The goal of this site is to be an easy resource for students interested in the field of wildlife photography.  This site is created by students for students.  This will give a teenager's perspective on the unpredictable field of wildlife photography.

In this web site you can find the following:

• A basic backround of what the job entails.
• The amount of education that is required to become a wildlife photographer.
• Other job information about photography.
• Some other web sites that are also devoted to wildlife/biological photography.
• A day in the life of a photographer.
• Photos of wildlife with Steve Irwin and his wife Terri Irwin.

    Being a wildlife photographer isn't the easiest job in the world.  A wildlife photographer is a true adventurist at heart.  They love the feel of being in the outdoors.  They even may be asked to risk their life in order to get a specific shot.  A good wildlife photographer captures the feel and atmosphere of the outdoors in a split second of time.  They are capable of making the observer feel right in the middle of an African savanna while on a lunch break in New York City.  Photographers use a variety of specialized lenses and cameras to accomplish their goal of capturing life in still images.  Wildlife photography may also include videotaping the outdoors.  Such a person is said to be involved in wildlife videography.  This particular type of job is becoming increasingly popular mainly due to the increased awareness of wildlife preservation in association with the increased use of television around the world.
 
 

                                                          Education
 
 

•     Some jobs in the field of photography require at least a Bachelor's degree at a college or university.  This is no exception.  Someone looking to specify in wildlife photography would probably have to have a double major in photography and biology.  Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts is an example of a university in which this type of schooling would work.  The future photographer could also have a major in photography and then take some biology classes through the photography department.  However, the students with the double major will probably get a job easier, because they will be more experienced in biology.
•     Although education can be helpful in getting a job in photography, it isn't necessary to get a job.  The skill that is required to become a professional photographer can be learned through experience "on the street".
•     A photographer must have good reasoning skills.  Since they usually work alone or in small groups, photographers must make quick and skilled decisions with excellent judgement.  This also includes adapting to many different environments and situations.
•     Math is also an essential part to the wildlife photographer.  They must ration out their supplies for long trips, figure out ways to get to areas over rough terrain, figure out the cost of items in many different countries, and many more mathematical tasks.
•     Language is also very important to the wildlife photographer.  It is important to be able to express your ideas clearly and with a focus to be able to convice your bosses to finance trips.  It is also important to know many other languages for frequent trips to distant countries.  Not everyone in the world speaks English.
•     Some other skills that are required to become a wildlife photographer are; dealing with people, making judgements and decisions, and meeting strict standards for work (including deadlines).

    Earnings

•    The average earnings for photography are between $20,800 and $39,000.  Most salaried photographers earn more than most self-employed photographers.  This is mainly because salaried photographers have more deadlines and paperwork to do than most self-employed photographers.  Success of an independant photographer is mainly dependant upon their work ethic.  The harder that you work, the more money that you will make.

•     The field of photography appears to be steadily rising.  In the year 2006, the work force of photographers is expected to be up about 17.9%.  About half (47%) are expected to be self-employed.  This is the average employment increase in the United States.

•     Light lifting (10-20 lbs.)
•     Standing for long periods
•     Reaching
•     Hearing
•     Seeing clearly up close and at a distance
•     Judging depth and distance
•     Focusing eyes
•     Using field of vision
•     Seeing color differences

Links to other sites devoted to photography:

    http://www.crocodilehunter.com
    http://academy-www.bu.edu/index.html
    http://bobatkins.photo.net/
    http://www.kenringer.com/
    http://www.naturevisions.com/
    http://www.guravich.com
    http://www.sportsmansdream.com/wild.htm
    http://www.sharpphoto.com/
 
 

                            A Day in the Life of a Photographer
 

    Recently I job shadowed a photographer for the local newspaper named Kevin A. Byron.  He has been a photographer for the Sanford News for the past 13 years.  He has also published books on photography.  This experience has given me an idea of what a basic day in the life of a photographer entails.  The day started at 9:30 in the morning.  When I got there Mr. Byron was already at work on his computer making cutlines for the pictures that he had taken.  Then we went on a shoot to cover the opening of a local business.  Here there were free coffee and doughnuts.  Next we went and picked up negatives that had been developed and returned to the office.  There we scanned the negatives and distorted their contrast all using a program on the computer.  Mr. Byron said that this same program can be used to cut people out of pictures and put them in other ones without even a seam.  It is amazing how much technology has improved.  Then we had lunch and I looked at some camera equipment.
Mr. Byron likes cameras fully mechanical.  This way if the picture comes out poorly, the photographer can adjust it himself.  From there we went on another shoot to take pictures of girl's lacrosse award winners.  Here I was able to get my hands on the camera and take a picture of my own.  We also took pictures of a new butterfly machine in the high school weight room.  Here I posed on the machine.  From there we went on a shoot of cement blocks for the gardening page of the Sanford News.  By then it was 3:00 and I was able to leave, but Mr. Byron's day wasn't complete.  He went back to the office and scanned some more negatives.  Wildlife photography is also a very hard field to get into.  Most of the wildlife photographers are rich retired people who don't care how much money they have to spend.  They can afford to jump on a ship a sail to Antarctica to shoot penguins three feet away from them.  It is very hard to start out in this field.

Thank you to Kevin A. Byron and the Sanford News for the job shadowing experience.

BEING A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER IS HARD WORK, BUT IF THAT IS TRULY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO THEN GO FOR IT.
 

Click here for wildlife photos of Steve Irwin and his wife Terri Irwin

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