Creative Spotlight: Daniel Lindhardt, Wildlife Photographer
Composition is widely regarded as one of the foundational elements of photography. What if elements of your composition are unpredictable, and may or may not be where you thought they would? If this is something you experience regularly, then you are probably a wildlife photographer.
We recently met up with Daniel Lindhardt, a wildlife photographer based out of Utah. Aside from being the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, Dan is both an avid and accomplished photographer. One look at his images and you will quickly recognize his dedication to his craft. I mean some of his bear images appear too close for comfort! In our short time spent with Dan we did not come across any bears but were fortunate enough to see a herd of bison, several bucks, and owls. Not only was it amazing to see these animals in person, but to experience the landscapes they call home was truly special.
The depth of Dan’s work is extensive. Dan has photographed everything from rattlesnakes to grizzly bears. But what’s most impressive is his knowledge of the animals themselves. When you get to talking with him you will quickly realize he has spent a great deal of time studying the animals and their patterns. It seems that successful wildlife photographers are in some ways like biologists as they are deliberate in their approach to photographing animals in the wild. They have a deep understanding of how animals will behave at certain times of year, where they are most likely to be spotted, and how to effectively photograph them.
The kinship of the wildlife community also struck me as we ran into several of Dan’s friends while we were out searching for animals. Everyone seems to share a common goal and appreciation for the animals. I can also confidently say that I’ve never seen so many telephoto lenses in my life! The wildlife community is tight knit because there is an element of teamwork involved with photographing certain animals. With a subject that is rather unpredictable it's of great benefit to have some good friends that are in the know. Each connection could lead to a new capture and experience with an animal. Every friend we came across seemed to have new information on whereabouts they last spotted a buck or where they were headed later that day on their photography quests.
Once again we left this new experience with a deeper understanding and belief in the notion that this world of photography is about so much more than just the photos themselves. Rather it is about the adventure of the capture and getting involved in a community of people that share similar goals and interests.
Gearing Up
It’s essential to have the right tools on hand when photographing wildlife. Like many wildlife photographers, Dan requires gear that doesn’t hinder his workflow. Flexibility is key and this is why you will often find him using his Specialist Series SPCM428K Monopod or MPH528 Monopod. These provide added stability when shooting with telephoto lenses while allowing you to easily move when pursuing a subject. When even more stability is needed, Dan relies on a quality gimbal head to balance, pan, and tilt his telephoto lens to capture the composition he has in mind, the second his wildlife subject is in place. The ProMaster GH31C Gimbal Head allows him to do just that. This combined with the Specialist 532K Tripod and he’s got an extremely stable platform to work from. For more info on these products head to promaster.com.
