Top tips for photographing wildlife

A FALLOW deer snuffs the nose of its fawn; a startled hare watches for signs of danger; and a fox peers intently into the lens of a camera.

These three stunning images come from the camera of award-winning wildlife photographer Steve Race.

Other photographs on these pages - including a ghostly barn owl swooping low over a meadow and an Arctic Skua hovering high in the sky peering intently downward in search of prey - come from the image bank of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

But if you think you can take photographs as good as - or even better than - these, the Trust would like to hear from you.

It has teamed up with Steve - who runs Yorkshire Coast Nature with Richard Baines - to launch an exciting new photography competition open to all.

"We receive so many fantastic images from supporters and wildlife enthusiasts via email and social media that we know the talent is out there," says the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Communications Officer, Joanna Richards.

“We thought it was about time to recognise this talent by holding a competition, so that we could share all these superb images with the general public and give a well-deserved thumbs up to some of our excellent local wildlife photographers."

There are four categories in the competition:

- Yorkshire’s wild places - photographs of your favourite wild places in Yorkshire, whether coast, moor, or mountain

- Native wildlife - photographs of insects, mammals, birds, other animals or wild plants native to Yorkshire

- Wildlife Watch - a special category for those aged 15 and under: photographs of Yorkshire's wild places, wild animals and plants

- Smartphone snaps - photographs of Yorkshire's wildlife or wild places taken on a smartphone rather than a digital camera.

The deadline for entries is January 31 next year, and judging will take place in February.

A small panel of judges - including Steve, a finalist in last year's World Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition - will select five finalists in each category. These will then be put to the public vote, with a number of exhibitions across Yorkshire and on social media.

Prizes include Yorkshire coast wildlife safaris and signed copies of True Love, Steve's highly commended portrait of gannets (also reproduced n these pages).

The competition is open to everyone - beginners and regular photographers alike.

"Those just finding their feet with a camera are encouraged to enter as the judges will be looking for originality," Joanna says.

"I’m particularly looking forward to seeing what some of our younger wildlife photographers can produce, as there has been a growing wave of younger supporters sending us in some exceptional images."

You can find full details of how to enter, including entry forms, at www.ywt.org.uk/photo-competition-2015.

So check out the details - then get snapping.

Good luck!

Top tips for photographing wildlife

Steve Race's portrait of two affectionate gannets - True Love - was commended in last year's world World Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, and was one of just 100 wildlife photographs chosen from more than 40,000 entries to be included in a book and exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

So what tips does Steve have for photographers who are just getting started?

His first tip is: begin close to home. Your own garden is a great place to get photographs of insects, birds and plants, he says.

Also, if you are serious about photographing wildlife, be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors - and put the hours in. You need patience, he says. Move quietly, keep your eyes peeled, wear clothing that will help you blend in - and be prepared to wait.

"People think they can go out for an hour and come back with an amazing image. But it's about putting time in. Sometimes you can sit on a wall for five minutes and get a brilliant photograph. But other times you can sit for seven hours in a hide and get nothing."

You don't need an expensive camera, he says. Whether it cost £10,000 or £50, it is only a tool. It is you who has to take the picture - and you can start very easily with a cheap camera, or even a smartphone. The key is to be patient, and to take time composing your photograph.

Make sure the background shows the subject off properly - and if you need to move up or down, left or right, to get a better background, do so.

In winter, there won't be many mammals around. But if you put bird seed out in the garden, the birds will come. Your local park is also a good place at this time of year to photograph ducks, geese and swans.