Australia is a wildlife photographer's paradise, home to some of the world's most unique and fascinating creatures. From the iconic kangaroos and koalas to lesser-known inhabitants like quokkas and sugar gliders, the continent offers unparalleled opportunities to capture extraordinary animal images. However, photographing wildlife in Australia presents unique challenges and rewards that require specific techniques and knowledge.
As a professional wildlife photographer who has spent over fifteen years documenting Australia's diverse fauna, I'm excited to share insights and techniques that will help you create memorable images of the country's remarkable animals. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or an enthusiastic beginner, these tips will enhance your wildlife photography experience in Australia.
Essential Gear for Australian Wildlife Photography
Camera Equipment
While professional gear can enhance your results, impressive wildlife photos are possible with a variety of equipment:
- Camera body: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with good autofocus capabilities is ideal. Cameras with fast burst rates (7+ frames per second) help capture brief action moments.
- Lenses: Wildlife photography typically requires telephoto lenses. A 70-300mm is a versatile starting point, but serious wildlife photographers should consider lenses in the 100-400mm range or longer. For smaller creatures like frogs and insects, a macro lens (60-100mm) is invaluable.
- Support: A sturdy tripod or monopod helps stabilize longer lenses, particularly in low light conditions such as dawn and dusk when many Australian animals are most active.
- Accessories: Carry extra batteries (especially in remote areas), plenty of memory cards, a rain cover for tropical regions, and lens cleaning supplies to handle dust in outback environments.
Non-camera Essentials
Don't forget these important non-photographic items:
- Field guide: An Australian wildlife identification book or app helps locate and identify species.
- Appropriate clothing: Neutral-colored, quiet clothing (avoid bright colors or noisy fabrics). Layer according to the region—Australia's climate varies dramatically from tropical north to temperate south.
- Sun protection: Australia has extremely high UV levels. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen, and long-sleeved shirts.
- Insect repellent: Essential in many wildlife-rich areas, particularly the tropics.
- Water and snacks: Wildlife photography often involves long waits in remote locations.
Understanding Australian Wildlife Behavior
Successful wildlife photography depends on understanding animal behavior. This knowledge helps you anticipate action, find subjects, and minimize disturbance.
Activity Patterns
Many Australian animals are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) or nocturnal. Plan your photography sessions accordingly:
- Dawn: Ideal for kangaroos, wallabies, and many bird species.
- Midday: Better for reptiles like lizards and snakes that bask in the sun.
- Dusk: Prime time for wombats, platypus, and more kangaroo activity.
- Night: Consider specialized night photography for possums, owls, and other nocturnal creatures. This requires specific techniques and equipment (red light torches, flash setup).
Location Research
Research specific locations for target species. Some reliable options include:
- For marsupials: Grampians National Park (Victoria), Kangaroo Island (South Australia), and Cradle Mountain (Tasmania) offer excellent opportunities for wallabies, kangaroos, and wombats.
- For tropical species: Daintree Rainforest and Atherton Tablelands in Queensland for cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and platypus.
- For marine life: Great Barrier Reef for underwater photography, Phillip Island for penguins, and Ningaloo Reef for whale sharks (seasonal).
- For birds: Kakadu National Park (Northern Territory), Lamington National Park (Queensland), and Bruny Island (Tasmania).
Consider joining specialized wildlife photography tours led by local experts who know exactly where and when to find specific species.
Camera Settings for Wildlife Photography
Getting the right settings is crucial for wildlife photography, especially given Australia's often challenging lighting conditions.
Exposure Settings
- Shooting mode: Aperture Priority (A/Av) works well for static subjects, while Shutter Priority (S/Tv) or Manual mode offers more control for moving animals.
- Shutter speed: As a general rule, use at least 1/focal length for stationary subjects (e.g., 1/400 sec with a 400mm lens). For moving animals, aim for 1/1000 sec or faster to freeze action.
- Aperture: A wider aperture (f/4-f/5.6) helps isolate your subject against the background and gather more light. Stop down to f/8-f/11 when depth of field is critical (e.g., for birds in flight).
- ISO: Start with the lowest possible (100-400) in good light. Be prepared to increase it in low light conditions, especially at dawn/dusk. Modern cameras can produce acceptable results at ISO 1600-3200.
- Exposure compensation: Be ready to use positive compensation (+1 to +2) for dark subjects against bright backgrounds (like a dark kangaroo against bright sand) or negative compensation for light-colored subjects like cockatoos against a dark forest.
Focus Settings
- Autofocus mode: Continuous AF (AF-C or AI Servo) works best for moving wildlife. Use single-point AF for precise focusing on eyes.
- Focus points: For stationary subjects, place the focus point on the animal's nearest eye. For moving subjects, use dynamic-area or group-area AF to help track movement.
- Back-button focus: Consider this technique to separate focus activation from shutter release, which is particularly useful when tracking erratic movements of animals like flying birds or hopping kangaroos.
Special Techniques for Australian Conditions
- High dynamic range: Australia's harsh sunlight creates extreme contrast. Consider bracketing exposures in challenging light, or use graduated ND filters in landscape-wildlife compositions.
- Heat haze: In arid regions, shoot early before heat distortion affects image quality.
- Rain: In tropical areas, a plastic rain cover for your camera is essential during the wet season.
Composition Tips for Wildlife Images
Composition transforms a simple animal snapshot into a compelling wildlife photograph. Consider these approaches when framing Australian wildlife:
The Basics
- Rule of thirds: Place your subject at one of the intersections of the grid rather than dead center. This is particularly effective for stationary animals.
