I was wondering how does the Animal World network film its documentaries on various animals without the animal(s) beng disturbed by their presence? Or, is it all done with some super-hyper-telephoto lenses? And, what about those brief aerial shots tossed into the documentary? Do they use a silent helicopter? A boom crane cameraman, like in Hollywood? (For lack of the proper term) …Or, what? - Jinx
In many instances, long-focus telephoto lenses or terrestrial telescopes are used, In others, the photographer can get quite close to the action, literally. While the animals may be initially disturbed, eventually they will learn to accept the photographer as part of their environment and go on about their normal business. Structures called “blinds” are often used. These are generally camouflaged enclosures, often mounted in trees, in which the photographer sits. The exact technique used depends largely on the type of animal to be filmed, and the environment in which the fiming is to be done.
When you’re watching a wildlife documentary it’s easy to forget how much hard and dull work has been done in setting up the shots. Getting the animals used to the blinds (or “hides” as they’re called in my country) can often take weeks when the camera operators can’t take any film of commercial value. Overhead shots can be taken using microhelicopters, which are not silent, but don’t spook the animals enough to spoil the pictures.
Having said that, there are places in Africa where safari tourists are so common that the biggest problem is not getting the animals in shot but keeping trucks and cars out.
One of those Safari Tourists here.
On the Serengeti you can drive a landrover up to about 100’ (or less) to a pride of lions without disturbing them. They are somewhat used to the vehicles. Since they don’t perceive the vehicles as prey animals or a threat to the lions or their young, they just ignore them. But if a human gets out of the land rover, the lions can recognize the “two legged predator” and things get a bit more interactive…
So I belive the photographers get their shots with blinds/vehicles to camouflage the human’s identity, a good telephoto lens, and one hell of a lot of patience.