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5 January 2025TOP TIPS FOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
CAPTURE MORE THAN JUST A MOMENT ON SAFARI
Wildlife photography is more than just clicking the shutter at the right time. It's about capturing the essence of the wild, evoking emotion, and telling a story. At Wild Eye, we believe in transforming the way our guests see the world, helping them create impactful images that go beyond the ordinary. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, here are our top tips to take your wildlife photography to the next level.
UNDERSTAND YOUR SUBJECT
Great wildlife photography starts long before you pick up your camera. Spend time observing animal behaviour, understanding their habits, and predicting movements. The more you know, the better you can anticipate and position yourself for that perfect shot. Patience and observation are key, watch how a lioness stalks her prey, notice the warning signs of an elephant’s agitation, or learn the flight patterns of birds. By immersing yourself in the environment and tuning in to the rhythm of the wild, you’ll develop a deeper connection with your subject, which will inevitably translate into more compelling and authentic images.
LIGHT IS EVERYTHING
Get out on safari early and back late for the golden hours, just after sunrise and before sunset. These times usually offer the best natural light for photography. Soft, warm tones enhance your subject and add depth to your images, creating a magical atmosphere that’s hard to replicate at any other time of day. As the sun rises or sets, the changing light creates opportunities for dramatic silhouettes, long shadows, and golden backlighting that can transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary. Being out at these times also means you’re more likely to witness animals being active, whether it’s predators on the hunt or herbivores starting or ending their day.
COMPOSITION MATTERS
Most beginner photographers just point the camera at the subject, place it in the center, and snap away. Don’t do this! Composition is one of the most powerful tools in wildlife photography and mastering it will elevate your images from ordinary to extraordinary. Use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and negative space to create a more dynamic and visually appealing composition. Think about how you frame your subject. Look for interesting backdrops that complement the animal rather than distract from it. Natural frames like trees, rocks, or even the curve of a river can add context and depth. Layers in your image, foreground, subject, and background can create a sense of scale and immersion. Taking the time to compose thoughtfully will make your images more striking and memorable.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BACKGROUND
A great wildlife photograph isn’t just about the subject, it’s about how it’s framed within the environment. A cluttered background can detract from the beauty of your subject, no matter how perfectly composed the shot. It’s essential to pay close attention to the background to ensure that your subject stands out and isn’t overshadowed by elements that pull the viewer’s attention away. This might mean adjusting your position, changing your angle, or even waiting for the right moment when the background aligns in harmony with your subject. Look for clean, unobtrusive backdrops, open skies, blurred foliage, or distant landscapes, that help the subject pop and enhance the overall aesthetic of the image. A little bit of foresight and planning with the background can dramatically improve the impact of your wildlife photography. Remember, it’s often the subtle details in the background that can elevate an image from a snapshot to a true work of art.
FOCUS ON THE EYES
The eyes are the heart of any wildlife photograph and the windows to the soul. They draw the viewer in and convey emotion, from curiosity to intensity. Always ensure the eyes are in focus, as they are where the viewer’s attention naturally goes. A slight misfocus can make an image feel disconnected. Even in wider shots, a glimpse of eye contact can add depth and personality. Capturing the eyes’ expression can turn a simple photograph into a powerful story.
BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THE MOMENT
The best images come to those who wait. Instead of constantly snapping away at everything or rushing around in search of the next exciting moment, take your time with what you have. Patience allows you to truly observe your surroundings, understand the animals' behaviour, and anticipate their movements. By slowing down, you create the space to capture those fleeting moments, whether it's a yawn, a leap, or an intimate interaction between animals. This approach also gives you the opportunity to refine your observational skills, as mentioned in the first point. The more time you spend studying the scene, the better prepared you'll be to capture that perfect shot when it happens.
