
The 1 to 1.618 ratio is accepted as a principle of good design and has been employed by designers going back as far as 300 B.C. This ratio is found throughout nature, music, the visual arts, even the human body, and in patterns of behavior. The rule of thirds – The rule of thirds is part of a more fundamental visual aesthetic called the Golden mean. Not all wildlife photos should be at eye level, but it is certainly a composition that makes you feel connected to your subject. It also separates your images from other photographers that took a photo just standing and looking at the wildlife. Shooting wildlife at eye level – Doing this makes the person looking at your image feel like they were right there with you while you took the photo. Here are a few basic composition guidelines which will make your composition much more appealing in almost any situation. Once you apply these basic composition guidelines you will be able to go to the next level and start to master wildlife storytelling. There are some basic composition rules that will instantly make your photos better. Without a good composition, Your image will not have a visual appeal. CompositionĬomposition is probably the most important creative element in your photo. It might work for you, but then again, you just might have more patience than me and be happy to sit in that blind waiting for the perfect moment. This method has served me well over the years. Hunting the same areas at the same time of day, using the same areas to rest in. You will be surprised how habitual an animal is in its environment. I will make several return visits to the same location to observe the wildlife patterns.

This method will allow me to be ready to use the lighting to create more impactful images. I always pay attention to light and how it illuminates a scene (more on this later). As I mark these locations I am checking available light at these vantage points.

You will often find me GPS marking locations as I move around.
