Five dangers of wildlife photography (and how to stay safe) (July 2019)
Summary
TLDRThe video discusses the dangers of wildlife photography and provides safety tips for each risk. The first danger is getting too close to dangerous animals, highlighting the importance of understanding species behavior, respecting animals, and using deterrents like bear spray. The second danger is falling, emphasizing proper footwear, using traction aids, and securing gear. Drowning is the third risk, with advice on assessing water conditions and wearing appropriate gear. Getting lost is also a concern, with tips on navigation, communication devices, and carrying survival essentials. Lastly, the video addresses the risk of encountering dangerous people in remote areas, advising on caution and avoiding risky situations.
Takeaways
- 🐻 Wildlife photography can be dangerous, especially when dealing with large animals like bears or lions.
- 📷 Using long lenses helps photographers keep a safe distance from wildlife, minimizing the risk of close encounters.
- 🦁 Understanding animal behavior and body language is crucial for staying safe during wildlife photography.
- 🛡️ Having deterrents like bear spray or noise makers is important to ensure safety in case animals approach too closely.
- 👣 Falling while navigating terrain is a significant danger; wearing proper footwear and using walking aids like tripods can prevent accidents.
- 🌊 Photographing animals in water can be risky; always assess water conditions, use proper wading gear, and avoid deep or fast-flowing water.
- 🗺️ Getting lost is a real danger in remote areas; always let someone know your plans and use tools like GPS or satellite devices for navigation and emergency communication.
- 💡 Carrying light sources like headlamps is essential, as losing daylight can lead to dangerous situations while returning from shoots.
- ⚠️ Wildlife photographers may encounter sketchy people or dangerous situations in remote areas, so it’s important to stay alert and protect expensive gear without drawing attention.
- 🦺 During hunting season, it’s vital to wear bright colors and make your presence known to avoid accidental harm from hunters.
Q & A
What is the most obvious danger in wildlife photography according to the speaker?
-The most obvious danger in wildlife photography is getting too close to dangerous animals, such as bears or lions, though the photographer may appear closer than they actually are due to the use of long lenses.
How can photographers ensure they remain safe when photographing dangerous animals?
-Photographers can ensure safety by knowing the species they are photographing, understanding their behavior, going with someone who knows the area, maintaining an appropriate distance, minimizing movement and noise, and carrying deterrents like bear spray or noise makers.
Why is it important to respect the animals during wildlife photography?
-Respecting animals is important to avoid causing them stress or fear, which can result in aggressive behavior. It also ensures better photos since the animals will act naturally when they are calm.
What precautions should be taken if an animal, like a bear, is not respecting distance cues?
-If an animal does not respect distance cues, it is essential to have deterrents such as bear spray, air horns, or noise makers. In extreme situations, a last-resort plan, like using a firearm or having an escape route, may be necessary.
Why is falling down considered a danger in wildlife photography, and how can it be avoided?
-Falling down can lead to injury or damaged equipment. To avoid this, photographers should watch where they're going, wear appropriate footwear, use traction aids like cleats, and consider using their tripod as a walking aid.
What equipment can help maintain stability when shooting in water?
-To maintain stability in water, photographers can use a tripod or a walking stick to test water depth and support themselves. Wearing knee-high boots, hip waders, or chest waders with a safety belt is also crucial.
How can photographers avoid getting lost in remote locations?
-Photographers can avoid getting lost by informing someone of their location and return time, understanding tidal patterns if near water, avoiding over-reliance on GPS, marking landmarks, carrying survival gear, and having communication tools like the Garmin inReach.
Why is it essential to carry a light source when out in remote areas?
-It is important to carry a light source like a headlamp in case it becomes dark before returning. Backup light sources ensure that photographers can safely navigate back even when visibility is poor.
What risks do other people pose in remote wildlife photography settings?
-In remote areas, encounters with potentially dangerous or suspicious people are possible. Additionally, the photographer’s expensive gear could attract unwanted attention, so it is important to avoid risky situations and remain discreet with equipment.
What should photographers do if they find themselves in a hunting area while tracking wildlife?
