I love animals and love photographing them whilst away on my travels. Animal portrait photography can be an excellent addition to your travel portfolio. Animal portraits can capture both the personality of the animal and the essence of the place itself. In addition, it is a lot easier to take photos of animals up close than it is of humans, and you do not have to worry about model releases! Click through the slideshow below to view some of my favourite animal portraits I have taken whilst on my travels:
Animal portrait photography requires patience and skill as they can be very unpredictable! But with enough time on the road you can create some lasting memories to treasure for years to come. As with everything, practice really does make perfect, although often a bit of luck and being in the right place at the right time also helps! As well as being a rewarding activity, animal portraits can also bring in some much needed travel cash. Whether it is the sale of online prints or licensing via stock photography, animal images do sell! My photo of the llama at Machu Picchu has been licensed via Getty images over two hundred times, everyone loves a Llama…. Another popular selling animal portrait of mine is this Dog in pink shades covered in dollar $ bills taken in California. The amusing close-up portrait of the crazy dog in India is another popular seller of mine. And, the boy band style monkey shot taken in The Gambia is also another firm favourite. I have also had a few of my animal portraits exhibited in various place around the World. My photograph of a silhouetted camel at sunset taken in Rajasthan, India was exhibited in the Praxis Gallery in Minneapolis, USA. In May of this year one of my travel images from Nepal is going to be included as part of the “Animalia” exhibition at the Photoplace gallery in Middlebury, Vermont.
Taking Animal Portraits on your Travels
Whether you are photographing domestic pets, wildlife in their natural habitats, or even exotic animals in zoos or wildlife parks, there are endless opportunities to capture stunning animal portraits on your travels. To take your animal portrait photography to the next level, it's important to understand the behavior and habits of your subjects, as well as having a good understanding of composition, lighting, and exposure. So spend some time observing your animal and getting a sense of their personality. This will help you capture their unique traits and characteristics in your photos. Use a high shutter speed to ensure a sharp image and focus whenever possible on the animal’s eyes. All of my animal portraits were taken with natural light, most were taken up close with a 50mm lens, but it can be advantageous to use a telephoto lens. Experiment with different angles and perspectives, get creative. Don't be afraid to get down low or climb up high to get a unique shot with an unusual angle. Varying your angles will add interest and depth to your photography portfolio. Finally have patience, be persistent and have fun doing it! Here’s some more of my animal portraits for your amusement, click through the slideshow below:
If you're interested in exploring the world of animal portrait photography, be sure to check out the many resources available online, including tutorials, forums, and photography communities. Join animal photography groups on photography communities such as Flickr for some useful peer feedback, and don't forget to share your work on social media to connect with other photographers and pick up some inspiration. More of my animal portraits taken on my travels can be found on my Instagram, and my Flickr account. If you would like to purchase one of my animal portraits, please send me a message. Alternatively you can license many of animal photographs via Getty images. Sometimes you get the Bear, sometimes the Bear gets you.