INTERVIEW WITH TOBIAS KUHL
Tobias Kuhl is currently writing his doctor's thesis at the University of Bonn. Whenever his head gets overloaded with thoughts about specialist literature, he heads out into the countryside with his camera and the Tamron 150-600mm super-telephoto lens. In the Tamron blog, he gives tips about how he manages to create his impressive wildlife photographs …
At the moment, I am writing my doctor's thesis while working part-time at the Institute for Psychology. Two or three times a week, however, I can't resist the urge to get out into the open and back to nature with my camera. Nature photography provides me with the perfect time out from work.
I had a small compact camera with me but was so disappointed in the quality that I headed into the nearest electronics store and bought myself a DSLR. I simply wanted to be able to take better pictures.
When taking photographs of animals, you often have to sit and wait for a long time. However, you mustn't let your concentration falter because you don't want to miss that moment when the animal finally appears. Your smartphone and other distractions are thus off limits …
I take photographs with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Most of my pictures are taken with a high-speed 400 mm fixed focal length Canon lens and the Tamron super-telephoto lens SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD. I also have a seven kilo Berlebach wooden stand with a head that also weighs at least another two kilos – nothing is going to knock that over in a hurry.
I can capture many subjects optimally with this zoom lens. When it comes to sharpness, the performance is impressive – which is also thanks to the great image stabiliser that has served me really well while taking free-hand photos.
... that I found in my nearby surroundings. I waited for hours on end in a camouflaged tent hide together with a friend for the animals to show themselves. That got me hooked. And I now also travel far and wide to take photos. I have already been to Helgoland several times and in April I visited a photographer friend of mine on Sardinia. I really like the fact that through photography you can get to know many interesting people.
Two or three times I week I head out into the open. But I don't always have my camera with me – I am often out investigating new places or researching new subjects.
I am not interested in hunting in itself but taking photographs of animals in the wild does awake a real hunting instinct in me. When I finally manage to take that long hoped for picture, I get an strange overwhelming feeling of joy. Even later on when I look at that picture, I feel it all over again.
It's not simply about taking a photograph of an animal. That perfect moment is more than just the incident itself. You must also choose the right location and the light needs to be just right too.