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THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY the same. Over the past 50 years, the highly specialized camera equipment used by professional wildlife photographers has changed significantly. Back in the day, when Arizona Highways photographer Willis Peterson (pictured) was learning his craft, the advantages of digital sensors and wireless technology were unimaginable. Slow and clunky by today's standards, his equipment's limitations posed lots of challenges to the image-making process. The rudimentary gear Peterson relied on to capture his incredible nature photographs makes those images even more amazing. Elaborate outdoor studio setups interconnected by long cables were the norm. Back then, solving technical issues meant modifying existing equipment to suit the job at hand. Those small adaptations by innovative pioneers like Peterson and others of his era paved the way for the modern advantages enjoyed by photographers today.

Then, along came integrated circuits, and photographic equipment was forever changed. Remote devices and electronic high-speed strobe technology leapt forward with the advent of the microprocessor, leading to smaller, more powerful equipment. Today, digital cameras and wireless interconnectivity have simplified the task of taking complex setups into the field. Advancements in materials used in modern equipment also improved portability. Even the peripheral gear associated with wildlife photography - blinds, tripods, camera bags - has benefited from new synthetic materials. The latest compact, lightweight equipment allows photographers to spend less time schlepping and more time shooting.

But, while the technical side of nature photography has become highly evolved, the practical approach remains the same as in the early days. Awareness, anticipation and quick reactions in the field have long been hallmarks for success. It's still all about capturing the moment. And the most important piece of photo equipment has been around for a long time. It's between our ears.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Becoming a good wildlife photographer requires a solid base in three areas: knowledge, technical skill and artistry. There's also a three-step process for achieving consistently good results: practice, practice, practice.

TRY THESE TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Wildlife photographers are also naturalists who never stop learning about their subjects. Arming yourself with intimate details about your subjects helps you capture informative images of a species rather than just pretty pictures of it. Learn the seasons for mating and nesting, calving and fawning, dormancy and migration. There's a direct correlation between knowledge of your subjects and the strength of your images.

KNOW YOUR SUBJECTS

When showing your wildlife photographs to others, do you have to point out the wildlife? To ensure that your subjects occupy a prominent position in your images, use a telephoto lens. Lenses of 400 mm or more will positively impact your wildlife images in a number of ways: Telephotos allow you to fill the frame with your subject while maintaining a distance buffer from camera-shy animals. They also serve to defocus a cluttered background, isolate your subject and increase its prominence in the image. There's truth to the adage among wildlife photographers: “If it ain't tight, it ain't right.”

TELEPHOTO LENSES

Other camera gear that wildlife photographers find useful includes macro lenses, wide-angle lenses, remote-controlled shutter releases, high-speed strobes and cameras with fast frames-per-second exposures. The startup costs to become a serious nature photographer carry a hefty price tag, but to do it right and compete with the best photographers, the investment in quality gear is a necessity.

SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT 4 COMPOSE BOLDLY

The basic rules of good composition apply to wildlife photography, too. Be mindful of your subject's placement in the scene by utilizing the rule of thirds. Placing your main subject off-center allows you to include more of the animal's habitat and incorporate the patterns of nature. Natural moments often last only a few seconds before the subject vanishes, so learn to compose quickly by anticipating your subject's movements.

5 HABITAT

Every creature prefers a particular environment that meets its needs for food and shelter. With Arizona's rich diversity of life zones, understanding the cycle of the seasons puts you in the right habitat at the right time. In spring, be prepared for bird migration along streams and rivers. In summer, lizards and snakes are out and active in the deserts. Autumn is elk rut in the high country, and sandhill cranes return to Willcox Playa every winter.

USE A BLIND

Shooting from a camouflaged blind is the best technique to avoid disturbing wild subjects. Set up your blind in the location you want to shoot a few days ahead of time to give wildlife a chance to get accustomed to its presence. It becomes part of the landscape, and birds and animals won't be as agitated when you're inside clicking away.

BAITING & WILDLIFE CALLS

Knowing what animals eat gives you the opportunity to bring them in closer to the camera using their food as bait. Baiting gives you some influence over the subject's placement in a scene and allows you to choose the background and lighting direction. Learn to use animal calls such as duck, elk and turkey calls to draw wild animals closer to your camera.

ETHICS

Your safety comes first, so be prepared for encounters with wild animals. Remember, you're entering their world. If you're in bear country, take precautions to protect yourself. But the safety of the animals you pursue is also important. Be as discreet as possible when interjecting yourself or your camera into any scenario. Nesting sites provide great photo opportunities, but if your presence is threatening, adults might abandon the nest, leaving their young exposed to predators. Never forget that the animals and their habitats are more important than pictures of them.

PATIENCE & PERSISTENCE

Stay alert and be sensitive to the rhythms of the moment. Spending a few hours waiting on your subject is relatively short compared to the months or years spent preparing for the opportunity. If your patience begins to wear thin, stay another 15 minutes, and then another and another. The best formula for witnessing the natural behavior of a wild species in its native habitat is good old-fashioned dedication.

ANIMATION

Strive to photograph animals in the act of being themselves. Behavior displays and body language make your wildlife images stand out in a sea of static animal portraits. Catching the glint in an animal's eyes also enhances the subject's personality; if ambient lighting conditions don't provide a little sparkle in the eye, create your own with a subtle flash fill. That tiny eye reflec-tion adds intensity and luster.

GEAR & CLOTHING

Wearing a waist pack or photographer's vest with plenty of large pockets gives easy access to lenses and memory cards. Keeping frequently used equipment at your fingertips also enables you to be more mobile if your subject is on the move. Changing lenses and cards quickly is important when action is happening fast.

SCOUTING

The great joy of wildlife photography is realized when months of planning meet a second of opportunity. Scouting for promising locations increases your opportunities and reduces time spent waiting in a blind. Take note of telltale signs of animal presence - tracks, droppings, matted grasses or wallows. Watering holes and fruit-bearing trees and bushes also are attractive to animals.