Genetics might or might not play a role in the creation of a wildlife photographer. But it can’t hurt.
Take the shining example of one Clayton Sparks, early of Colorado Springs, late of Boulder.
Sparks’ mother is a noted photographer who published several books; his father is a dedicated hunter and fisherman. Darkroom in the basement, shotgun and fly rod in the closet. Poor lad never had a chance.
The almost inevitable product of this amalgam stands before us not just as a model of mitochondrial succession, but as a volunteer to assist us in solving some of our more nettlesome picture-taking woes.
At 35, Clayton Sparks is affirmed as a skilled recorder of scenes from the great out of doors. In the footsteps of Ansel Adams, Edward Curtis and Myron Woods, he has chosen black-and-white as his primary medium for its timelessness and creativity.
Accepting the fact that most of us have wandered off onto that plebeian path of digital color, he consents to give us direction in how to do things right under the circumstances.
It all starts, like most good things, with patience.
“If I’m driving along and see a herd of deer, I observe for a while, taking note of their movements,” Sparks says. “That’s enjoyable enough in itself, but it helps to anticipate the right background and angle.”
Of course this is worthless if one has not heeded his No. 1 bit of advice, which is to always keep a camera in the car. That tool, he counsels, should have at least a 300mm lens with zoom capacity for a variety of conditions.
This magnification, larger if possible with digital lenses, is essential in overcoming what Sparks believes to be the most common sin of amateur photographers – minimizing the principal subject.
“If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough,” he repeated the photographic mantra.
A powerful lens is essential for respecting the space of wildlife; a good eye is necessary to hone in on the proper distance and angle to dazzle your friends with a prize rainbow trout.
“If you don’t get close, the fish you just caught will look disappointingly small,” Sparks cautioned.
Among the other tidbits he offers:
Stay in the car while photographing wildlife. Many animals have adapted to traffic and automobiles. They’ll stay put while you’re in the car, then spook when the door opens. Try to get a couple of shots from the car before getting out.
Be safe. Maintain a distance from the animal and keep a barrier between you and it in case it decides to charge.
Improvise. Don’t have a tripod? Use a fence post, a tree trunk or branch for stability.
Minimize your profile, particularly for critters easily spooked, such as antelope. Crouch down. Use bushes or other structures for concealment and approach downwind to minimize scent.
Shoot at dusk and dawn. Animals are most active while feeding during these times, often bedding down toward mid-day. Moreover, light is better early and late, harsh in the middle of the day.
Photograph just after a snowfall. Sparks loves the contrast afforded by a snowy background, particularly for black-and-white. “I find it easier to spot elk, deer and bighorn sheep right after it snows because they don’t blend in with their surroundings. Once you find them, the snow provides a beautiful backdrop.”
Take multiple shots. “The more photographs you take, the better chance you have of capturing one you want to print and frame.”
Always be conscious of the position of the sun, keeping it in front of your subject when shooting pictures of people. Avoid shadows on the face, either by using flash fill or asking the subject to remove a hat or cap.
Use agencies such as the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state wildlife department or National Park Service as sources of information about time and places where animals are most likely to be found. This can be a substantial time-saver.
Sparks’ own favorites are the Great Sand Dunes when elk come down to the valley floor in February, the Ohio Creek Valley near Gunnison in autumn, anywhere on the plains for antelope and the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs after a snowfall.
Now that he’s freely shared all this advice, you’re set to make your own discoveries. Mother and father for lifelong guidance costs extra.
Charlie Meyers can be reached at 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