-If in a hunting area, photographers should wear bright orange for visibility and make their presence known to avoid accidents, especially since they may be mistaken for animals by hunters.
Outlines
📷 The Dangers of Wildlife Photography and How to Stay Safe
In this introduction, the presenter sets the stage for discussing the dangers of wildlife photography and how to stay safe. They introduce the concept of 'Five for Friday' and explain that while it might seem like wildlife photographers get close to dangerous animals, the reality often involves using long lenses and maintaining a safe distance. Knowing the species, understanding animal behavior, and respecting animals’ boundaries are essential for safety. The importance of being aware, having a guide, and carrying bear spray or other deterrents is emphasized.
🦁 Managing Dangerous Encounters with Animals
This paragraph delves into the specific dangers posed by getting too close to wild animals, especially curious or aggressive species like sub-adult bears. The speaker advises carrying deterrents like bear bangers, air horns, or bear spray to manage close encounters. In the rare case of a life-threatening situation, having a last-resort option such as a firearm or escape plan is recommended. The presenter highlights the necessity of preparing for worst-case scenarios, even though they are unlikely.
⚠️ The Risk of Falling and How to Avoid It
Falling, whether while tracking animals or navigating rough terrain, is another significant risk in wildlife photography. The presenter emphasizes the importance of being mindful of your surroundings and wearing appropriate footwear. They also suggest using traction aids such as cleats for icy or slippery environments. Additionally, using a tripod or other walking aid as support, especially in challenging conditions, can prevent accidents. The presenter shares personal experiences of falling due to improper footwear and lack of attention, underlining the importance of these precautions.
📸 Protecting Camera Gear and Avoiding Accidents
This section focuses on the dangers of handling camera gear in challenging conditions. Wildlife photographers often move between locations with gear in hand, which can lead to accidents. The speaker advises storing equipment safely when relocating, as falls can damage expensive gear. The presenter recounts a personal experience of falling on ice, where only part of the camera was damaged, but emphasizes that accidents can be costly. Safeguarding equipment and minimizing risk is essential when navigating treacherous terrain.
🌊 Dangers of Being in Water: How to Stay Safe
The dangers of photographing in water are highlighted, with a focus on the risks of drowning. While photographing wildlife in water can provide excellent shots, the presenter warns about the hazards of currents and deep water. Proper gear, like waders and belts, is crucial to avoid accidents. They also recommend assessing water conditions before entering and suggest using a tripod or stick for stability. Teamwork, such as linking arms with others, can further increase safety when navigating water. The presenter shares personal experiences to illustrate the importance of caution in these situations.
🧭 Avoiding Getting Lost in Remote Areas
Getting lost is a real danger, especially when wildlife photographers venture into remote areas. The speaker advises always informing someone of your plans and understanding local conditions like tides. Relying solely on GPS can be risky, so learning traditional navigation skills and noting landmarks is crucial. The presenter stresses the importance of carrying survival essentials, like a first-aid kit and communication devices such as a Garmin inReach Mini, which can send SOS messages via satellite. This allows for communication in areas without cell coverage, ensuring help can be reached in case of emergency.
🔦 The Importance of Light and Preparation for Emergencies
This section emphasizes the importance of having reliable sources of light when venturing into nature. The presenter notes that while trips may begin in daylight, they can end in darkness due to unforeseen delays. Carrying a headlamp and backup lighting is essential for navigating safely in low light. They caution against equipment failure and encourage always being prepared for longer-than-expected stays in remote areas. Good planning and adequate supplies can prevent minor inconveniences from turning into dangerous situations.
🧍 The Hidden Danger of Other People
The final danger discussed is the threat posed by encountering people in remote areas. The presenter warns that while rare, meeting dangerous individuals in isolated places can happen. They advise avoiding sketchy areas and people when possible. Since photographers often carry expensive equipment, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not drawing attention to the gear. In case of a dangerous confrontation, the presenter advises prioritizing personal safety over protecting equipment. When photographing in areas where hunting is common, wearing bright colors for visibility is critical to avoid accidents.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Wildlife Photography
💡Dangerous Animals
💡Safety Measures
💡Understanding Animal Behavior
💡Deterrents
💡Falling Hazards
💡Water Safety
💡Getting Lost
💡Injury by People
💡Tide Knowledge
Highlights
Introduction to the five dangers of wildlife photography and ways to stay safe.