EXPERIMENT WITH SHUTTER SPEED (AND EVERYTHING ELSE)
Wildlife is inherently unpredictable, which makes mastering shutter speed an essential skill in wildlife photography. A fast shutter speed (1/1250s or higher) is crucial for freezing motion, particularly when capturing fast moving animals in action, like a cheetah sprinting or birds in flight. On the other hand, intentionally slowing down the shutter speed can create motion blur, adding an artistic touch to your shots, perfect for capturing the movement of flowing water or the graceful motion of animals like giraffes walking across the plains. A starting point for motion blur would be around 1/30s, but this will vary depending on how fast or slow your subject is moving. Experiment with different shutter speeds to find the balance that best conveys the energy and essence of your subject, while also keeping your shots sharp or intentionally blurred as desired. Portfolio diversity is important.
SHOOT FROM VARIOUS LEVELS
Getting down to your subject’s eye level creates a more intimate and engaging perspective, allowing the viewer to connect with the subject on a deeper level. Shooting from this angle brings a sense of equality between you and the animal, highlighting its personality and behavior in a way that feels more natural and immersive. When possible, take it a step further and go even lower to create a unique and dramatic effect. This perspective also allows you to capture more dynamic backgrounds, such as the sky, the grass, or the horizon, which can add depth and context to the image. The result is often a more compelling and striking photograph that draws the viewer into the scene.
However, shooting from higher levels can also offer distinct benefits. It can give you a wider, more expansive view of the scene, especially when photographing herds or large landscapes. A higher perspective can also help isolate your subject from distractions, allowing you to capture patterns or behavior from a more distant, unobstructed angle. It offers a sense of scale and can provide a dramatic view of the terrain, offering a different narrative or context to the moment. The result is often a broader, more cinematic composition that contrasts well with images taken at eye level.
TELL A STORY
A single, well composed image has the power to tell an entire story, encapsulating a moment in time that speaks volumes. To create these impactful images, it’s essential to look for moments that evoke emotion and connect with the viewer. Whether it’s the playful energy of a lion cub frolicking with its siblings, the dramatic tension of a wildebeest herd crossing the Mara River, or the peaceful grandeur of an elephant silhouetted against a vibrant sunset, each of these moments can stir deep emotions. These images go beyond merely documenting the scene, they communicate the essence of life in the wild, the challenges, the triumphs, and the beauty of nature. The best wildlife photographers understand that they are storytellers first, capturing not just a visual record but an emotional narrative that resonates. They observe carefully, anticipate the right moments, and use their technical skills to frame the scene in a way that tells a compelling story, often leaving the viewer with a sense of awe or reflection long after they’ve looked away from the photograph. A hidden tip, in my experience this is more ofter achieved when shooting wider. Put the big glass down and see the magic happen.
DON'T JUST CHASE THE BIG FIVE
While everyone gravitates towards capturing the iconic shots, those of the “Big Five” or other large, charismatic animals, some of the most compelling and memorable images come from the smaller, often overlooked species or unique behaviours. These creatures can offer a wealth of character, beauty, and storytelling potential that’s easy to miss in the pursuit of grand moments. By shifting your focus to animals like birds, reptiles, or even insects, you open yourself up to an entirely different realm of photography that can add incredible diversity and depth to your portfolio.
Jumping back to the very beginning, wildlife photography is about more than just documenting what you see, it’s about creating images that speak to the heart. The way an elephant calf stays up close to its mother, the intensity in a predator’s eyes just before a hunt, or the stillness of a sunset over the endless plains. These moments tell stories of survival, connection, and wonder. When you focus on storytelling, your images become more than just pictures, they become windows into the soul of the wild. Using the above tips and practicing to a point where you understand your gear inside out, knowing how to quickly adjust settings ensures you never miss those fleeting moments. But beyond technical skill, it’s crucial to enjoy the experience, sometimes the most memorable moments happen when you put the camera down and simply soak in the magic of the where you find yourself.
At Wild Eye, we don’t just take you to incredible wildlife destinations, we help you see them differently. Our photographic safaris are designed to elevate your skills, teach you to think creatively, and give you access to some of the most spectacular wildlife encounters on the planet.
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