Before any tips for wildlife photography, a quote:

 “Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything” ~ Aaron Siskind

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever. It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything ~ Aaron Siskind. Photograph by Gavin Lautenbach

How to give the best tips for wildlife photography? Aaron Siskind had the right idea. So often, we get caught up in the technical side of photography- worrying about what ISO, shutter speed or aperture we’re on, and how an incorrect set-up might make us miss the shot of a lifetime. Don’t get me wrong – the theory and practice of photography is important, as I outlined in my last few posts.

But, for me, the beauty of wildlife photography lies in the balance between getting the technical side of things right while still remaining present in the moment while you’re out experiencing nature, and reconnecting with your true nature at the same time. Today, I wanted to move onto the softer side of photography. To chat about the more artistic and emotional side of photography.

My top 5 Quick Tips for Wildlife Photography

1. Decide on your objective of your photographs, and let that guide you

“What do you want to get out of your photographs?” That’s my very first question to every photographer that I meet. Have you brought your camera along (or rented one for the first time on arrival at Londolozi) to capture images as to remember your time here? Are you an enthusiast that wishes to use your time in the bush to practice your skills? Hoping to get some great shots to take home to show off to your friends and family?

Or are you a photographer who places great emphasis on getting ‘the shot of a lifetime’ during your stay, interested in post processing your images, and who will prioritise your photographic experience over all else? Let the answer to that question guide you when you pick up your camera, and guide you in the balance between photographing and experiencing nature.

Let your objective guide you. Whether you want to use your camera to simply capture memories, or you want to get the shot of your life, let that help you balance between photography and experience. Photograph by Amy Attenbourgh

2. Capture the moment, but live the moment, too

This one of our best tips for wildlife photography. Depending on what your objective is, you may find yourself caught up in changing the settings on your camera, or searching for the best composition, or shooting so many shots just in case you miss the best of the day. Taking photographs in the bush is an incredible experience in and of itself, but remember to experience the moments in the bush, too.

If the light has faded, and you’re battling to get the shot that you really want, why not put your camera down and let your senses take over. Smell the dust as it settles, feel the early morning mist in the air, absorb your surroundings and feel the ebb and flow of the bushveld all around you. Capture your memories on your camera, but don’t forget to truly live your Safari.

Extremely testing lighting conditions. By playing with shutter speed, James Tyrrell captured this dramatic image. If you are not as practiced with adjusting your settings to capture your surroundings with speed, place your camera on the seat next to you and take in the action first hand.

The early morning light can be a difficult time to shoot in the bush. Instead, it may be the best idea to simply take in your surroundings and experience the magic of sunrise. Photograph by Sean Cresswell

3. Compose for the reason you picked up the camera in the first place

Photographic style is similar to personality- varying greatly from person to person. As with art, what is beautiful to one may be mundane and pointless to another. A moment will stir you to pick up your camera in order to capture it forever, as you remember it, through your eyes. It may be the swish of a Zebra tail through the long grass as the golden flecks of light bounce around the grass, or the slow, rhythmic browsing of a breeding herd of elephant.

Whatever stirred you to pick up your camera should be the focus of your shot. And, for you, that may be something that doesn’t make sense to anyone else. It may be a shot that cuts off an ear, or chops off four feet. For me, the magic lies in those differences in perception. Let what stirred you to pick up your camera guide your composition, and let that composition tell the story that stirred you.

Burchell’s Zebra grazing in the warm glow of the afternoon light. What stirred me to pick up my camera was how the stark stripes of the Zebra contrasted so beautifully with the soft golden flecks of the grass as it caught the light. While the Zebra are seemingly imperfect in composition, the serene moment was moving. Photograph by Amanda Ritchie

This rather odd angle of an adolescent elephant, part of a large breeding herd who surrounded our vehicle while they quietly and rhythmically grazed the afternoon away, would not necessarily be exciting to all people. What moved me to take this shot was the angle of the ear, and the juxtaposition of the fine hair on the Elephant’s head next to the sheer size of the ear. I also loved the shadow that his ear cast over his skin. Photograph by Amanda Ritchie

