I have been interested in nature photography since I was 10 years old. As a teenager, I learned to draw animals and landscapes in chalk and paint, and I puttered around with inexpensive film cameras like Kodak Brownie, and Argus 35. But I didn't have a camera worth noting until about 1968, when I bought my first 35mm SLR, a Minolta SRT-101. I used that camera for years, and in the late 90's, when I took up photography again after a hiatus of about 30 years, I bought newer Minolta equipment, including a Minolta Maxxum 9, and 300 mm f/4 and 600 mm f/4 G lenses from Minolta. I sold those in 2003 when I moved to the Canon system, after Minolta promised me they were never going to introduce a digital SLR. But of course, the next year Minolta introduced the Maxxum 7D DSLR, after I had sold my 600 mm f/4 G and 300 mm f/4 G lenses (worth about $9000 at the time). Those were superb lenses, and easily the equal of Canon or Nikon equivalent lenses.

 

I have a B.S. degree in wildlife biology and wildlife management. I learned all about mammals, birds, insects, every imaginable other species, and methods of maintenance and control of wildlife. I also took a parasitology class (you don't want to know, but suffice it to say you don't want to eat anything raw, including sushi).

 

Of course, it goes without saying that knowing your subjects, and having the greatest respect for them are critical. Knowing where to find them, what time of year and time of day, and knowing sun angle and wind direction, are optimum for capturing animated behavior. Since I studied wildlife biology in college, I feel this gives me an advantage over some others who have no idea of the biology and behavior of their subjects. The photographer's mantra today seems to be to point your shadow at your subject (i.e. sun behind you or over left or right shoulder). This results in a near shadowless rendition of your subject. I generally do subscribe to this, but not exclusively. Sometimes I don't want to have a shadowless, bland, and dull subject. So, don't be afraid of shadows (Ansel Adams wasn't).

 

Most of all though, I take photographs...lots of them. Field experience is one of the best ways to improve one's photography. You won't take that once in a lifetime photo unless you are out there.

 

By the way, paraphrasing Benjamin Franklin: Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow!

 

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