Photographing Otters in Scotland: A Comprehensive Guide for Photographers
Introduction
Photographing otters in Scotland is both a rewarding and challenging endeavor. These elusive creatures, known for their playful behavior and endearing appearances, are a delight to capture through the lens. Scotland, with its rugged coastlines, serene lochs, and lush riverbanks, provides the perfect backdrop for such an adventure. This guide will help you understand where to find otters, what equipment to use, the best techniques, and the ethical considerations to keep in mind.
Understanding Otters
Scotland is home to the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). These otters can be found in both coastal and freshwater environments, making them versatile and adaptable.
The Eurasian otter is one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish, waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. Otters can be distinguished from Mink by their much larger size, more powerful body, paler grey-brown fur, broader snout and broader, pale chest and throat. The otter is well suited to a life on the water as they have webbed feet, dense fur to keep them warm and can close their ears and nose when underwater.
Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as a ‘holt’. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age.
Holts are usually accessed from coastal areas by streams that run in to them from inland water sources, you should always avoid these areas as blocking an otter from reaching its holt causes huge disturbance and is unethical.
Size
Length: 90cm plus a tail of 45cm
Weight: 10kg
Average lifespan: up to 10 years
Seeing the signs of otters is far easier than seeing the animals themselves. Along riverbanks and waterways, look for five-toed footprints (about 6-7cm long) and droppings or ‘spraints’. Otters leave spraints in prominent places, such as fallen trees, weirs and bridges, as ‘scented messages’, helping them to find mates and defend territories. They contain visible fish bones and have a distinctive, pleasant smell, reminiscent of Jasmine tea!
Behaviour and Habits
Otters are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. They are solitary animals, with each individual or family group maintaining a territory that they mark and defend. Understanding their habits, such as foraging and grooming, will help you anticipate and capture their movements.
Where to Find Otters in Scotland
Top Locations
Isle of Mull: Known for its abundant wildlife, the Isle of Mull is a prime location for otter spotting. The island’s coastal areas, around its many lochs, are particularly fruitful. This is where I do the majority of my Otter photography and where I regularly run Otter workshops.
Shetland Islands: These islands are famous for their otter populations. The coastal regions, especially around the rocky shores, are ideal for photography.
Highlands and Islands: Areas such as Ardnamurchan and the north coast offer pristine environments where otters thrive. Rivers and lochs in these regions are often frequented by otters.
Habitat Preferences
Otters prefer areas with abundant food supply, shelter, and minimal human disturbance. Coastal otters are often found near kelp forests, while freshwater otters are usually spotted near rivers, lochs, and streams with plenty of fish.
Best Time to Photograph Otters
Seasonal Considerations
Spring and Summer: During these seasons, otters are often seen with their young. The longer daylight hours provide more opportunities for photography.
Autumn and Winter: These seasons offer dramatic lighting and fewer tourists, making it easier to capture natural behaviour. My favourite time of year to photograph otters, it is quieter and I have had some of my best sightings at this time of year.
Daily Timing
Dawn and Dusk: Otters are most active during these times, making it the best period to capture them in action.
Low Tide: Coastal otters are more visible during low tide when they forage in the exposed kelp beds. I have found that the best time to see them is an hour either side of the low tide.
Equipment Essentials
Camera
A DSLR, Bridge or mirrorless camera with fast shutter speed and good low-light performance is ideal. Full-frame cameras offer better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. That being said cropped sensor cameras offer you extended reach which is extremely useful when trying to photograph otters without causing disturbance.
Lenses
Telephoto Lens (300-600mm): A telephoto lens allows you to capture close-up shots from a distance, ensuring you don’t disturb the otters. Zoom lenses are fantastic for Otters as you can get close ups and zoom out to include more of the environment, they also tend to be smaller so you can more easily move around the shoreline with the lenses.
Accessories
Bean Bag: Useful for stability, particularly in low light. It is not my preference to use a tripod or monopod as I find it clumsy and difficult to work with when walking over the rocks on the shoreline. I find it much easier to use a bean bag and use a rock to position the camera, this gives stability but also helps you achieve a more pleasing lower angle which is essential for captivating otter portraits.
Waterproof Gear: Both for you and your camera. Scotland’s weather is unpredictable, and it’s crucial to protect your equipment.
Binoculars: Useful for spotting otters from a distance before setting up your shot.
