Here is something we can learn from community member Nostroboy about the techniques and story behind this awarded photo. Alexandre De Melas is a french filmmaker mostly motivated by nature and wildlife but with a passion for film. "Photography is to me similar to filmmaking, it is all about telling stories with my heart." - Alexandre De Melas
Where did you take this photo?
I took this shot in Sainte Croix park which is a wildlife park not far from where I live in northeast France. Sainte Croix park is a big foresty park with animals living in giants wild areas. Some of them are even totally free. When I go to Sainte Croix I usually choose to go in the morning before the sun is too high and strong.
Anything worth sharing about lighting?
I always choose a cloudy day to get the most diffuse light I can. I like to avoid shadows for better post-processing with a maximum dynamic range. I took this shot with the Sony Alpha 7S II and the Sigma 150-600mm. Despite the lense being really heavy I didn't use a tripod here because the wolves moved quite a lot.
What inspired you to take this photo?
To me, this shot has something of the Lion King imagery in it. I loved how the piece of the trunk is a perfect promontory for an epic shot of the wolves. It shows their dominance over the forest. But first of all, they made me a beautiful present to stand there for me. This was unexpected and I had to shoot quickly because I had only a short time to click this shot.
Did you do any post-processing?
There is not a lot of post-processing here. I mostly added contrast and clarity in the fur and the eyes. I also brought up the black and balanced colors.
What equipment do you normally have in your bag?
I have a Sony a7S II camera with a CANON 24-70mm f4, a SAMYANG 14mm f2.8, a SIGMA 150-600mm f/5.6-6.3, and a CANON 50mm f1.8. I also have an M42 adapter and a Helios 44-2 58mm f2.8 lens made in USSR. A Pola filter and ND filter are completing my equipment.
Any advice for others trying to capture something similar?
Wildlife photography is to me, the most difficult but the most rewarding type of photography. It is good to train yourself on wildlife photography in parks and reserve if you have the opportunity. I learn wich are the good angles to photograph an animal, which kind of background and composition I can think of when a certain animal is in front of my lens. Animals are unpredictable and you can't direct them or tell them to hold a pose but in reserves, you can train yourself to react quickly and master your camera so you can react in time to get the perfect shot.
