Nothing is Guaranteed Except Change
The Only Rock-Solid Truth in Wildlife Photography: Nothing is Guaranteed Except Change
In wildlife photography, unpredictability is the only constant. I usually plan birding trips to hotspots to maximize species encounters, but between those, I focus on targeted photography—pursuing a specific bird species or a particular shot. This approach balances easy captures with challenging, hard-to-get shots. However, targeted photography comes with lower success rates, requiring multiple trips, countless hours, and immense effort.
Even with meticulous preparation—researching animal behavior, checking recent bird sightings, selecting the best birdwatching locations, analyzing the weather conditions, choosing the right camera equipment, and timing the trip perfectly—everything must align on the day of the shoot. And even then, the bird or animal has to show up.
Success or failure on a single trip doesn’t define a photographer. Capturing a species on the first attempt doesn’t necessarily mean you’re great, and failing after multiple trips doesn’t mean you’re bad.
Examples:
📍 I’ve been searching for a Pallid Scops Owl in a known location, making several trips with no luck. Yet, at the same spot, I got a Black Drongo on my first attempt.
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
📍 I had multiple reports of Chukar Partridge in a mountainous area. The very first trip, the morning sun made photography nearly impossible. Luckily, that day was cloudy, I managed a shot—one I haven’t been able to repeat despite many return visits.
In the end, wildlife and bird photography is all about persistence, patience, and embracing uncertainty. Each trip is a lesson, and every sighting is a reward.
