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Working with light is undoubtedly the key factor in making attractive and striking images. Even the most impressive bird subjects will look dull and uninteresting when photographed in the flat glare of the midday sun. Although our eyes perceive detail in both the brightly lit and shadow areas in bright harsh light, unfortunately photographic film is unable to record these extremes of contrast satisfactorily. Understanding the limitations imposed by high contrast and poor exposure latitude of film is of paramount importance.

It is of course widely known that the best times to photograph are early and late in the day. Bird photographers need not only to get up with the sparrows but rather well before them to be in position for photography in the magic first hour of sunlight. Both the very early and late in the day sunlight is soft and golden. This gives photographs a warm glow but, more importantly, the lighting is soft and gentle enough to successfully light the subject from any direction.

Three basic options are available when choosing the lighting direction for your subject namely sidelighting, backlighting or flat on with the sun directly behind you. Each will give a distinctly different flavour and feel to the subject. Both side- and backlighting tend to produce the most visually striking images whereas flat on lighting is preferable when an accurate documentary picture is required.

Sidelighting gives a pleasing depth and texture to the subject. However, it tends to work well only when the sun is very low generally limiting this technique to just the first half hour after dawn and the last half hour before sunset. After that the sunlight and shadow areas of the image have greater contrast than the film can handle.

There is a little more leeway when backlighting a subject which is successful for an hour or so of first and last light. Backlighting produces exciting rim lit graphic images and is a technique I like to use whenever the opportunity arises. Be careful though to avoid having the sun shine directly onto the lens as this will produce flare and a misting or softening of the image.

After the magic first hour has passed, contrast increases dramatically and I prefer to light a subject flat on with the sun directly behind me. This generally allows for another couple of hours successful photography before conditions become too harsh for even this technique. On sunny days during the summer months, the light is generally too harsh for good photography between 8am and 4pm which I guess means that wildlife photographers must have the longest lunch break of any profession! During winter, the sun's angle is of course lower and the good light lasts for another hour or so.

What if the sun does not shine? I often meet other photographers on my travels and am surprised that many tell me they do not even bother to photograph on dull days. I agree that the lower light levels do tend to exclude the possibility of high shutter speeds for action photography. However, fairly bright overcast conditions can provide a marvellous soft light for bird portraits. On cloudy days the light is strongest from mid-morning to mid-afternoon and because the light is diffused, this is the best time to photograph. When on a long photo trip, I actually welcome the odd overcast day as it gives me a break from my regular 4.30am wake up call and the chance to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before starting photography at around 9am! The soft lighting is also particularly suitable for photographing white birds such as egrets as more detail is recorded on the film than is possible in sunny conditions.

Text and photographs © Nigel Dennis

Nigel Dennis is the author of several spectacular nature photography books on African wildlife. You can purchase these titles available from Amazon com by clicking on the images or links below. To see some of Nigel's stunning images visit the Nigel Dennis Wildlife Photography web site.

	The Kalahari – Survival in a Thirstland Wilderness Published 1997. Struik New Holland Publishers. ISBN 1 86872 019 5. Hardcover 29cms x 26cms. 168 pages. The Kalahari Gemsbok Park is one of our favourite photographic destinations. Wendy and I spent fourteen months there over a two year period when collecting pictures for this book. My aim was to portray the diversity of life in the Kalahari throughout the seasons. Includes coverage of rare and seldom seen species, such as the prehistoric looking pangolin. Excellent well researched text by Michael Knight and Peter Joyce.
	National Parks and Other Wild Places of Southern Africa Published September 1999. Struik New Holland Publishers. ISBN 1 86872 212 0. Hardcover 30cm x 24cm. 176. Co – photographed with Roger de la Harpe. Our aim was to produce not only a strong visual portfolio, but also a book packed with useful information for the traveller. The reader friendly narrative, by Brian Johnston Barker, highlights the subcontinent's finest ecotourism destinations. Maps and fact-filled boxes compliment the text.
	The Ultimate Wildlife of Southern Africa Published September 1998. Sunbird Publishing (Cape Town). ISBN 0 62022 614 5. Hardcover 37cms x 29cms. 160 pages. Text by Brian Johnson Barker. This large format coffee table book showcases a selection of my favourite pictures taken over the last decade. The selection was made from tens of thousands of images in my photo library. I paired this down to about 800, and the publisher and designer then had a tough job deciding what to include in the book! Shows many rare and seldom photographed species, as well as the more familiar big game.
	The Kruger National Park – Wonders of an African Eden Published 1995. Struik New Holland. ISBN 1 85368 593 3. Hardcover 30cms x 27cms. 176 pages. Also the result of a two year photographic project, this book has proved very popular and is soon due to go into a fifth reprint. The photographs show the animals, birds, reptiles, flora, trees and varied habitats of South Africa premier National Park. Comprehensive text by Bob Scholes gives a wonderful insight into the ecology of the region. Don't visit the Kruger Park without a copy of this book!

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