Techniques for Capturing Stunning Otter Photos
Patience and Stealth
Otters are shy and easily spooked. Approach their habitat quietly and patiently. Use natural cover to hide your presence. The best way to approach an otter is when it is in the water. Otters will usually fish for a while eating smaller shellfish and then when they do catch something larger they will bring it ashore. It is worth watching from the shoreline and then positioning yourself behind some rocks and wait until it comes ashore. Sometimes you get it right sometimes you get it wrong, after the otter has eaten its fish it will often continue to hunt for food and will repeat the same behaviour sometimes even coming back to the same place. You should never chase an otter, If the otter is moving along the shoreline you should attempt to get far ahead of it and wait behind some rocks and capture images as it comes to you. Otter photography can be extremely frustrating and it can take hours to get the shot that you want, but it is also very rewarding. You ALWAYS must have the welfare of the otter at the centre of everything that you do.
Composition
Rule of Thirds: Position the otter off-centre to create a more engaging composition. Always try to get as low as possible so that you achieve an eye-level shot of the otter. Shoot wider to include some of the environment. Scotland is beautiful and the backdrops of where otters live is spectacular, there always seems to be an urge to get as close to an otter as possible, but sometimes less is more and capturing images of the otter in the environment can be more pleasing than the extreme close ups.
Background: Ensure the background complements the subject. Avoid cluttered or distracting elements. Look at light and colour of the backgrounds.
Behaviour Shots: Focus on capturing natural behaviours like hunting, playing, or grooming. These moments tell a story and create more compelling images. Read about otters before you go to photograph them, read about their behaviour and the likely signs that you may see. This will help you to anticipate an image.
Lighting
Natural Light: Utilize the soft, warm light during golden hours (early morning and late afternoon). A dull overcast day is actually great for otter photography too as a wet otter is very challenging to expose correctly if the sun reflects off of the bright patches on the fur. On an overcast day there is less contrast and shadows making it easier to photograph them.
Avoid Flash: Flash can startle otters and alter their natural behaviour. Always rely on natural light.
Camera Settings
Ideally I would advise the following settings F7.1 and 1/1000s with Auto ISO. This will ensure that you always have a fast enough shutter speed to capture a sudden burst of movement or play and the aperture will help with depth of field, especially if the otter is close to you.
Ethical Considerations
Respect Wildlife
Maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing the otters. Use a telephoto lens to get close-up shots without encroaching on their space. Wait for the otter to come to you. You need patience and you need to be prepared to wait.
Follow Legal Regulations
Adhere to local wildlife photography guidelines. In Scotland, it is illegal to disturb or harass wildlife, including otters.
Leave No Trace
Ensure that you leave the habitat as you found it. Avoid littering and follow the principles of Leave No Trace.
Do not advertise Locations
If you are lucky enough to see and photograph an otter, be extremely careful if putting on Social Media. Do not disclose the exact location. For example, “Isle of Mull” rather than “Loch____ Isle of Mull” This helps ensure that there are not crowds of people in the same location disturbing one otter family. Otters can be seen anywhere in the prime locations listed above and with a little bit of luck and an understanding of basic otter behaviour everyone can see them.
Practical Tips and Tricks
Hiring a Local Guide
A local wildlife guide can significantly enhance your chances of spotting otters. They possess invaluable knowledge about the best locations and times for sightings.
Go on a Wildlife Photography Workshop
There are lots of photographers that run trips to photograph otters. Check out their websites look at their portfolio but ensure that they do things in an ethical way without causing disturbance to the otters.
Weather Preparedness
Scotland’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Always check the forecast and be prepared for sudden changes. Waterproof clothing and gear are essential.
Practice and Patience
Familiarize yourself with your camera settings and practice in similar environments. Patience is key; you may have to wait for hours to get the perfect shot.
Post-Processing Tips
Editing Software
Use software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop for post-processing. Adjust exposure, contrast, and sharpness to enhance your images. The contrast between the bright water and the dark otter can often be difficult to expose for, I always under expose to ensure that I do not blow any highlights on the water and then bring up the exposure on the darker areas in post processing.
Ethical Editing
While editing, ensure that the final image remains true to the natural scene. Avoid over-processing, which can lead to unnatural results. If you do a large crop mention this if you post the image on social media. This helps the viewer understand the challenges of otter photography and the fact that you can’t just walk up to an otter and take frame filling portraits.
Conclusion
Photographing otters in Scotland is a unique and rewarding experience. With the right planning, equipment, and techniques, you can capture stunning images of these fascinating creatures. Remember to always respect wildlife and their habitats to ensure they thrive for future generations to enjoy.
Read more on about responsible Otter Watching
If you are interested in joining me on an Otter Workshop then check out the details here or contact me for more information.