Using Ground Blinds for Wildlife Photography
If you enjoy getting out with your camera and taking nature or wildlife shots you know how hard it can be to get those 'great' wildlife photos. A person can spend hours and hours in the woods but never get close enough or be quick enough to get those awesome shots of a buck deer or wolf in the wild.
You've seen the exceptional pro photographs of wildlife and thought to yourself, "I wish I was lucky enough to get a shot like that". Well, here's the secret: The pros aren't lucky and it takes a little of work and time.
Most, if not all, great natural wildlife shots are taken from blinds or 'hides'. If you are an experienced outdoorsman or hunter, you will understand how this works. And hunters even have an advantage over us wildlife photographers. A gun shoots a lot farther than a camera. No matter how much expensive gear you have, or how long your lens is, you still have to get close. Usually, real close.
Knowing this little secret is an advantage for anyone who would like to get some great wildlife shots. If you set up a blind and spend a little time there, you will see wildlife. And you learn where you need to be and how close you have to be to get a good shot. Then it's just a matter of being a little crafty and skillful to determine how to best set up your blind to be in the right place at the right time.
And if you want a place to learn how to take wildlife photographs, don't spend a lot of time reading photography books. Instead, read everything you can about hunting and wild animal behaviour. You have to learn to think like a hunter that carries a camera rather than a gun.
One fairly easy and inexpensive way to get started taking photos from blinds is to use a portable ground blind. These are usually small one man units and are very lightweight. Made like a small hut, they are usually fully-enclosed with two or more windows. They can be set up anywhere on the ground and come with stakes and tie-downs for a quick set up.
It is like carrying a small little very light weight house around with you. You'll probably be surprised to know that these blinds usually weigh less than 7 to 10 pounds and come with their own backpack to make them easy to carry. And the cost is not prohibitive, usually in the range of $50 to $100.
And if you don't want to spend the cash, you can use some camouflage burlap cloth or netting and some ropes and stakes to create a home made blind anywhere. While they may not be as handy, the net effect is the same.
Another trick is to use any natural material you can find nearby to add to your blind to help disguise it and have it blend in with the area. Use dead branches, leaves and other material you find to really disguise your blind.
Give this a try. Even if you don't get that 'wall hanger' shot on your first outing, I guarantee you'll be amazed at what you will see if you spend a quiet hour or two hidden in the woods with your camera.
You've seen the exceptional pro photographs of wildlife and thought to yourself, "I wish I was lucky enough to get a shot like that". Well, here's the secret: The pros aren't lucky and it takes a little of work and time.
Most, if not all, great natural wildlife shots are taken from blinds or 'hides'. If you are an experienced outdoorsman or hunter, you will understand how this works. And hunters even have an advantage over us wildlife photographers. A gun shoots a lot farther than a camera. No matter how much expensive gear you have, or how long your lens is, you still have to get close. Usually, real close.
Knowing this little secret is an advantage for anyone who would like to get some great wildlife shots. If you set up a blind and spend a little time there, you will see wildlife. And you learn where you need to be and how close you have to be to get a good shot. Then it's just a matter of being a little crafty and skillful to determine how to best set up your blind to be in the right place at the right time.
And if you want a place to learn how to take wildlife photographs, don't spend a lot of time reading photography books. Instead, read everything you can about hunting and wild animal behaviour. You have to learn to think like a hunter that carries a camera rather than a gun.
One fairly easy and inexpensive way to get started taking photos from blinds is to use a portable ground blind. These are usually small one man units and are very lightweight. Made like a small hut, they are usually fully-enclosed with two or more windows. They can be set up anywhere on the ground and come with stakes and tie-downs for a quick set up.
It is like carrying a small little very light weight house around with you. You'll probably be surprised to know that these blinds usually weigh less than 7 to 10 pounds and come with their own backpack to make them easy to carry. And the cost is not prohibitive, usually in the range of $50 to $100.
And if you don't want to spend the cash, you can use some camouflage burlap cloth or netting and some ropes and stakes to create a home made blind anywhere. While they may not be as handy, the net effect is the same.
Another trick is to use any natural material you can find nearby to add to your blind to help disguise it and have it blend in with the area. Use dead branches, leaves and other material you find to really disguise your blind.
Give this a try. Even if you don't get that 'wall hanger' shot on your first outing, I guarantee you'll be amazed at what you will see if you spend a quiet hour or two hidden in the woods with your camera.