A good example of an imperfect shot, but a shot that told a story for me. This Lioness from the Styx pride was lying quietly on the road next to our vehicle, but sat up and started grooming. Occasionally she would pause her efforts and look in our direction, retaining our attention in entirety. While her ear is cut off, this shot will always tell a story for me. A memory of a majestic and powerful creature who allowed us to share the afternoon with her. Photograph by Amanda Ritchie

4. Don’t get too caught up on manual – move with the pace of the wild in auto if need be

While the general pace at Londolozi is one that supports rest and relaxation, the pace of the wild while out on safari can be pretty fast sometimes. After all, you may experience that once-in-a-lifetime sighting of a cheetah running through an open area at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Mix up your shooting style by playing around in manual, but be ready to switch over to auto if you feel more comfortable letting the camera decide which settings to use. Enjoy the fact that you are going to capture wildlife at it’s best with none of the stress.

Your time in the bush is the best time to practice your photography skills, and spend time shooting in manual. However, if you are still learning, or don’t feel 100% comfortable to adjust your settings quickly, don’t be shy to shoot in Auto. Then you can move with the dynamics of the bush, and shoot at speed if that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes around. Here, a moment in time is frozen perfectly as a brave cheetah chases down a sizeable male warthog. Photograph by James Tyrrell

Let the camera decide which settings to use when the pace picks up. It lets you enjoy the fact that you are going to capture wildlife at it’s best with none of the stress. Photograph by James Tyrrell

5. Capture the whole package

Don’t forget to get some shots of the beautiful landscapes, and the small creatures that cross your path. The big cats close-ups are a must when out on safari. However zooming out to capture the scene of a lone giraffe quietly strolling in front of you adds to those all-important memories of your safari.

A European Roller sits in the road while we looked onto a dramatic horizon with storm clouds closing in. For me, zooming out to capture this scene was more powerful than getting a close-up of the roller on the road. Photograph by Amanda Ritchie

A squirrel stands guard while it alarms to let everyone know that it is awake. A small moment that occurs fairly often in the bush, but one that tells a significant story. Photograph by Amanda Ritchie

Taking in the scenery. While there are no animals in this shot, the sea of grass and sky captured my attention, stirring me to pick up my camera. Photograph by Amanda Ritchie

A lone Giraffe walks across the horizon, under a dusty African sky. Photograph by Trevor McCall-Peat

One of the best tips for wildlife photography … is to trust yourself!

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what it is that you want to achieve with your photography. I, once again, lean on Siskind’s words of wisdom when he says:

“As photographers, we must learn to relax our beliefs. Move on objects with your eye straight on, to the left, around on the right. Watch them grow large as they approach, group and regroup as you shift your position. Relationships gradually emerge and sometimes assert themselves with finality. And that’s your picture” ~ Aaron Siskind

As photographers, we must learn to relax our beliefs. Move on objects with your eye straight on, to the left, around on the right. Watch them grow large as they approach, group and regroup as you shift your position. Relationships gradually emerge and sometimes assert themselves with finality. And that’s your picture ~ Aaron Siskind. Photograph by James Tyrrell

Learn more about Photographic Safari

At Londolozi, wildlife photography holds an important place. We use it as a way to reconnect with nature, with the animals that inhabit the Game Reserve with us. This is why this article ain’t the only one we wrote about photography. If ever you want to learn more about wildlife photography, please feel free to consult our Guide to Wildlife Photography.

If you want to know what wildlife photography is at Londolozi, check out our Photographic Safari experience page !

Read more about:

• Your Wildlife Photography questions answered
• 6 Simple Photography Questions you were afraid to ask
• 5 Tips for Soulful Photography
• 5 Tips for Summer Photography
• 6 Top Tips on Photography from Londolozi
• 6 Tricks to Bird Photography

What tips for wildlife photography would you suggest? Share your thoughts with us below. 

Written by Amanda Ritchie – Photography Studio Manager