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<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto 2023 \u00a9 Jeffrey Van Daele | FUJIFILM X-H1 and FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, 1\/850 sec at F8, ISO 400<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It\u2019s easy to think of wildlife photography and conjure visions of the rarest of beasts, but most of us will never witness a big cat in its natural habitat. If we were to, in all likelihood, it would be an opportunity lost \u2013 at least without years of experience to fall back on. To be relied upon in the unmissable moments, skills must first be developed in an arena of lower stakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy home country, Belgium, is small, but beautiful. It\u2019s easy to create wildlife photography here, if you know the right locations and remain open to all kinds of subjects,\u201d Jeffrey expresses. \u201cBirds are among the easiest animals to find here. Before I was taking regular trips abroad, I would photograph birds all spring, researching what species would appear at which picturesque locations. When I was away too much to follow their movements any more, I began documenting rabbits instead, and had an amazing time. You can witness great moments of action at dusk.”<\/p>\n
While many look for larger specimens, there\u2019s plenty of fascination to be found on the smaller scale. Insect photography can be pursued virtually anywhere, and these minuscule scenes provide just as much drama as any other, when photographed skilfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love creating macro images of butterflies and other creatures,\u201d Jeffrey reveals. \u201cIt\u2019s easiest in the morning because the animals are not so agile. If you get up early on a quiet morning, it\u2019s just you and nature.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next steps comprise of creating a frame that\u2019s technically proficient and artfully inspiring. The former is a question of settings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would suggest pairing Shutter Priority with Auto ISO, then using Eye Detection autofocus,\u201d the professional advises. \u201cWith the right settings, your camera will deliver a sharp image for you, letting you focus on the complete picture.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto 2023 \u00a9 Jeffrey Van Daele | FUJIFILM X-H1 and FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, 1\/125 sec at F5.6, ISO 8000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In recent months, Jeffrey has been equipped with FUJIFILM X-H2S<\/a> \u2013 an ideal wildlife photography body. Between a stacked 26.1-megapixel sensor, blackout-free bursts of 40fps and deep learning-based subject detection autofocus, it is equipped to meet anything nature can throw at a creator.<\/p>\n \u201cI use X-H2S mostly with FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR<\/a>. They make the technical side of wildlife photography so easy. It\u2019s amazing. I first tested the camera in Africa, where you have animals running in and out of frame constantly. I was the only one in my jeep that could rely on Eye Detection autofocus all the time,\u201d Jeffrey states. \u201cIt\u2019s improved further since then, with a firmware update.<\/p>\n \u201cFocus usually finds the eye. If it doesn\u2019t, it detects a head. If it misses that, it locks onto the whole animal. I ask myself, if ever focus didn\u2019t land perfectly, did it do a better job than I could do quickly? The answer is yes. That\u2019s how I know it\u2019s a good setting.\u201d<\/p>\n With long, fast primes available within X Series, Jeffrey\u2019s choice of zoom is purely creative.<\/p>\n \u201cI can use FUJINON XF200mmF2 R LM OIS WR<\/a> \u2013 which is an amazing lens, and gets even longer with the 1.4x or 2x extenders \u2013 but I love the ability to zoom out. At this point in my image-making process, I try to show as much of the animals\u2019 environment as I can.<\/p>\n \u201cFor macro photography, I use FUJINON XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro<\/a> because the longer the focal length, the more you can play with depth-of-field. I love creating close-up scenes with a lot of bokeh.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Photo 2023 \u00a9 Jeffrey Van Daele | FUJIFILM X-T4 and FUJINON XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR, 1\/450 sec at F5.6, ISO 1250<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Further creative decision-making demands, as ever, the choice between colour and monochrome. For Jeffrey, despite opting for both with some regularity, there\u2019s a clear preference with animal subjects.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the landscape is as important as the wildlife, or during golden hour, I\u2019ll choose colour 80% of the time,\u201d he notes. \u201cThe moment light becomes harsher, I switch to monochrome. I always tell my students, if colour isn\u2019t giving something specific to your image, don\u2019t use it. I also find that, in black & white, there\u2019s less to detract from the emotion.<\/p>\n \u201cThe moment I saw a Fujifilm MONOCHROME Film Simulation, I was in love. My viewfinder is almost always displaying black & white, even if I intend to share the image in colour. When you look at a scene in black & white, you see more shadows, light, patterns and structures. ACROS+R is my preferred option because it darkens blue skies dramatically.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Photo 2023 \u00a9 Jeffrey Van Daele | FUJIFILM GFX50R and FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R LM WR, 1\/280 sec at F11, ISO 800<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Then there\u2019s composition to perfect. For some wildlife photographers, it\u2019s a matter of luck, or waiting patiently with your camera pointed towards a predetermined frame, yet to include an animal. These fleeting moments \u2013 exciting as they are \u2013 do not make up the majority of Jeffrey\u2019s work.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s mostly a misconception of wildlife photography that you don\u2019t have a lot of time with subjects,\u201d he explains. \u201cYou can have these picturesque moments, if you know where to find them.<\/p>\n \u201cMy image of the cheetah on the sand dune is a good example. That\u2019s actually an animal rehabilitation centre \u2013 which is a win-win, because I can support them with good money and, in return, get a rare opportunity. I asked them to leave a trail of meat leading to the dune and hoped the cheetah would follow it, then stand where I wanted it to for long enough to make the photo.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n