- Negative space: Leave room in the frame to show the animal's environment or the direction it's facing/moving.
- Eye contact: Images where the animal looks directly at the camera create a powerful connection. Be patient and wait for these moments.
- Background: A clean, non-distracting background makes your subject stand out. Use a wide aperture to blur backgrounds, or position yourself to frame the animal against a simple backdrop.
Telling the Australian Story
- Environmental portraits: Include elements of Australia's distinctive landscapes to show habitat context—a kangaroo against red outback soil, a koala in a eucalyptus forest, or a crocodile in tropical wetlands.
- Behavior: Capture what makes Australian wildlife unique: a kangaroo with joey in pouch, a platypus hunting in a stream, or a koala feeding on eucalyptus leaves.
- Scale: Include elements that demonstrate size—Australia has both massive creatures (saltwater crocodiles) and tiny ones (pygmy possums).
Photographing Iconic Australian Species
Kangaroos and Wallabies
Best times: Early morning and late afternoon when they're most active and the light is soft.
Locations: Grampians National Park (Victoria), Kangaroo Island (South Australia), and open grassy areas throughout rural Australia.
Tips: Get low to the ground for the most engaging perspective. Look for backlighting to highlight their ears and fur. Capture their distinctive hopping motion with burst mode at 1/1000 sec or faster.
Koalas
Best times: They're active mainly at night, but can be photographed during the day while resting in trees.
Locations: Great Otway National Park (Victoria), Magnetic Island (Queensland), and Kangaroo Island (South Australia).
Tips: A long lens helps you keep a respectful distance. Look for individuals positioned relatively low in trees for better angles. Be extremely patient—koalas move slowly and infrequently.
Wombats
Best times: Dusk and dawn.
Locations: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (Tasmania), Wilson's Promontory (Victoria).
Tips: Use a wide-angle lens if you can safely get close to show their stocky build and habitat. Pay attention to their cube-shaped droppings which mark territory—a unique behavioral shot!
Birds
Australia has over 800 bird species, many found nowhere else.
Best times: Early morning for most species.
Locations: Kakadu National Park for waterbirds, Lamington National Park for rainforest species, and Dandenong Ranges for colorful parrots and cockatoos.
Tips: Use your longest lens with a fast shutter speed (1/2000 sec for flying birds). Learn bird calls to locate species in dense forests. For colorful birds like rainbow lorikeets, slightly underexpose to preserve vibrant colors.
Marine Life
Best times: Varies by species and location. Research seasonal events like whale migrations.
Locations: Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef (for whale sharks, March-August), and Phillip Island (for penguins).
Tips: For underwater photography, consider a waterproof housing or underwater camera. Polarizing filters help reduce glare when photographing animals at the water's surface.
Ethical Wildlife Photography
Responsible photography ensures the welfare of animals and preserves their natural behaviors.
General Guidelines
- Keep your distance: Use telephoto lenses rather than approaching too closely. If an animal changes its behavior because of your presence, you're too close.
- Never feed wildlife: This alters natural behaviors and can harm animals by habituating them to humans or providing inappropriate food.
- Research protected species: Some Australian animals are endangered and have specific guidelines for observation.
- Respect habitats: Stay on designated paths to avoid damaging sensitive environments.
- Be aware of breeding seasons: Give extra space during nesting, breeding, or when young are present.
Special Considerations for Australian Wildlife
- Nocturnal animals: Minimize artificial light, which can disrupt feeding patterns. If using flash for night photography, keep it to a minimum and never direct it into animals' eyes.
- Marine environments: Maintain appropriate distances from marine mammals like whales and dolphins (legal requirements vary by state). Never touch coral reefs, which are fragile ecosystems.
- National Parks: Follow all park regulations, which are designed to protect both visitors and wildlife.
Post-Processing Australian Wildlife Images
Post-processing helps overcome challenges specific to Australian wildlife photography and enhances the unique qualities of your images.
Common Adjustments
- Exposure and contrast: Australian light can be harsh. Use graduated adjustments to balance exposure between bright skies and shadowed animals.
- Color adjustment: Enhance the distinctive colors of Australian landscapes and wildlife—the red earth of the outback, the blue-green of eucalyptus forests, or the vibrant plumage of native birds.
- Sharpening: Apply selective sharpening to emphasize textures like kangaroo fur, reptile scales, or bird feathers. Keep background softness to maintain focus on your subject.
- Noise reduction: Apply carefully to low-light images (dawn/dusk) while preserving detail.
Ethical Considerations in Editing
While creative processing is part of the art, wildlife photography has ethical boundaries:
- Maintain authenticity by avoiding excessive manipulation that misrepresents animal behavior or appearance.
- When entering competitions or submitting to publications, be aware of their specific guidelines regarding acceptable levels of editing.
- Consider including factual information with your shared images to educate viewers about Australian wildlife.
Conclusion
Australia offers wildlife photographers unparalleled opportunities to capture images of animals found nowhere else on Earth. The continent's unique evolutionary history has produced creatures that continually fascinate both photographers and viewers.
Whether you're photographing a mob of kangaroos against the stunning backdrop of the outback, a koala nestled in a eucalyptus tree, or the vibrant plumage of a rainbow lorikeet, remember that patience and respect for your subjects will yield the most rewarding images.
As you embark on your Australian wildlife photography adventure, take the time to learn about the animals you hope to photograph. Understanding their behavior and habitat not only improves your chances of capturing compelling images but also deepens your appreciation for Australia's extraordinary biodiversity.
Happy shooting in the land down under!