Saxen Van Coller: What Can You Do To Save The Wildlife?

In today’s time most wildlife photographers are associated with projects that target conservation, and protection of the wildlife. Photos have a much long-lasting impact on the human mind as compared to words. Hence these are a better medium to express how certain wildlife species have gone extinct. Saxen Van Coller has been working with various agencies who are fighting for the rights of animals. The growing population and the continuous deforestation is the reason many wild animals are on the verge of extinction. Wildlife photographer are doing their best to make the people aware and be an active part to preserve the wildlife.

Over the years we have seen that many of our wildlife species have seriously declined. Saxen Van Coller has been working hard and trying to show the world through her pictures the extinction of certain endangered and vulnerable wildlife species. In her collection you can see some rare photos of the Amur Leopard, Black Rhino, Hawksbill Turtle, South China Tiger, Sumatran Tiger and Elephant. Among these  are some other species such as the Bengal Tiger, Blue Whale, Giant Panda, and the Green Turtle who are extremely vulnerable.

Saxen Van Coller suggests that although photographs leave an impact yet it is us who need to bring in the change. We are a dominant species and it is our responsibility to make an effort in slowing the acceleration of the natural resources. It is time to reduce, recycle and reuse as the more we work towards it the better it will be for the wildlife. Industrial wastes are being dumped in forest and water which is posing a mass threat to the species who are dying every day. This pollution is killing endangered species who are forced to move their habitat.

The decision you make today will determine your future and the future of the wildlife. Seeing this problem a number of wildlife rehabilitation centers have opened up in the country. These are treating sick and injured wild animals with an attempt to restore their health and releasing them in the wild. Volunteers from across the globe have joined these centers who are working for the well of wildlife.A number of wildlife photographers across the globe have come together in this initiative to  help protect and restore all wildlife.

Saxen Van Coller: Are You Facing These Common Photography Problems?

From being the most expensive hobby to the higher paying job photography is one of the most pursued professions. While some do it to make money some do it as a pastime you may also come across some people who have simply taken an initiative to save the wildlife. When we talk about conservation Saxen Van Coller is a known name. She is a wildlife photographer and an enthusiast who work is working towards saving the environment. Other than that, she also wrote articles and blogs about various equipments, tips, tricks, all about photography especially wildlife. Below are some common photography problems that most of us face.

• The difference between the Four Thirds and Micro Thirds camera systems- well, unlike most DSLRs, the Four Thirds use a four- thirds aspect ratio and a large crop factor of 2.0-1.5x-1.6x is the norm. The Micro Four Thirds are more compact because they do not have an optical viewfinder or mirror assemble.

• Should you buy a DSLR with a twisting LCD screen or not: these do well in some cases, when taking pictures from very high or low angles, and particularly good for shooting HD movies. Otherwise the live mode in most cameras can help you take better shots.

• Do we need more auto-focus points? Well, most cameras have only three AF points, whereas an upmarket camera has 51. Advantage of extra AF points is that it enables the camera to track moving subjects more precisely in continuous auto-focus mode.

• Why there is need to use a small aperture to increase depth of field? By reducing the depth of field, you can make a precise shot appear in sharp focus and allow other areas to become blurred. This enables to draw attention to key parts of the image, and conceal elements that might otherwise prove distracting.

• Why sunset photos with the wild animals does not look very colorful? The problem here might be that the auto white balance of the digital cameras will typically try to cancel out. They will not let the shift in color temperature happen and produce results that are more neutral. The here the AWB setting can leech all, the orange light out of the sunset and sunrise shots giving an insipid image. The solution is to preset the white balance mode.
  For  Saxen Van Coller when out in the wild it is to make necessary changes and work our camera well prior to taking photographs. As a result, we will have better shots and will not regret missing out on any moment. Being a mechanical device’s camera sometimes go out of hand, but with little adjustment and setting in no time they start to give the same amazing photographs.

Saxen Van Coller- Are You Using Flash During The Day?

Wildlife photography has its own wonderful aspects. Some see it as a profession for some it is a hobby and love for the wildlife. This time we will talk about his use of flash for taking wildlife pictures. Use of flash can be done at any time and it’s not bound to be used at night. When there is not enough lighting then the flash comes to our rescue. Using the flash with a long lens is a thing, most  photographers have been using for a long time as it helps to capture better pictures during the daytime.

Over the years, I have used a number of equipment and have talked about them a lot. This time on my trip, I took my Canon 7D Mark II and with it a Canon 600EX RT flash sitting in the horseshoe. The weather on that particular day was overcast and using a flash was a wise decision. There may be a time when there is a bright sunny day, one might come across an animal in the shade and a flash would help to balance the light into the shade giving a better background light.