The most obvious danger is getting too close to dangerous animals, but photographers usually use long lenses to maintain a safe distance.
Understanding animal behavior, body language, and species is key to staying safe while photographing dangerous wildlife.
Going with an experienced guide or partner is important for safety, especially if unfamiliar with the species or area.
Always respect wildlife by maintaining a safe distance and using deterrents like noise makers or bear spray when necessary.
The importance of having a last resort plan, such as a firearm or an escape route, in case of animal attacks.
Another danger in wildlife photography is falling down, which can be mitigated by wearing appropriate footwear and using traction aids like cleats.
Tripods can double as walking aids to maintain stability on rough terrain or in water.
The danger of damaging camera gear during falls, making it crucial to store equipment properly when moving.
Drowning is a risk when photographing in water; precautions include using chest waders, a belt, and never wading too deep.
Assess water risks carefully before entering, especially if there are currents or unclear depths.
Getting lost is a potential danger, especially in remote areas, making it essential to inform someone of your plans and understand the local environment.
Carry basic survival gear, a first-aid kit, and reliable communication tools like the Garmin inReach Mini in case of emergencies.
Be cautious of potential dangers from other people, especially in remote or unfamiliar areas. Avoid displaying expensive camera gear to reduce risk.
The video concludes with a reminder to stay safe, be aware of surroundings, and use the proper equipment and precautions when doing wildlife photography.
Transcripts
in this video I'm going to tell you
about the dangers of wildlife
photography this is five for Friday ok
it's Friday and this is five for Friday
unfortunately missed the last two five
for Friday's I was away traveling but
I'm very excited about this one so often
people ask me about the dangers of
wildlife photography and I thought it
would be great to make a video about
that so in this video I'm going to talk
about five dangers of wildlife
photography as well as for each one of
those dangers five ways to stay safe so
let's get started let's talk about the
most obvious danger at least in most
people's minds of wildlife photography
and that is getting too close to
dangerous animals often people see my
photos and they see bears or lions or
some dangerous animal and it appears
that I'm quite close to the animal and
they often will ask me how close were
you the reality is that you're often not
that close to your using a long lens and
in fact if you're using a prime lens
that doesn't allow you to zoom out you
don't want to be too close because you
then end up with a framing for the shot
that is too tight and in some cases if
the animal is very close so you won't
even be out of focus at all because all
the lenses have a minimum focusing
distance so generally you do want to be
some distance away from the animals
however sometimes you end up in a
situation where the animal is a lot
closer than you expect it to be so one
of the ways in which we can ensure that
we're safe with regards to two animals
that can be dangerous to us if we're too
close one of the first things is it's
really important to know your species
obviously if I'm photographing Chipmunks
it's far less of a concern then if I'm
photographing bears or lions or
elephants
understanding their behavior
understanding their body language and
other languages is really important the
other thing is that if you're new to a
particular species or a particular area
going with someone who knows the species
and/or knows the area can be invaluable
sometimes there are cases where someone
has actually spent some time with the
particular specific animals that you are
photographing they know that say you
know this animal is very tolerant of
being photographed and other animal
perhaps may be charged them in the past
when they try to get get near them that
is invaluable information even if you
can't go with someone who has that kind
of information going with someone else
is also very helpful even if they're not
a photographer but they're just
interested perhaps in coming along and
seeing the animals it's just great to
have someone else who can watch for
what's happening while you have your
eyes through the viewfinder
photographing because the reality is
when you are photographing it's very
hard to keep track of everything else
that's going on when I was in Alaska
recently I was in the water sometimes
with the bears there was no one else
around no other people in one case I had
about ten bears in the water with me at
various distances from me and I wasn't
concerned at all I understood the
situation and I was constantly reading
the situation I had bear spray on me
just in case and I wasn't concerned but
it was definitely hard to keep track of
everything that was going on and still
be able to get the shots that I wanted
and having someone else there would have
been helpful another thing is that
obviously it's very important always to
respect the animals including
maintaining an appropriate distance from
them and we don't want to surprise them
in any way or cause them any stress if
you are there and the the best way to to
get the shots is to be in
vehicle or to be in a hide then you
should stay in those places generally
