(click on the image to see larger version)

Mention wildlife photography and most of us think of the charismatic megafauna (lions and tigers and bears, oh my!).  These are great photographic subjects and if you get the chance to photograph them, go for it.  What we tend to forget, however, is that smaller species are also wildlife and often much more available.

Photographing the little guys offers a couple advantages to the interested photographer.

• Smaller wildlife is usually close to home, so there is no need to travel to the ends of the earth to create a wildlife photo (just make sure you don’t tell my wife that).
• Your audience often knows the smaller animals because they see them around their homes.  This helps them form a personal connection with your subject and helps you make a similar connection.
• Lets face it, we have all seen images of the huge predators, but when was the last time you saw a picture of a fishing cat?  How about a platypus?  Because they are less photographed, the smaller animals have a way of capturing out imagination in a way that is different then the big guys.  Also, it is easier to create a unique capture of these little guys (when there aren’ many images out there, every new shot is unique).

During one of my photographic trips to central Utah, I had the opportunity to photograph mule deer and I successfully photographed a few.  My favorite pictures from the trip, however, were of the little guys.  The marmots playing in the rocks, the small birds perched in the pine trees, and the little chipmunk you see above.  While waiting for something “exciting” to happen, this little guy hoped up onto the rock and struck a pose.  I was waiting for deer, but I didn’t miss the opportunity.  This shot has since found its way into my teaching collection, being shown to hundreds of students.  None of the mule deer shots made that cut.

The image was made using a Canon 1Ds, 600mm IS lens with a 2.0 teleconverter, at 200 ISO.  The image was captured from a car with the lens resting on a beanbag for support.