 

Most animals have dark eyes and these can look like a black hole when there is no direct sunlight on them provides a catch light. Using a flash can give you back that catch-light in the eye and make the animal look much more alive. The key to using a flash is to fill the light and not as a key light. A fill flash simply means that the light output fall is not as bright as the ambient light on the subject not defining the exposure.

For the most part, it’s better when we do the image comparing than talking. Pay attention to the catch-light in the bird’s eye as it really brings it to life. This adds a lot more texture to the photo and opens those shadows that give more latitude to play with the processing. When we talk about additional lighting, flash is the perfect and the continuous light source.  Continuous lighting does not come nearly as close to matching the brightness of a flash, but it allows us to control the direction of light.

According to Saxen Van Coller, if you are shooting outdoors with moving creatures using a flash gives enough depth of field as it can be really tough with macro shooting and all smaller apertures to soak up all the light. When you are shooting in the wild there is no stability, you cannot ask the animal to say still where there is better light. The flash comes as a handy solution and helps you in time when there is little or no light.

Saxen Van Coller On How Lighting Matters When Taking Pictures In The Wild

Photographing the wild in their natural habit requires a lot of skills and ability. This also includes handling a multitude of lighting situation. When we take pictures in an indoor room light can be managed, but when in the wild the scenario is different. Hence handling the light when you are in the wild light needs work. Taking pictures in the wild requires a lot of skills along with that hand and eye coordination, composition, the ability to focus, patience and good exposure technique.

Saxen Van Coller who has been photographing in the wild for many years suggests that among all the above it is necessary to obtain a correct exposure. From sunrise to sunset one encounters several types of lighting. In many cases when you are in the wild and light is coming from one side there is another characteristic. Illumination at sunrise and sunset creates various textures, shadows, and interplay of light and dark.

 

Lighting is very critical in photography and can present a problem for the built in camera meters owing to the shadows. In this scenario the meter tries to lighten them and you lose that dusky tone in pictures. As a photographer you don’t want this as it will entirely ruin the important parts of the picture.
When we are talking about lighting another crucial thing is back lighting as it is the one that leads to the most dramatic types of lighting. A photographer has to work with it when shooting an animal with a beautiful form as these help produce striking results. Moments like these in nature are very fleeting and may last for mere seconds. As a photographer you do not want to miss this opportunity of getting the best shot with perfect exposure.

Other thing that can help is the use of a hand held meter. This pinpoints the areas in the frame and helps to find the property that is exposed. The meter gives the ability to read the scene accurately by choosing the right toned portion.  These are a few points that Saxen Van Coller suggests you keep in mind to get those perfect shots.

Saxen Van Coller Catching The Wildlife With A Click

The eyes of a photographer see so many things. They get an opportunity to travel and capture moments that most of us miss and can see only through their photography. As professionals in this field, they capture the essence of the emotions in a way that at one time we feel it’s actually happening in front of your eyes. Apart from the opportunity to travel and see places the job of a wildlife photographer is thrilling and enthralling with which they have to face tough challenges. They travel to forests, at night and spend days in the natural habitat to just capture a glimpse of the untamed.

Saxen Van Coller has traveled across the globe representing the wildlife. She is also working hard to put a stop to the problem of animal trafficking.  She has close encounters with the most dangerous beasts of the wild yet she marvelously and fearlessly captured them. With lots of appreciation and encouragement from friends and family, she has been able to turn her passion into reality. When asked about the risk she says her passion for animals gives her a strength to go to the most dangerous forest to take pictures. She has traveled to various national parks and reserves across the globe to take pictures. No matter its 50 degrees or minus 30 nothing has stopped her to complete her task.

 

 

Be it the big five in the Moremi game reserve, Botswana, eland bulls in Nairobi National Park, or the big cats in the Kruger National Reserve her aim is to spread awareness for the protection and preservation of the wildlife. She has taken amazing photos of the white polar bear in the most freezing temperatures in Manitoba Canada. She has gone beyond her capabilities and has faced various dangerous situations, but this has never stopped her from taking photographs. She has captured the Cheetah in his hunting spot right when he had penetrating eyes on his prey. She has gone far for her passion and nothing has stopped her to take it ahead.

Saxen Van Coller is working hard towards saving the wild. She has taken the initiative to spread awareness among people to stop deforestation and let the wildlife remain intact. Through her workshops and exhibitions she wants people to join hands and do their best to stop animal trafficking and deforestation. She has started a little endeavor and wishes to to take it a long way.