Chapter 2. Photographing Nature and Wildlife with an Automated Camera

National Geographic is famous for its intimate photos of wild animals. Often, in the magazine's pages, the animals seem larger than life, as if they belong to the same "geographic" scale as the landscapes behind them. This enlargement effect can be achieved by capturing the subject at a very close distance with a wide-angle lens. For example, one memorable photograph by Steve Winter shows a snarling tiger reaching out to strike the lens!

Let's consider the possible methods behind such a photo. The photographer could try to stalk a wild tiger in person, but for safety, this approach would require some distance and a long lens. A close encounter is likely to endanger the human, the tiger, or both. Alternatively, the photographer could use a remote-controlled rover or drone to approach and photograph the tiger. This would be safer but like the first technique it is laborious, only covers one...