No matter how much you love animals, it’s likely that you don’t get to encounter many in your day to day life. You might have a dog and cat to cuddle at home, greet some pigeons while going for a stroll and keep an eye on an adorable squirrel when you glance out the window at work. But if you’re interested in checking out some amazing photos of animals you probably don’t see every day, you’ve come to the right place!
We took a trip to this subreddit that’s dedicated to sharing stunning pics from the animal kingdom and gathered some of their most captivating shots below. Be sure to upvote the creatures you find most fascinating, and keep reading to find a conversation with wildlife photographer Ashley Barnard!
#1 Mother Coyote Teaching Her Coyote Pups How To Howl
Image credits: Iamexceptional
#2 8 Ton Orca Jumping 15ft Out Of The Water
Image credits: nantime
#3 “Whatcha Doin’ Lady?” A Professional Photographer Out In The Field Is Approached By Both A Wolf Cub And A Fawn
Image credits: Vranak
According to the BBC’s Wildlife Magazine, it’s impossible to know exactly how many species there are on our planet, as scientists are constantly discovering new ones. But it’s estimated that there are currently at least 9 million different species calling Earth home. And if you’re an animal lover like me, you’re probably excited to learn as much as possible about what kinds of creatures are out there.
That’s why I love communities like this subreddit (whose name we have to censor). With over 404K members, this group aims to highlight the beauty and wonder of the animal kingdom. From photos of wolves looking like cute, cuddly creatures to high quality images of honeybees working hard, this community does a great job of showcasing the living, breathing wonders of the world.
#4 Circle (Giraffe)
Image credits: Jackie7610
#5 Frog In The Water In A Boat
Image credits: DougBolivar
#6 Arctic Fox With Piercing Eyes. Iceland. Photo By Benjamin Hardman
Image credits: natezomby
To learn more about what it takes to capture high quality images of animals in the wild, we reached out to UK-based wildlife photographer Ashley Barnard, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. First, we wanted to know how Ashley found his way to shooting animals.
“I was already a full-time photographer. I do a lot of weddings and commercial photography, however, I am a keen outdoor enthusiast,” he shared. “I’ve done a lot of mountaineering, ice climbing, etc. and love being outdoors. It was only when I first got my first large telephoto 600 millimeter lens that it dawned on me that I could perhaps start taking pictures of wildlife.”
#7 Goodbye My Friend
We came across an elephant whose corpse was overcome by vultures and jackals. Another elephant approached. She chased away the predators and very slowly and with much empathy wrapped her trunk around the deceased elephant's tusk. She stayed several hours guarding her.
Image credits: mepper
#8 Just Before A Shark Breaks The Surface Tension Of The Water
Image credits: vienna95
#9 Malaysian Large Frogmouth And Her Chick
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
“I started my journey going out to my local nature reserve and having a look at what I could find, not having a clue of what I was actually looking for or doing,” Ashley told Bored Panda. “It was a massive learning curve, and I’m still learning nearly two years on.”
“Finding myself sat in the field for 10 minutes two years ago was painful. With no wildlife around, I found myself clock-watching, and eventually giving up only to find that you have to sit in a field for not just one or two hours but maybe four or six hours,” he explained. “So patience has been a massive learning curve. Sit and wait, and eventually, the wildlife will come.”
#10 Leopard Lazing Around
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#11 Purple And Black. What A Stunning Little Bird
Image credits: dimitrios_vlachos_04
#12 Firework Turtle
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
We were also curious to find out what Ashley loves most about wildlife photography. “The best thing about photographing wildlife is being out in the outdoors in the middle of nowhere, on your own, camouflaged up, waiting for that one to one experience with the subject that you’ve gone out to photograph and find,” he shared.
“When you get that moment with the animal or bird, it is truly amazing. You’ve put in all that time and effort to go out and find the wildlife, then you are then rewarded with this experience that is hard to describe. Sometimes, you even forget to pick up the camera,” Ashley added.
#13 The African Fish Eagle
Image credits: Giddym
#14 Reinhardt And His Floofy Tail. He Is A Siberian Forest Cat
Image credits: notyourlolicon
#15 A Group Of Tadpoles Swimming
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
As far as the difficulties that come with shooting wildlife, Ashley says the biggest challenge is understanding your subject. “Approaching your subject, going into their environment, knowing your rights of way and where you cannot go, etc.,” he explained.
Another difficult aspect of wildlife photography is dressing appropriately. “You can’t just go out in new jeans and a T-shirt and expect to photograph some deer or hares or otters,” the expert added. “You do need to be camouflaged up. Animals recognize you by your shape and by your skin color. It’s amazing how white your face and hands look when stood in the middle of the forest, and that is what the animals pick up on, as well as your scent.”
#16 Mother Bear And Cubs Drinking
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#17 Baby Giraffe
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
#18 A Rare Image Of A Flying Peacock
Image credits: whoadave
We also asked Ashley if he has any favorite animals to photograph. “I don’t think I particularly have one favorite animal. I think it’s more about the adventure and the process behind capturing the image that makes the whole experience memorable,” he noted.
“I can look back at some of my favorite images, and I know how I took that image and what I had to put in to get it, which is why I like the photograph, not so much the actual animal or bird,” Ashley explained.
“I do have a few favorites, such as the mountain hair in Scotland, dippers and wagtails or various birds of prey, but there are still many animals that I wish to photograph,” he continued. “I think one of my biggest ambitions and goals is to go out and photograph the Arctic fox, but I will have to wait for that.”
