How to Change Camera Settings for Stunning Wildlife Photos

Ever found yourself, camera in hand, gazing at a breathtaking scene, puzzled over which settings to adjust?

It can be overwhelming when your camera, brimming with dials and menus, feels like it's outsmarting you. Imagine, however, mastering these settings effortlessly, like a seasoned pro.

Whether you're capturing the intricate patterns on a butterfly’s wings with a precise aperture setting, or freezing a hawk mid-flight with the correct shutter speed, taking command of your camera settings is simpler than it appears.

In this guide, I'll outline essential camera settings that will elevate your photography skills:

Shutter Speed: Master capturing rapid movements or crafting smooth, silky blurs.
Aperture: Fine-tune the depth of field to make your subjects stand out against a softly blurred backdrop.
ISO: Overcome low-light challenges without the hassle of unwanted noise.

This focused approach will empower you to snap stunning photos with clarity and confidence.

European Robin taken at f7.1 has nicely blurred the distant background

The Exposure Triangle

First, familiarise yourself with your camera's mode dial.

The semi-automatic modes are particularly useful as they allow creative flexibility while managing some settings for you.

For instance, in Aperture Priority mode (denoted as 'A' or 'Av'), you select the aperture and the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed. This mode is ideal for achieving a blurred background, or "bokeh."

Conversely, use Shutter Priority mode (marked as 'S' or 'Tv') to control motion effects in your images. Here, you pick the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture accordingly. This mode is excellent for either freezing action or capturing motion blur, depending on the speed you choose.

By understanding and utilizing these modes, you’ll not only capture the beauty of your surroundings but also enjoy the process of photography more fully.

Manual Mode Mastery - Full Creative Control

Manual mode in photography gives you total control – you adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

This hands-on approach enhances your skills and understanding of image creation.

Begin with simple experiments, changing one setting at a time, then gradually combine them. With practice, you'll easily handle any lighting situation, creating images according to your vision.

Aperture - The Eye of Your Camera

Think of your camera's aperture as the pupil of your eye, adjusting in size to control the amount of light that enters through the lens.

Aperture settings, measured in f-stops, influence your photos significantly.

A lower f-stop number opens the aperture wider, allowing more light to enter—perfect for capturing the subtle nuances of a dimly lit forest or the vibrant activity at dusk when wildlife is most lively.

Meanwhile, a wider aperture creates a beautiful, creamy background blur (known as bokeh), which makes your subject stand out sharply.

This effect is part of what photographers refer to as depth of field, a crucial concept that dictates the sharpness of areas in front of and behind your focus point.

If the background is far enough away an aperture of f/9 will push it out of focus when using a long lens (100-400mm)

Understanding Depth of Field - The Magic Behind the Focus

Depth of field (DOF) refers to the range within a photo that appears sharply focused.

A shallow depth of field, achieved with wider apertures like f/2.8, focuses on a small area, making your subject stand out against a blurred background.

Conversely, a narrow aperture, such as f/16, extends the depth of field, keeping more of the scene in focus—ideal for capturing images like a flock of birds at various distances.

By manipulating the DOF, you can direct the viewer’s attention and enhance the storytelling of your image.

Shutter Speed - Freezing the Moment

Wildlife is unpredictable and moves quickly—blink, and you might miss an incredible moment!

To capture these fleeting encounters, understanding your camera's shutter speed is crucial. Shutter speed determines how long the camera’s shutter is open to expose the sensor to light.

Using fast shutter speeds, such as 1/1000th of a second or quicker, helps you capture sharp images of fast-moving subjects like a bird in flight.

However, a fast shutter speed allows less light into the camera, which can be challenging in lower light situations.

To counter this, you might need to adjust the aperture or increase your ISO.

Alternatively, setting your camera to auto-ISO can simplify the process.

This function automatically adjusts the ISO based on lighting conditions, enabling you to maintain your desired shutter speed and aperture settings without manual adjustments. Just set your maximum acceptable ISO to manage noise levels and let the camera handle the rest.

Understanding these settings enhances your ability to adapt to varying light conditions, crucial in wildlife photography.

By managing shutter speed and ISO effectively, you’re better equipped to capture stunning, crisp images in the wild.

This mid-air interaction between Common Terns used 1/1600th sec shutter speed to freeze the action

ISO and Its Impact on Your Photos

ISO measures your camera's sensitivity to light, which you can increase in dim conditions to brighten your photos.

However, a higher ISO comes with a downside—increased noise.

Noise refers to the grainy speckles that may detract from the quality of your shots, particularly in dark areas and fine details of wildlife images.

While a bit of noise can add a raw, gritty quality to a picture, it's generally best to minimize it to maintain image clarity.

To keep your photos crisp and clean, always opt for the lowest possible ISO setting that still allows for good exposure.

Kingfisher taken with an ISO of 2000 which has introduced noise into the background

Panning - Sharp Subject, Blurred Background

Panning is a photography technique that involves moving your camera in sync with a moving subject. To achieve this effect, use a slower shutter speed—typically between 1/30th and 1/125th of a second, depending on your subject's speed.

As you track a fast-moving object, like a cheetah running or a bird in flight, aim to keep it steady within your frame.

When executed correctly, panning blurs the background while keeping the subject sharply in focus. This creates a vivid impression of motion and speed, making it an exciting way to capture wildlife in action.

Try it out and see the dynamic results for yourself!

Be prepared

Now that you're familiar with panning and capturing movement, streamline your camera setup to make these techniques more effective.

By switching to Shutter Priority mode and enabling auto-ISO, you can focus more on the subject and maintain smooth motion without worrying about adjusting settings during critical moments.

These adjustments are particularly beneficial in wildlife photography, ensuring you're always prepared to capture nature's spontaneous events.

An unexpected hare sighting at sunrise. F11 with a 600mm lens, 1/800th second with a high ISO of 6400.

Other Settings - Sharpening Your Toolkit

Your camera is equipped with numerous settings to enhance your wildlife photography.

White balance ensures natural-looking colours, while autofocus points keep your subjects sharply in focus.

Don’t forget the usefulness of burst mode for capturing a rapid sequence of shots, or image stabilisation to counteract the effects of shaky hands.

Explore your camera's menu to uncover these helpful tools, or stay tuned as I gradually add detailed guides about these features (and more) to the site.