To take National Geographic quality wild animal pictures takes days of patience which few of us can afford. However, we can afford to be an opportunist. Some key points are:

1) Use the telephoto (optical) setting. One is obviously not going to be able to get too close to the subject.

2) Lighting is seldom going to be perfect. If the camera is pointing into the Sun, make sure the lens is shaded. To get the jack rabbit photo in this tutorial, the photographer stood in the shadow of a tree trunk.

3) Do not use flash. It is ineffective at telephoto distances and it will assure that you do not get an opportunity to take more pictures of the subject.

4) Use a tripod, please. What, you don't carry one with you! The jack rabbit picture was taken in poor lighting, one-half hour before sunset. The poor lighting increased the length of the exposure and the telephoto setting magnified the motion of the camera during the exposure. This is a recipe for a blurry picture.

So make a tripod out of your two elbows and forehead. Place both elbows against the ribcage, camera resting in the palm of the left hand and the right hand grasping the camera. Hold your breath and -- squeeze the shutter button.