you want to minimize any movement and
any noise and generally giving the
animals space will make for better
photos and the behavior of the animals
is something that you just want to watch
for things like you know ears going back
or teeth bearing those are things that
obvious signals and you don't want those
things in photos anyway so respecting
the animals is very important it's also
very important to take appropriate
deterrence with you if you're talking
about animals that can be dangerous we
generally do everything that we can to
communicate with the animals to ensure
that they also understand that there is
a respectful distance and that they
don't come too close sometimes you have
animals especially younger animals
sub-adult bears for example that are
just curious or sometimes they want to
push things a little bit even when
they're told no they still try to come
to come close having deterrents such as
noise makers such as bear bangers
airhorn sirens or bear spray those
things are important to have because if
you get into a situation where the
animal doesn't really is not taking the
signals that you're giving verbally or
through body language you may have to
resort to something like that and if you
get charged for example by a bear you
really going to want to have a bear
spray with you and then the last thing
is that you really should have some kind
of last resort plan for some people
that's having a firearm
and we're talking about a situation
obviously no one goes into a wildlife
photography situation thinking that they
might have to shoot an animal we're
talking about a situation where
something really bad happens and someone
is getting attacked by an animal and
there's no other way to stop it if you
don't have a firearm you may have some
other plan in place some other escape
route or something that you're going to
do to get out of there
if if something really bad happens
another danger of wildlife photography
is falling down this might not seem like
such an obvious one but I've seen many
cases where people fell down and they
hurt themselves or they broke equipment
and I've also done it unfortunately so
let's talk about some of the ways in
which you can avoid this the first thing
is to watch where you're going
seems pretty obvious but when you get
fixated on an animal especially if
you're following an animal you may not
be fully aware of where you're going or
where you're stepping so that's
important to keep in mind another thing
is and again this seems obvious but
where appropriate Footwear I've seen
people wear some really silly things
that don't make sense
boots are often what is called for if
you're you know out in the backcountry
for example especially if you're you
know in a cold situation in the winter
if you're in snow you know you need to
have appropriate winter boots another
thing to think about and this is sort of
number three is in a pro in in along
with footwear is having traction aids so
for example if you're wearing wading
boots if you're in the water do you need
studs on the wading boots because the
rocks may be slippery in the water or
perhaps you might use felt sold wading
boots if they're allowed and they're
appropriate in the area another thing is
if you're on ice for example cleats are
invaluable I've been in a situation
actually where I had cleats in my
backpack and I did not have them on and
guess what I fell over so have cleats
and used them just to give you an idea
of what I'm talking about
I've got two examples here so these are
some very small cleats that fit into
this little package here it's really
very portable and inside are these
cleats that you know that they're
they're not super aggressive in terms of
the spikes right they're very small but
they definitely make a difference and
you just put these on your boots they're
very quick to put on
and take off and then this is another
example of cleats but these ones are
much more aggressive that they sort of
fit in this small pouch here and this is
what they they look like for they're
basically much more sturdy they go
around the boot they've got you know
quite aggressive spikes on them back and
front and these will really make a huge
difference so traction aids really could
save your life in some cases another
thing to think about is using walking
aids such as your tripod you often have
your tripod out and rather than in fact
you put it back on your backpack or on
your back or wherever you're carrying it
all the time you could actually leave it
out and use it as a walking aid so if
the if the legs are folded up you can
use it as a walking stick it's
invaluable if you're walking downhill
for example or if you have the legs
deployed the tripod can be used as a
walker that can be especially effective
if you're in the water and I'll talk
about that later on and then the last
thing to think about when you're walking
around is the dangers of having your
camera gear out so it's easy when you're
in one location and you think okay I
just need to go over there and I've got
everything in hand my camera is out I
don't need to put it back in my backpack
I'll just walk from here to there and in
many cases that can be an easy thing but
some cases it may be a little precarious
to go over there and you may end up in a
situation where you fall down and I've
seen it happen and it happened to me too
so when I mentioned that time that I
fell down on the ice I didn't have my
cleats on well I had my camera out and
