Action

Both the graceful movements and clumsy kinetic energy exhibited by animals as they scatter and reposition themselves create dynamic opportunities for dramatic excitement and can create a visually arresting moment.



Sea Lions, Princess Royal Island, British Columbia, Canada

A colony of sea lions abruptly terminate their lethargic sunbathing and create quite a splash during their pinniped stampede. Distant seagulls help create a scene of frenzied dimension.



Thompson Gazelles, Zambia

The swift, airstreamed ballet of fleeing Thompson Gazelles is emphasized by using a slow exposure and panning the camera with the same speed and motion as their leaps. This helps keep the animals in relative sharpness but creates a brushlike sweep in the background. A telephoto lens best captures this effect.