations quite easily and then blend back into the background when still.  If you use this then you will need to disguise your camera and lens with a camo bag or net and cover your tripod with camo tape.  New photographic Ghillie suits are available with more of a woodland feel.

Comfort

One of the biggest things to make sure you have right when using ANY of these options is being comfortable. You need to be comfortable if you are going to be in the same position for any length of time. This is even the case for the proper hide tents, there is no point positioning yourself close to a perch etc, if you are excessively moving around as the animals will be aware of this.  Get yourself comfortable right from the start as it might be a long day.

I once sat for a few hours in a hide I had made on a river bank to photograph a Kingfisher, I had to move as I had cramp in my leg, but as soon I moved out of the hide and behind some trees to stretch my legs, the Kingfisher flew up and landed right where I wanted it to be but had not seen it all day. Of course once I moved it flew off…(believe me this is so so annoying).

Making a hide

Getting down to the serious business of making a hide. I have in the past used my tripod with the body and lens on it as the front section of the hide, you can then sit behind it on a small stool or seat. You need to make sure that you cannot be seen from the sides, so tie your sheet to small trees or bushes that are close. I normally try to find a place that I can sit close to, or up against, a tree, this way you are also building your hide in a place that will not stand out as a new item on the landscape. If you have bought yourself the netting then this can be pulled over your sheet and also tied to the surroundings. These nets are very good and you can soon blend into the background with them. Make sure you can not been seen from the sides, and you should always check the front to make sure you have covered all the holes and you cannot be seen. Also a lot of the time I find these can be very comfortable and can also be shower proof. I have a set of the dome tent poles in my kit so I can push these into the ground and tie or lay my sheet or netting over. These can be very handy if there is no other trees/bushes about to help construct the sides of the hind.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that if you are going to leave this hide in place then you need to be able to remove your camera kit from within it without it collapsing. This is normally the case if you are using your camera or tripod as the front section.

Being aware of your surroundings

Another thing you need to remember is that once you are in the hide you need to be able to see out. You need to have a large view of the area that you want to cover. The bird that you want to photograph can also perch on the branch to the left or right of where you think it might land. You need to be aware of the surroundings.

Then all you need to do is enjoy yourself and make the most of your days’ photography. Don’t worry if you don’t get the shot you are after the first time as it can take some time to perfect hides, plus it might just be the day that the animal feeds / hunts elsewhere. 

Remember the anticipation of the perfect image is half the fun….