“And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.”
Ezekiel 1:14
This might seem kind of strange, but what if I were to tell you there is a "secret sauce" that can really add to your wildlife photography? Something that seems rather absurd but in reality can make a photo extra special when taken outdoors. (or even indoors) In broad daylight even. It's simple. When I have an opportunity to capture let's say an animal or a pet, or even that garden I talked about last time, (Simple Tips For Better Pics 23: Your Garden Variety... Everything) I prefer to use my - flash...
But wait, Aren't you supposed to only use that when it's dark? Well yes, it will help. But here's the thing. Even outside, even when the sun is out - there are going to be shadows that can be balanced out and illuminated even with a diffused flash, and it's an effect that, once you try it and compare it to not using it, you might be surprised how well it works, not only bringing out stark contrasted shadows and evening out your exposure, but also capturing a more punchy color with better tonal ranges.
You can experiment with different flash settings, and also using a diffusor (a translucent cover that will dampen and spread out the harshness of the flash, lightening the shadows and reducing the harsh highlights, making your image softer and more gently lit) It really does work, and I've included a couple of pictures from my travels taken exclusively with this technique, below: