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Pro Showcase Ben Hall
up an in-depth understanding of the light and the brutal when it comes to selecting the keepers. If I Top A brown
location, as well as the habits of my intended come away from a day’s shoot with a few successful bear deep in the
subjects. Researching the behaviour of my subject is images, then I’m happy. I’m very self-critical, but Finnish Taiga
vital, but it’s no substitute for getting out there and this can be a good thing as it drives me to push the forest, with blue
investing time observing and photographing it. envelope. For instance, I once worked on capturing hour and mist
two red deer fighting in silhouette against a creating a serene
Fieldcraft is just as important as camera skills – dramatic sky (see previous page). It took ten years and ethereal feel.
what rules should we all be following? of returning to the same location every autumn
Fieldcraft is vital. Learning how to approach your before all the elements finally fell into place. Above The setting
subject safely is something that should be practised Galapagos sun
– keeping a low profile, moving slowly and stopping What gear, photographic or otherwise, do you casts a pink glow,
whenever the subject looks alert are all important. never leave home without? highlighting the
The use of a hide is an effective way of getting close I like to travel as light as possible, so I take the texture on this
while remaining undetected, and hides are most minimum necessary. This allows me to move quickly sea lion’s coat.
effective when used at a baited, roosting or breeding and quietly without being too encumbered by kit.
site. A garden bird feeding station is the perfect My main body is a Canon 1D X MkII and my most Left Gannets on
example. Above all, however, the welfare of the used lens is the Canon 500mm f/4 L IS. Other lenses Bass Rock, with
subject should always take priority – no picture is I use regularly include the 100-400mm L IS MkII a wide aperture
worth causing distress to a subject for. and the 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS. If I’m going out for used to throw the
something specific, I’ll usually take just one lens and foreground birds
What’s your typical hit rate when out in the field? one body, along with a tripod or monopod. This is out of focus.
This really depends on the subject and the situation, especially important when I’m stalking as too much
as some animals are easier than others, but I’m quite kit can be impossible to manage when trying to get
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