One of the most important traits that a wildlife photographer can have is patience and the ability to just listen and observe. So much of the success of “getting the shot” is preparation, doing your research and how well you know the behavior of your subject and, let’s be honest, how lucky you are

One of the most essential pieces of gear that I have found in helping with coming back with the photographs I need is something that has been around for a while, binoculars. Until you’re in the perfect position and ready to shoot, a wildlife photographer’s main job is to scan the environment and locate your subject, whether it’s a Snowy owl, a Black-capped chickadee, a White-tailed deer or another of the animals where you are.

There’s another benefit that binoculars provide, a wide field of view. If you’re using a super-telephoto lens, you’ll be looking through a very narrow field of view. Comparatively, binoculars allow you to see a wider field of view, letting you quickly scan a much larger area to find a subject before switching to your camera to get the shot. Binoculars are a lightweight addition that can transform the experience of wildlife photography and are essential equipment in my bag.