Wildlife photography is an adventureand as any great adventure story unfolds, odds are, there are bound to be some great risks involved. Whether its the risk or the rewardor boththat motivates wildlife shooters, there is one pervasive truth: Preparation is key to successand survival.In this book, Joe Classen approaches the art of wildlife photography from a hunters perspective. He teaches readers how to select and use the appropriate specialized photographic gear required for the rigors of wildlife photographyas youd expect. However, he also teaches you how to mentally and physically prepare for an outing in which your wits must be as keen as your eye. Classen provides detailed insights into planning and packing for a wilderness adventure. Readers will learn how to securely pack their delicate photographic gear for a rugged, outdoor environment but will also learn how to choose and tote the best clothing for the site, accessories to ensure your personal safety, and even basic cooking and drinking requirements for days spent shooting in remote areas.Once youve scouted your location, youll learn how to track and lure your photographic subject using time-honored practices (callsfrom lust to hunger, to anger and sloth; decoys; attractor scents; working invisibly, etc.) while shooting (your camera!) from a blind or standor, conversely, by using a more aggressive stalk-and-ambush approach. Youll learn how to read animal behaviorsfrom eating to matingand predict how, when, and where your best photographic opportunities will ariseand when your safety should be a greater concern than your shot.With this soup-to-nuts approach, readers will find, in this book, a compendium of information about wild-animal behavior, wilderness survival and safety, the art and science of photographic capture, and even storing and processing your prized digital files once you return home from your adventure. Armed with Classens suggestions and strategies, youll maximize your photo opportunities and increase the odds that your wildlife images are the mount-and-frame trophies for which you risked life and limb.
