I remember the excitement I felt buying my first camera a couple of years back but soon realised after having sat down opened the box that I had know idea where to start. What did it all mean; aperture, ISO and shutter speeds. It was all so foreign but left me determined to learn. Photography is something I have always been interested in but was never quite sure on how to develop my own style. I remember reading an article a couple of years ago about this very topic and that is where my real passion for photography began. It is a very slow process and the key is patience. Most things in life require time and effort and photography is no different. The more time you spend experimenting and testing new skills, the more you learn and the better your work will become.

I started from the beginning, working through the process of learning what my camera did, how to change settings, what the different settings did and once I had the basic knowledge, it was all about building onto it and pushing my boundaries . It is important not to try everything at once but to rather learn one thing at a time, practise it until you understand it and then move on to the next step. I cannot tell you how many hours I have spent sitting in my garden taking pictures of random things trying out all the new things I learn from day to day.

The beauty of photography is that there are so many different elements that no two photos are the same and even your own style will change as you evolve as a photographer. Photography is not just about taking a picture of something you like but to rather take a picture that speaks without using words. One thing I enjoy doing is looking at other photographers work for inspiration, discovering new techniques, analysing the angles or use of light to further improve on my own understanding and ultimately develop my own style.

When it comes to wildlife photography there are so many elements to take into consideration such as light, landscape, subject, area, composition and general conditions as well as camera settings which can potentially change at any given moment.

I find myself picturing certain moments that I would like to capture and by doing this I am kept thinking and alive to every opportunity. Even though it is virtually impossible to recreate the exact image which you had in your mind, you have a base of what to look for and how to get that image you seek.

Most importantly, try and take pictures as often as you can because practise makes perfect. Take your camera everywhere you go, master the basics and then experiment in different areas using different techniques. By doing this you will expand your knowledge, the more you learn the more you can go beyond your comfort zone and you will more often than not surprise yourself and soon find your own style developing.

Here are a few of my latest images that I have been experimenting with. You can check out my page at https://www.facebook.com/trevor.mccallpeat?fref=ts to view more.

In this image, I wanted to focus on the textures of the elephant’s skin

The spiral shape of the trunk and the juxtaposing angle of the tusk make for an interesting shot

I wanted to focus on and draw attention to one element of the leopard, abstracting the tail and highlighting the rosette pattern

By exaggerating the surrounding darkness, Marthly males intense stare becomes far more profound

Clever use of light and contrast makes Mashaba’s face glow golden

Considering the subject, the use of sidelight creates an element of danger

I used backlighting for this shot so that the fine outline of the leopard in the darkness created a stark but mystical feel

Regality!

I have enjoyed trying out this style with a variety of subjects. The young hyena’s long fur added a ‘softness’ to the image while her characteristic sloping back shaped the composition

Which ones are your favourite?

Written and photographed by: Trevor Ryan McCall-Peat