Multitasking for Nature Photography

While it pays to do your homework for nature photography walks, it’s also important not to lock yourself into one genre of nature photography during your photo walk.  Multitasking or looking at more than one type of nature photography during your walk can pay off with some excellent shots that you would otherwise miss.

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

What do I mean by multitasking for nature photography?

For example, one of my favorite genres of nature photography is bird photography.  Bird photography requires long lenses and DSLRs with high frames per second and fast autofocus.  If I ventured out on my photo walk with only this gear looking for only birds, I could miss some photo opportunities for landscape and macro photography.

The photos in this blog were all taken on the same morning on the same nature photography hike.

Here are some tips that I use for multitasking while doing macro photography

Hatch of Milkweed Bugs

Carry Multiple Cameras and Lenses.

When I venture out for bird or wildlife photography, I usually carry my Canon 5D Mark III and the new Canon 100-400mm Mark II lens.  I use a Black Rapid strap for the camera and my lens so the camera is positioned at my side.  I also carry an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Micro Four Thirds Camera around my neck.

The Micro Four Thirds camera is light enough where it doesn’t really bother me or affect my bird photography.  You can also store the Micro Four Thirds camera in a small backpack but I find I use it more when I have the camera out.

I normally keep either the Olympus 60mm macro lens or the Olympus 12-40mm lens on the camera depending on the type of photo opportunities I expect.  I slide the other lens in my jacket or vest pocket.

Peaceful Sunrise

Your Long Lens can be used for Landscapes or Macro too

I often use my long birding lens for Macro or Up Close Landscape photography.  The landscape scene in this blog was taken with the Canon 100-400mm Mark II lens.  Using a long lens for macros of flowers and insects can also help to blur out the background of your photograph.

Slow Down and Take Your Time

As your walking, slow down and take your time.  Scan the area first for birds, then landscapes, and macro.  You’ll be surprise how much more you’ll see.

Written by Martin Belan

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