5 Pro Tips for Photographing Wildlife in Stunning Settings

There’s no shortage of wildlife viewing opportunities in national and state parks in the U.S., but Westergren points to a few spots that are high on photographers’ must-see lists:

Custer State Park, South Dakota: Bison are an iconic sight on the U.S. grasslands, and South Dakota’s Custer State Park— located only a 20-minute drive from the equally iconic Mount Rushmore — has nearly 1,300 of them. If you want to guarantee you’ll see them, plan your trip around the annual bison roundup, when local cowboys bring in the herd for sorting in late September or early October.

Channel Islands National Park, California: Harbor seals, elephant seals, sea lions — you’ll find all three and more at this Pacific island sanctuary off the coast of southern California. An easy day trip from Los Angeles, the Channel Islands can be reached by boat from visitors’ centers in Ventura (113 kilometers north of Los Angeles), or Santa Barbara (161 kilometers north of Los Angeles).

Upper Mississippi River, Minnesota and Iowa: To photograph the iconic bald eagle, look no further than the USA’s mightiest river. Travelers can find bald eagle nests in a variety of places, from the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area in Minnesota’s Minneapolis-St. Paul area to Keokuk, Iowa, and nearby locales.

Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia: Assateague Island is the place to get photos of wild horses. This 60-kilometer-long island along the Atlantic coast — partly in Maryland and partly in Virginia — is about 225 kilometers from nation’s capital Washington, D.C., and is home to more than 300 roaming ponies.

Just after dawn and just before dusk are the fabled “golden hours” for all types of photography. But for animal photos, getting up early matters for another reason, especially in Yellowstone National Park, one of the USA's most-visited national parks, with access from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

“Let’s say you’re in Yellowstone trying to photograph the bison or wolves,” Westergren said. “Your chances are much better if you are one of the first people they encounter that day. By the middle of the day, the roads and trails will be full, and the animals may be shy.”

When planning any park visit, do your research. “Ask a ranger,” Westergren suggested. Park rangers can tell you when the animals are most active and when the park is most accessible.

But once you’re on location, you can go even deeper. “Ask people in town. The sales staff at the local sporting goods store is likely to be able to tell you, ‘Go to this bend in the river at this time of day if you want to see a moose.’”

“At Glacier National Park [in Montana], you can get so close to mountain goats you can practically touch them,” Westergren said. With that kind of access, you have the chance to capture every facial expression.

But you can’t always be so intimate. When you see animals in the distance, seize the opportunity to make them part of a larger composition.

“Don’t just place the animal dead center in the frame, either,” Westergren said. “Play with off-center composition, and really think about how they fit into the landscape before you.”

Parks, especially U.S. national parks, often post guidelines about how to safely interact with wildlife. No matter how much you want the perfect photo, you should always keep your safety and the welfare of the animals in mind.

“It’s really just about paying attention to your surroundings,” Westergren said. “If you use common sense, you’ll have a great trip.”