fortunately I didn't break the camera
everything was still working although I
did break part of the camera I had a
remote plugged into it because I was
taking shots with the remote shutter
control and the plastic flap was open
the plastic flap ripped off and
I did get a few dents in some things but
fortune everything was was still working
so where possible try to put stuff back
in your backpack so that everything is
well protected well when you move
locations another danger is drowning yes
drowning in water now this may not be a
issue for you if you never get in the
water
but it can be invaluable to get into the
water to get certain kinds of shots
especially if the wildlife is in the
water and in fact I love doing it I love
being in the water with animals
especially when they are in the water
recently when I was in Alaska I spent a
bunch of time in the water with bears
that were in the water when they were
fishing and it really allowed me to get
some some great shots but you really
have to take a lot of precautions when
you do this so one of the first things
to think about is can you get the shots
that you want without even getting in
the water at all because even though
it's it can be enjoyable sometimes do it
and and very productive it's a lot of
hassle right you have to take a lot of
precautions so perhaps you can get the
shots by being say near the water and
just you know leaning over the water and
putting your camera down fairly low to
the water's surface the other thing to
think about is if you are going to go in
the water you really need to read the
water and assess the risks don't take
any chances especially where there's
current involved or where the water is
quite deep you really need to think
about things and you really need to test
things out because sometimes you can't
see the the water is not very clear you
really need to and then don't rush
things go go slowly and and fear things
that are out figure out a plan
another thing to think about is and I
mentioned this before with the tripod is
using a tripod or something else like a
water like a walking stick to help
maintain stability and also to test the
depth of the water as you make your way
through the water another thing that you
can do is if you're with other people is
to link arms or otherwise assist each
other so that you are maintaining as
much stability as as possible
the other thing is that you obviously
need to have the right gear you can't go
in the water unless you have for example
and knee-high boots or hip waders or
chest waders and so it's important to
obviously have the right equipment one
of the things that is is if you have
waders there is a danger that if you go
too deep water will go into the waders
and then you can be in a really bad
situation so generally with chest waders
for example you want a belt on around
the waders on the outside that cinches
the waders close to you and that
minimizes the possibility of water
getting and getting in there the other
thing is that you simply should not go
where it's too deep right if I have
chest waders on which is what I normally
do I never generally go where it's
deeper than my waist so even though I
could technically go up to you know
where the water comes up to my armpits I
always leave some kind of a buffer in
place the other thing is that if you are
going into flowing water whether it's
current you really need to think about
as I said before assessing the situation
planning your entry and planning your
exit because sometimes they're not the
same thing another danger of wildlife
photography is getting lost obviously
this can happen with other activities
the thing is with wildlife photography
sometimes we go out in remote places and
sometimes we go to places where we're
not exactly sure where we're going we
know that there are animals in the area
we explore around sometimes we then find
an animal and we track an animal and we
end up going someplace that we didn't
expect to go so there is a real
possibility sometimes of getting lost
some of the things to think about
firstly obviously as much as possible to
let someone know where you're going
being as specific as you can possibly be
and let them know when you plan to
return another thing to think about is
especially if you're going out where
there's water and there's tides is
understanding and knowing the tide
title behavior because especially where
there's if you're in an area where
there's a big difference in the tides
you can end up in a situation where you
go in somewhere and you can't get out
later on you end up trapped and possibly
for a very long time another thing is in
terms of navigating and finding our way
around it's very easy to rely on
technology we have GPS and all these
fancy devices now but things can fail
equipment can fail and if you're totally
reliant on on that equipment you can end
up in a very bad situation so as much as
possible you should learn how to
navigate without relying on such devices
and that can be as simple as just even
recording landmarks as you go through an
area taking note either mentally or
writing down somewhere the the landmarks
so that you can retrace your steps back
out of there the other thing that you
should always do is you should always
have basic means of survival because
sometimes you know the unexpected
happens and you go into someplace and
you plan to get out of there by a
certain time but that doesn't happen or
you fall down or something so having a
