Animal photography
How to photograph animals crossing open terrain to emphasize stride, momentum, and environmental context with appropriate shutter choices.
Capturing wildlife on broad, exposed ground demands thoughtful timing, precise shutter control, and a clear sense of place that conveys speed, energy, and the animal’s interaction with the landscape.
Published by
Andrew Allen
July 18, 2025 - 3 min Read
In open terrain, the story unfolds in motion, not stillness. Begin by choosing a lens that balances reach with context, such as a versatile 70–200mm zoom or a longer focal length for isolation. Understand the animal’s gait and typical stride length by observing from a distance before you shoot. Your aim is to frame the animal so its path moves along a leading line that extends beyond the frame, inviting the viewer to follow the momentum forward. Anticipation is key: wait for lift in the front foot and a natural extension of the hind leg as the creature propels itself across contrasting ground.
Lighting and background matter as much as timing. Aim for soft, directional light shortly after dawn or before dusk to sculpt muscles and create a gentle rim along the animal’s silhouette. Place the horizon low enough to reveal expansive terrain without overwhelming the subject. Keep the background expansive yet simple, avoiding clutter that could distract from the stride. If wind-whipped grass or dust rises behind the animal, it can amplify movement, but ensure these elements don’t obscure the animal’s form. Your shutter choice will synchronize with these environmental cues to produce clean, kinetic frames.
Capture legwork cleanly while preserving environmental scale and mood.
To emphasize stride on open ground, compose with the animal entering the frame from a corner or edge, then guide the eye along the implied path. A slightly elevated camera angle helps reveal the legs in full extension, conveying power and weight transfer. Use a continuous shooting mode to capture multiple frames of a single stride cycle—this yields a sequence that may reveal subtle shifts in balance and energy. Consider how the ground texture interacts with motion: dust plumes, small rocks, or dry grass can all accentuate the forward push. Ensure the animal remains comfortably within the frame while its momentum remains legible.
Momentum is revealed by the relationship between the animal and its surroundings. Choose a shutter speed that freezes or relays movement according to your purpose: crisp, frozen action highlights precise foot placement, while slight blur can convey speed. In broad terrain, a low sun angle can exaggerate lengthening shadows, adding drama to the stride. Be mindful of gusts that push the animal sideways; a steady hand or a tripod with a fluid head can stabilize panning. Practice panning at your subject’s pace, keeping the focus point on the animal’s eyes as it traverses the landscape.
Show how terrain shapes pacing while preserving animal expression.
Aiming for a clean motion read, set a faster shutter to freeze the limbs while allowing the terrain to soften into a contextual blur. This separation helps the animal stand out against the ground, making its forward drive unmistakable. Track the animal with steady, smooth movements, maintaining a consistent distance so the inner rhythm of the gait remains readable. If you must raise ISO to preserve a bright exposure, do so judiciously to minimize grain that could interfere with the smooth lines of the stride. Experiment with different focal lengths to discover how perspective alters perceived speed and space.
Environmental context matters, but it should never overwhelm the subject. Include elements like distant ridges, patches of water, or scrub that set the scene without competing with the animal’s motion. A wider frame can reveal how terrain shapes the animal’s choice of route and pace, while a tighter frame emphasizes muscular tension and limb geometry. Balance is achieved when the viewer can sense distance and wind without losing the animal’s narrative of propulsion. When possible, photograph during periods of quiescent wind to prevent excessive motion blur in the background.
Use gear and technique to translate energy into visual momentum.
Expressions during crossing moments convey intent, resilience, and focus. Keep the eyes bright and forward-facing, reflecting intent to reach a destination. A shallow depth of field can isolate the head and shoulders, but avoid overdoing it; you still want the landscape to breathe through the frame. The moment of contact when the pads strike the ground is a visual anchor, so time the shot to include at least one foot fully on a contrasting patch to maximize detail. If dust rises, let it frame the animal’s momentum as a dynamic cloud, then reduce shutter speed slightly to retain legibility.
Plan your gear setup to support long, fluid takes across wide spaces. A monopod or lightweight tripod can help when you’re chasing a moving subject across flat ground, but a handheld approach often feels more natural in open terrain. Keep your camera ready with a mid-to-telephoto lens that allows you to trail the animal without crowding the moment. Practice breath control and posture to minimize camera shake during panning. Remember that camera settings—white balance, exposure compensation, and continuous focus mode—work in concert to preserve the scene’s mood and the animal’s stride.
Close the loop by preserving context, energy, and clarity.
When weather changes, adapt your approach to protect image clarity and animal comfort. Overcast skies create even illumination that reduces harsh shadows, which is beneficial for tracking movement. In bright sun, use a polarizer to manage reflections off the terrain, enabling the animal to stand out more clearly. If the landscape includes reflective sand or water, adjust metering to avoid blown highlights while keeping texture visible in the feet and legs. Keep an eye on horizon line alignment; a tilted frame can disrupt the sense of forward motion, whereas a level plane reinforces the open-space narrative.
Post-production should enhance motion without erasing it. Start with a modest stabilization pass if the sequence feels jittery, then apply selective sharpness to preserve edge detail on the animal. Color should be natural, yet a subtle boost in contrast can make the stride feel more defined against the terrain. If you stacked multiple frames into a composite sequence to emphasize motion, ensure transitions are seamless and do not distract from the animal’s form. Use noise reduction conservatively in backgrounds to maintain texture where the ground interacts with movement.
Consider the animal’s behavior and habitat to anticipate where crossings occur. Knowing typical routes or open corridors can place you ahead of a natural stride, increasing your chances of capturing a full sequence. Build a mental map of focal points along the route—where the animal crouches, lifts, and lands—to time the shutter release for maximum impact. Use a local vantage point that respects the animal’s space, maintaining ethical distance while still achieving intimate, action-filled frames. Environmental cues such as wind, light direction, and ground texture all contribute to the final impression of momentum.
Finally, study successful campaigns and field reports from photographers who work open terrain with wildlife. Compare how different settings emphasize stride, balance, and speed, then synthesize what works for your own style. Practice in quick sessions to refine your reflexes: where to position yourself, when to shoot, and how to adjust exposure on the fly. Your long-term goal is to develop a recognizable rhythm—images that convey both the animal’s power and the landscape’s scale in a single, cohesive moment. With patience and persistence, the crossing becomes a signature moment in your photography.