#19 Brown Panda
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#20 Snow Leopard Mid-Leap
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#21 Elephants After A Swim
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
Finally, we asked Ashley if he could share some advice for amateur photographers looking to get great shots of animals. “Number one: patience. [And] make sure you have a lens with at least a 300 millimeter reach. It doesn’t have to be great or expensive or the best. Practice your skill set, your composition, your approach and your research into finding the animals. Then you can look at upgrading your equipment.”
#22 Lioness And Cubs Drinking
Image credits: WhiteZoneShitAgain
#23 Australia Giant Cuttlefish
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#24 Giraffe And Leopard On A Misty Morning In The African Savanna, South Africa (Photo By Dylan Royal)
Image credits: sponsorpune
“Going round local nature reserves such as RSPB centers is always a good start, where you can meet fellow wildlife photographers and enthusiasts,” Ashley added. “And don’t be afraid to ask what a particular animal or bird is. When I started, I didn’t have a clue. I struggled with many, many birds, but it’s all part of the fun and learning.”
And of course, if you’re looking for inspiration, be sure to visit Ashley’s website, YouTube or Instagram!
#25 Lilac Breasted Roller V/S Scorpion
Image credits: pandemonichyperblast
#26 Cross Fox
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#27 Kudu
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
We hope you’re enjoying seeing these amazing photos of animals, pandas! Keep upvoting all of your favorites, and feel free to share which animal you’d like to photograph in the comments below. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article discussing wildlife photography, look no further than right here!
#28 Meditating Lemur (Eulemur Rufus)
Image credits: PsychedelicSheep
#29 Mother Tiger Licking Her Cub
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#30 Giraffe At Full Stretch
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#31 Look At This Baby Muskox
Image credits: reddit.com
#32 Snake In The Rain
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#33 Differences Between A Male And Female Mandarin Duck
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#34 Harpy Eagle
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#35 Red Avadavat Or Strawberry Finch
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#36 Gorgeous Pink Snake
Image credits: Burlapin
#37 Puffin With A Mouthful Of Sand Eels
Image credits: MagicMoon
#38 Green Turaco
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
#39 Just A Friendly Whale Shark Passing Through
Image credits: Jackie7610
#40 Snow Leopard In Ladakh, India
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#41 Moose (Alces Alces)
Image credits: TheOreoMan25
#42 A Hungry Badger Eating Some Berries In The Snowy Forest
Image credits: dimitrios_vlachos_04
#43 The Dik-Dik, A Very Small Gazelle That Stands About 12-16 In From The Ground
Image credits: reddit.com
#44 Lion Taking A Catnap
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#45 Wolf Pup
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#46 Wolf Eating A Watermelon
Image credits: ManMadeLizard
#47 Vietnamese Mossy Frog
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#48 Blue-Footed Boobies
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#49 Siberian Husky Walking On A Frozen Lake
Image credits: Valens
#50 The Cat After The Hunt
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
#51 Amazing Kingfisher
Image credits: MostWantedUSWriter
#52 Arctic Fox
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#53 Spotted Dog From Kalimpong (Canis Lupus Familiaris)
Image credits: cheesaye
#54 A Rare Rhinoceros Iguana
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
#55 On The Verge Of Extinction. A Beautiful Kashmir Stag On Dachigam National Park, Kashmir
Image credits: dimitrios_vlachos_04
#56 Canadian Lynx
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#57 A Stunning Photo Of A Brown Bear Roaming In The Forests Of Slovenia
Image credits: dimitrios_vlachos_04
#58 Male And Female Superb Fairy-Wren
Image credits: tupungato
#59 Black Leopard
Image credits: FormerFruit
#60 A Shining Sunbeam Hummingbird
Image credits: irkedpenguin
#61 Fox Tango – Two Sibling Foxes Have A Little Squabble By Brittany Crossman
Image credits: natezomby
#62 Brown Bear
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#63 Bengal Tiger Cub
Image credits: unknown_name
#64 Narwhals In Sea Ice, Shot From An Ultralight Plane On Floats In The Arctic Bay Of Baffin Island. By Paul Nicklen
Image credits: bigmeat
#65 A Deer In The Water (Photographed By Jeongwon Park)
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
#66 A Red Panda And A Leaf
Image credits: Sahl_95
#67 Not All Wasps Are Yellow. Here’s A Multi-Colored Cuckoo Wasp
Image credits: karmicviolence
#68 Elephant
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#69 Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus Cristatus)
Image credits: Barkonian
#70 A Male Gorilla Has Taught Himself How To Walk A Tightrope To Try And Impress The Female At Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia
Image credits: jumper223
#71 Im Not A Kid! (Lion Cub)
Image credits: Jackie7610
#72 Uncomfortably Close To A Hippo
Image credits: reddit.com
#73 Indian Roller
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#74 Port Jackson Shark
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#75 Greater Blue-Eared Starling
Image credits: HellsJuggernaut
#76 Snapping Turtle I Saw Outside My Window
Image credits: reddit.com
#77 Little Fish Escapes From Pelican’s Beak
Image credits: Era_Ojdanic
#78 Luzon Bleeding-Heart Dove (Gallicolumba Luzonica)
Image credits: BurntShutter
#79 Friend Asked Me To Take Some Pictures Of Their Chickens
Image credits: Unlocked2020
#80 Brawl Between A Wolf (Canis Lupus) And A Grizzly Bear (Ursus Arctos Horribilis)
Image credits: Gingerbreadmancan
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