I rest my elbows on my knees and steady the lens. It is also faster to set up if you don't extend the tripod legs. The more fashion-conscious photographers look at me with disdain, but I get the sharp photos. Know your subject You need to know when and where to expect to find subjects. When you spend a lot of time waiting and watching for the perfect pose, you will learn about animal behavior.
Seasons greatly affect animal behavior.
Mating season is a good time to photograph large animals, since they are in prime condition, preoccupied, and active. Understand the light Morning light is also better because of its shallow angle compared to mid-day light which basically shines straight down. Remember, you are taking pictures of the sides of the subjects, not the top, so you need the light to illuminate the sides. You can photograph subjects like birds for about the first three hours of a day. After that the sun is too high, the bird's belly is in shadow, and the eyeball highlight is gone.