first-aid kit is very important also
having ways to communicate and call for
help is very important I've heard of so
many situations where people went out
and they were relying on their cell
phone and they did not have cell phone
coverage and in fact it's pretty easy in
some places to go not too far from home
and still have no cell phone coverage
one of the things that I have that I
rely on a lot is this little device here
it's called a Garmin inReach mini this
is the the smallest model in the range
there are some other different models as
well this one is really small but needs
to be paired really to get the most out
of it with a a cell phone through
bluetooth and using the cell phone then
you can use the display on the phone as
well as the the keyboard on the phone as
a means
of importing and controlling the device
so what you can do with this device is a
few things one is that you can it has
GPS in it so you can see your location
on a map and you can plot routes and you
can track a route the other thing is
that you can get very localized weather
reports and the thing that's most
important is that you can communicate
with it you can communicate with anyone
on the Garmin inReach Network and this
uses the Iridium satellite network so
you can generally get communication
through this anywhere on the planet as
long as you can see the satellites as
long as you're outdoors and you have
line of sight to the satellites so you
can communicate with anyone who is on
the Garmin inReach Network but you can
also text anyone on a cell phone I used
it to keep in touch with family and
friends I also use it to contact the
insurance companies that I have
evacuation insurance with so even in
fact as a good practice when I go to a
new location especially a remote
location I always send them a message
just to let them know where I am but if
I end up in a bad situation where I fall
down and I hurt myself and I need help
or something happens I'm in an area and
war breaks out or there's a natural
disaster I can text them through this
device and call phelp and in the worst
case they'll come and evacuate me out of
there now even if you don't have a
service like that the service that you
use with the inReach device for the
messaging also has an SOS capability
there's a chair near source button on
the device so you just flip open this
little flap here and press the the SOS
button and that will send a message to
the Garmin inReach help desk and they
will then contact local authorities
based on your location to let them know
that you are in need of help the other
thing to think about to help avoid
getting lost is making sure that you
have sources of light so sometimes it's
you go no place and there's plenty of
light but
you're coming back there's less light or
no light at all and sometimes we also
plan to go in somewhere and get out with
plenty of light but it doesn't work out
that way so having sources of light like
having a headlamp as well as backup
sources of light is very important I
always have a headlamp with me as well
as one or two other backup sources
because you never know sometimes
equipment may fail or you just forget to
charge something and even if you sort of
know where you're going if you can't see
where you're going that could be a big
problem and the last thing I wanted to
talk to you about in terms of danger is
getting hurt by people this is something
we perhaps might not think about but as
wildlife photographers sometimes we go
out in remote areas where we just don't
see anyone and then perhaps we come
across someone and you're in the middle
of nowhere with some strange person that
person might not be a nice person the
other possibility is that you do go
through towns but sometimes those towns
are sketchy for some reason so the first
thing is simply try to avoid bad
situations try to avoid suspicious or
bad people where possible that seems
pretty obvious and the other thing is
that you're carrying generally a lot of
expensive camera gear and this is where
the potential trouble comes in so as
much as possible do not advertise that
you're carrying all that gear and
obviously we worry as photographers we
worry a lot about our gear I often have
many trips planned and I know you know
all my stuff is insured but it's quite
hard to replace it and so you know I
worry about it a lot I take it
everywhere with me even when I'm in some
town I generally don't leave it in a
hotel room I'd always take it with me
but you know by having it on me that
also presents a possible risk to me so
as much as possible I want to be
incognito with my gear the other thing
to think about of course is if the gear
is replaceable you only have one life so
if you end up in some situation where
it's either
gear or you then you know by all means
give up the gear the other thing to
think about is if you are tracking
animals if you're in an area where there
might be hunting that can be a real
problem and you know you might get hurt
by accidents so try to avoid those areas
by all means if you can't avoid those
areas then by all means take precautions
wear bright orange for visibility you
know let people know that you're in the
area and and so forth I hope you enjoyed
this video about some of the dangers of
wildlife photography and some of the
ways to stay safe if you like this video
please give it a thumbs up don't forget
to subscribe and I'll see you in the
next video bye
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