Eye Level Wildlife Photography: Why Getting Low Changes Everything

Home » Blog » Eye Level Wildlife Photography: Why Getting Low Changes Everything

Most beginners shoot from a standing or kneeling height because it is comfortable. However, looking down on an animal creates a sense of detachment. It makes the subject feel small and insignificant. When you get down to their level, you enter their world. This perspective creates a shallow depth of field that blurs the foreground and background, which makes your subject the undisputed star of the frame.

Prairie dogs photographed at eye level from ground level as they wrestle on a dirt mound with a softly blurred grassy background. — Photographing these prairie dogs from ground level put me right in their world. Shooting at eye level allowed the soft grass to blur into the background while their playful behavior became the clear focus of the scene.

The Secret to Better Backgrounds

One of the biggest struggles in the field is a “busy” background. Sticks, rocks, and grass can distract the viewer from the animal. When you practice eye level wildlife photography, you increase the distance between the subject and the background. This physical gap allows the lens to render the background as a smooth, creamy wash of color.

In addition, getting low changes how the foreground looks. If you are inches off the ground, the grass right in front of your lens becomes a soft, out-of-focus frame. This adds a sense of depth and three-dimensionality that you simply cannot get from a standing position. For example, a fox walking through a field looks much more heroic when the camera is level with its chest rather than looking down at its back.

Red Fox lying in tall grass at Fort Smith National Historic Site in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas. — A Red Fox rests in the tall grass at Fort Smith National Historic Site in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas

When to Stay Up High

There are times when getting low is not the best move. If you are in tall brush, dropping down might mean you lose your line of sight completely. You also have to consider safety. I never get on the ground if I am photographing large predators like bears or bison. In those cases, I stay in my vehicle or maintain a safe, upright stance to ensure I can move quickly if needed.

Bison walking along a steep ridge with mountains behind it, photographed from inside a truck for safety. — This is one of those times I never get on the ground. I photographed this bison from the safety of my truck and stayed upright so I could move if I needed to.

Furthermore, some environments make it physically impossible. If you are shooting from a boardwalk over a swamp, you are stuck with the height of the railing. In these spots, try to find subjects that are perched higher up, such as on a branch or a sign. This allows you to maintain that level gaze without having to lie in the mud.

Coyote standing in shallow water across from a fishing pier, photographed at eye level with green vegetation and reflections on the water surface. — I photographed this coyote from a fishing pier as it moved through the shallow water. Even though I could not get low because of the height of the railing, the coyote’s position in the water brought its eyes up to my level and preserved that direct, engaging perspective.

Practical Gear for Ground Work

My Backpack With Equipment — My Backpack With Wildlife Photography Equipment

Lying in the dirt for an hour is hard on the body. I always carry a small foam pad or a waterproof groundsheet in my pack. This keeps me dry and comfortable, which helps me stay patient. I also use a “pancake” style ground pod instead of a tripod. It is essentially a flat plate that sits on the dirt, allowing my lens to stay stable just an inch above the grass.