Spotting photography is a type of wildlife photography that involves the use of binoculars or a spotting scope to get close to your subject.

Spotting scopes are telescope-like devices that allow you to zoom in on distant objects and see them clearly, while binoculars allow you to see things at a closer range but don’t have as much magnification power.

What Is Spotting Photography?

Spotting scopes can be handheld or mounted onto tripods; they’re also used by bird watchers and hunters who want to get an up-close look at their prey without disturbing it too much.

The first spotting scopes were invented in 1835 by John Dolland (who also invented the modern microscope), but they weren’t widely available until after World War II when technology improved dramatically and people started using them more frequently for military purposes.

What Equipment Do You Need for Spotting Photography?

The first thing you need is a camera. This can be either a digital or film camera, but it must have interchangeable lenses and be able to take manual exposures.

A tripod is also essential for long exposures and night photography; this will allow you to make sure that your images are sharp and clear by keeping the camera still while taking pictures in low light conditions.

There are many different kinds of filters available on the market today:

  • UV filters protect your lens from scratches,
  • polarizing filters reduce reflections on water surfaces,
  • graduated neutral density (GND) filters allow more detail in bright areas while darkening shadows at the same time,
  • warming/cooling filters change colors slightly so they match what our eyes see better than normal color temperatures would do alone without being altered artificially through post-processing software later on after taking pictures with them attached onto our cameras’ lenses beforehand during shooting sessions too!

You may even want one or two additional flashes mounted onto stands if needed since these might come handy when photographing animals close up at night time especially when there isn’t much natural light available nearby due perhaps because clouds cover up most sources coming from above us here below ground level where we live most days throughout our lives instead!”

The Basics of Spotting Photography

The basics of spotting photography are simple. You need to understand the elements of lighting, composition, camera settings and exposure.

The first step is to understand how light works in nature. The sun is the main source of light for most wildlife photographers but there are also other sources such as moonlight or even artificial lights from cities or towns nearby that can be used as well.

The direction from which light comes from will affect how your subject appears on camera; if you’re shooting at sunrise or sunset then there will be long shadows cast across your subject which can make them look more dramatic than they actually are!

The Art of Spotting Photography

Spotting photography is a creative process, and the best way to improve your skills is to explore the art of spotting.

To do this, you’ll need to think about what makes an image work or not work for you. For example, if an image doesn’t have any people in it (or if it does), then why? Is there something about the composition that makes it feel empty?

Or are there other elements that help fill up space and give context to what’s happening in front of your camera lens?

These are all questions worth asking yourself when evaluating your own photos as well as those taken by others.

Photographing Wildlife

When you’re out in the field, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, understand the behavior of your subject.

If you’re photographing birds or other animals that move quickly, it’s important that they have time to get used to your presence before taking photos.

This can be done by simply sitting quietly and observing them for a while before trying anything else. It may also help if you stay downwind from them–if they smell something strange coming from behind them, they might get spooked and fly away!

Secondly: safety first! When photographing wildlife (particularly in remote areas), make sure that someone knows where exactly where you are going and what time they should expect back home again so as not end up lost overnight due to poor planning on part of photographer/photographer’s friend(s).

Editing Your Spotting Photos

Editing your photos is a great way to make them look even better. It’s also one of the most important steps in creating your final image, so it’s worth learning how to do it well!

Choosing the right editing software:

There are lots of different programs out there that can help you edit your photos, but some are better than others.

If you’re just starting out with wildlife photography and don’t have much experience with editing software yet, we recommend using Adobe Lightroom CC or Apple Aperture 3 (if you own an Apple computer).

These programs have been designed specifically for photographers and offer many helpful features like presets for changing color tones or black-and-white conversion options–they’re both free!

If these aren’t available on your computer then try searching online for free trials before purchasing anything else; there are lots of options out there!

Understanding basic editing techniques:

Once inside one of these programs’ interfaces (or after opening up an image directly from its folder), click “Develop” at top left corner followed by clicking “Auto Tone.”

This will automatically adjust contrast levels across all parts within each photo according to their respective luminance values (how bright/dark they appear).

Next up comes brightness adjustment where shadows become darker while highlights become brighter – this helps bring out details hidden within shadows while making sure nothing gets washed away into overexposure territory either!

Finally we come upon contrast enhancement which increases separation between dark areas vs light ones by adding more contrast between them both visually speaking as well as physically separating them physically through increased saturation levels too.

Sharing Your Spotting Photos

Once you’ve taken some great photos, it’s time to share them with the world! There are many different ways to do this, but here are some tips on how to make sure your photos get seen by as many people as possible:

Be sure that your photo is on a platform that suits its content. If you’re posting wildlife photos, then Instagram or Facebook may not be right for sharing them, you might want something more niche like Birdinglife or Flickr instead.

Make sure there’s enough information in the caption for people who aren’t familiar with what they’re looking at (for example: “This bird was spotted near my home”).

This will help others understand why it’s worth looking at your photo over others’.

Don’t feel bad about asking friends and family members for feedback! They’ll often have suggestions about how they think something could look better or whether there’s anything else worth including in an image.

Tips for Getting the Best Spotting Photos

  • Preparation
  • Scouting locations
  • Understanding the weather
  • Using the right lens

Spotting Photography Etiquette

  • Respect nature.
  • Minimize your impact.
  • Understand wildlife laws and regulations.

Spotting Photography – Wrap Up

So, what’s the best way to get started with spotting photography?

Go out and shoot! You don’t need fancy equipment or even a camera–you can use your phone. Just grab it and go outside, then try taking pictures of things that interest you. It doesn’t matter if they turn out well or not; just have fun with it!

If you want to get more serious about spotting photography, consider purchasing a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera or mirrorless camera (which are similar but smaller than DSLRs).

These types of cameras allow for interchangeable lenses so that you can experiment with different angles and perspectives on your subject matter.

They’re also great for low light situations because their sensors are able to capture more light than point-and-shoot digital cameras do.