Hello, photographers!

A lot of photos improve not when we move more, but when we learn to read the scene better.

There are days when the bird appears right in front of us and, even so, the photo doesn't happen the way we imagined. The light doesn't do it any favors, the background gets confused, the focus slips away, the moment passes too quickly. At these times, it is common to think that there was a lack of luck or equipment. But many times what was missing was a short pause, one of those that completely changes our reading of the scene.

In wildlife photography, observing is not a waste of time. Observing is part of the technique.

When we slow down a little before clicking, we start to notice signs that help a lot in decisions. The direction of the bird's gaze, the branch on which it tends to land, the repeated movement between two points, the subtle change of light, the bottom it can clear if it walks a few inches. All of this counts.

Sometimes the rushed click delivers a record. But the observed click usually delivers a more conscious image. And this difference does not always appear only in sharpness or framing. It appears in the intention.

Over time, observation refines several layers of the photograph at the same time. You start to anticipate behavior, better understand the real chance of action, choose more calmly where to focus, realize when it is worth insisting and when it is simply worth waiting. This reduces anxiety and improves performance on the field.

There is also a silent change that makes a lot of difference: when we observe more, we photograph with less automatism. Instead of reacting to any movement, he begins to build the photo with more presence. And this is as true for a bird perched in difficult light as it is for a fast flight scene.

Technical evolution does not always come from a new adjustment in the camera menu. Often it comes from an adjustment at our own pace.

Photographing birds and other animals is, in large part, learning to read what is happening in front of us. And this reading begins before the click.

On the next outing, try to do this on purpose: before the first photo, he observes for a few moments. Notice the behavior, the light, the background and the direction of the scene. It may seem little, but this short break usually teaches a lot.

If you want, answer me by telling me what kind of scene you find it most difficult to observe before clicking. This may yield a next content here.