Wildlife Photographer’s Notebook: Apps for the Wildlife Photographer

Posted in People, Photography on April 29 2015, by Patricia Gonzalez

Patricia Gonzalez is an NYBG Visitor Services Attendant and avid wildlife photographer.

In the 21st century, a smartphone is no longer just a convenient thing to have on hand if you need to make a call away from home. It is an invaluable tool for the wildlife photographer. I never leave home without it!

Read on for three downloadable apps that I use during my treks at The New York Botanical Garden to address three of the primary concerns of every wildlife and nature photographer.

Sunrise
We shutterbugs are chasers of light. Knowing the exact time the sun comes up and goes down is crucial if I want to get some early morning sky shots before I go in search of wildlife or some late afternoon images when the forest is a beautiful golden brown color. For this I use the full version of Sundroid.

Weather
Weather can help or hinder a shoot and it’s important to keep abreast of the changes not just in temperature, but in cloud activity. I need to know how cold or warm it will be so I can dress appropriately before I leave the house. I also need to know if it is even worth shooting if the sun will be hiding behind clouds all day. For this, I prefer the AccuWeather app. It is fast and has bright, clear weather maps.

Birding
The Cornell Lab Merlin app can help you identify 400 North American birds. Great for me as 200 species of birds have been spotted at the Garden. This one needs to be on your cellphone especially if you are just starting out in wildlife photography. You can browse from their list or answer a few questions in order to identify the bird in question.

I’ll have more photography toys to share with you all in future segments of Wildlife Photographer’s Notebook. Until then, keep shooting!