NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR KIDS

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BRIDGE TO NATURE

CARROL HENDERSONS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR TEACHERS & KIDS. Part 1. Tips 1-6.

(Teachers: Present these tips in four sessions of 6 tips each)

YOU CAN TAKE GREAT PHOTOS AT CLOSE RANGE BY USING SIMPLE SKILLS TO GET CLOSE.

1. Before going afield, be sure your battery is charged and that you have a memory chip in your camera.

2. Keep your camera turned on and with you (not in the trunk); with the lens cap off
and remember, the best light for photography is early and late in the day--before 10 AM and after 4 PM

3. DONT FORGET TO PHOTOGRAPH THE HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE.

4. LOOK FOR PATTERNS IN NATURE

VEHICLES AS PHOTO BLINDS

5. PHOTOGRAPH WILDLIFE FROM A CAR--THE PERFECT BLIND.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher photographed from a jeep in Texas

Ruffed Grouse photographed from a car in Minnesota

Crested Caracara photographed from a bus in Costa Rica

6. WILDLIFE WILL OFTEN LET YOU APPROACH CLOSELY IF YOU ARE IN A BOAT.

Common Loon photographed from a boat in MN

CARROL HENDERSONS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR TEACHERS & KIDS. Part 2. Tips 7-12.

7. Recorded calls can attract songbirdslike this Common Yellowthroat (IPod Touch apps)

or even predators like coyotes.

8. EXPLORE VEGETATION FOR THE LITTLE CREATURES

(macrophotography)

Red-eyed Treefrog photographed at night in Costa Rica

Vine snake photographed in a garden in Costa Rica.

9. SHOOT AT DIFFERENT SCALES: Landscape, medium range, closeup, and vertical format.

11. SET UP A BLACK LIGHT AND ADJACENT BEDSHEET TO ATTRACT NOCTURNAL INSECTS

12. TRY SUGARING FOR MOTHS!

SECRET MOTH ELIXIR FORMULA: 1.Rotten fermented bananas, peaches, apples, or plums 2. Molasses 3. Brown sugar Mix with enough water to make a slurry; Paint a 5 square patch on tree trunk at dark. Use flash/ macro.

CARROL HENDERSONS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR TEACHERS & KIDS. Part 3. Tips 13-18.

13. Set up a bird bath with an adjacent photo blind.

USE WATER FEATURES TO ATTRACT THE BIRDS!!!!

The best bird baths are only 1 -3 inches deep; with a couple levels, cascading water, and water flowing over flat rocks.

Use a recirculating pump to pump water from the lower pond to the upper pond. Place a perching branch by the pond for more photo opportunities!

White-throated Crake at a ground level bird bath, Costa Rica

14. Set up a bird feeder with an adjacent photo blind. (Keep the background simple) See Wild About Birds for advice

15. Visit a nature center or wildlife refuge with marsh boardwalks and photo blinds.

Homemade photo blind at a Sharptailed Grouse display ground-NW MN

Sharp-tailed Grouse photographed from that blind

16. BUILD YOUR OWN BLIND

Where do I get a photo blind? Archery blinds are cheap after deer season closes!

Sharp-tailed Grouse fighting at that display area (lek)

Photo blind made from a file cabinet shipping box

Same cardboard photo blind covered with camo fabric

Archery blind being used by students near bird feeders at Itasca State Park

Homemade photo blind by a beaver pond near

Bemidji, Minnesota.

Photographing Wood Ducks at that beaver pond.

17. SOMETIMES THE BEST BLIND IS NO BLIND AT ALL! JUST SIT QUIETLY, BLENDING INTO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SILENTLY WATCH WILDLIFE MATERIALIZE BEFORE YOUR EYES!

This endangered Piping Plover walked right past the photographer who sat perfectly still at the waters edge

This Richardsons Ground Squirrel came out of its burrow when the photographer sat quietly nearby.

18. Plant a butterfly and hummingbird garden. Use Landscaping for Wildlife as a planting guide

A fritillary butterfly visits a lantana flower in an Arizona butterfly garden

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird visits a Black-andBlue Salvia flower in a Minnesota garden

CARROL HENDERSONS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR TEACHERS & KIDS. Part 4. Tips 19-24.

19. Visit great wildlife viewing areas near your home or school: www.wildlifeviewingareas.com

Bald Eagle photographed at Colville Park, Red Wing, Minnesota, in February

Trumpeter Swan photographed on the Mississippi River by Monticello, MN, in January

Sandhill Cranes are often photographed at several state and federal wildlife refuges in Minnesota

20. Look for local areas of good wildlife habitat and concentrations of wildlife feeding or migration activity.

Fruiting trees with ripe fruit like pin cherries, grapes, dogwoods, and mountain ash

21. Build a bird house or visit a neighbors bird house to photograph birds at their nests.

Young bluebird ready to leave the nest.

Newly hatched purple martins were photographed when the nest was being inspected.

22. Build and place a wood duck box with a Spycam so the nesting behavior can be recorded.
(See Woodworking for Wildlife for details.)

Hen Wood Duck at its nest box. Photo copyright by Roland Jordahl of Park Rapids, MN

Newly hatched Wood Ducks in their nest. Photo copyright by Tammy Wolfe.

23. Make a Sandwich Aquarium to photograph aquatic creatures.

24. BE RESPECTFUL OF WILDLIFE. Do not chase or harass wildlife to get a photo.

ONE LAST THOUGHT. BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS! Do not take risks with dangerous wildlife or place yourself in risky situations just to get a photo.

1. Keep shooting, 2. Have fun, 3. Share your photos

Nongame Wildlife Program Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Look for the Loon on your Minnesota Tax Forms!

Photo Credits: All photos by

Carrol Henderson except as noted for Roland Jordahl and Tammy Wolfe.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BRIDGE TO NATURE