Niall Benvie. Paul Harcourt Davies. Andrew Parkinson.

Getting ‘close-up and wide’ becomes a decidely seductive process when you see your shots take on that ‘wow’ factor on screen. It’s a great technique for any keen nature photographer to have at their disposal, used wisely; overdone, it can become clichéd.

In these two posts I have intentionally concentrated on close-ups of smaller subjects where the proximity of the photographer has minimal impact.  I won’t hide the fact that I am deeply unhappy with the increasing use of ultra-wides, needlessly thrust in the faces of larger animals by people intent on getting a shot at any cost.

The Donna Nook seals mentioned in recent posts have become an unfortunate target: the poor creatures just lie there  and thus, for some, they might offer money-making potential.  Education of photographers may well be an answer, but what hope when one advertisement for photographic trips claims that: “Doe-eyed pups will gaze at you in wonder before suckling…” ? What message does such emetic prose convey apart, that is, from a profound ignorance of animal behaviour in ascribing an emotion such as ‘wonder’ in anthropomorphic manner?

For many, myself included, nature photography  is a natural extension of a deep fascination (and care) for the natural world and that is how we came to it: those who set the business potential first and foremost often come to it from an interest in photography and subject welfare is secondary. Philosophically we occupy different regions of the galaxy. Unfortunately, the commercially-driven often loudly trumpet their ‘conservation’ credentials apparently unable to see the contradictions: a pity too many who perceive that dichotomy stay silent.

Polemic over…for now. Here’s a picture…

If you want to see what can be achieved with the wide view by two top-flight conservation photographers dedicated to their subjects then follow the links to  Stefano Untherthiner (http://www.stefanounterthiner.com/) or Solvin Zankl (http://solvinzankl.com/blog/) both are trained biologists turned photographers who spend gruelling weeks (even months) habituating themselves with their subjects and then get fantastic wide shots as the reward. I happen to know Stefano, he has an unbounded love of the natural world and a deep understanding of it. His enthusiasm is infectious as those at Wildphotos 2008 discovered: Solvin Zankl has taken some of the best wildlife photos I have ever seen.

Welfare of the subject is paramount, even if it means losing shots…that is the price we must pay.

So, just how close and wide can one realistically go with a suitable subject? READ MORE in Part 2