Point, Shoot and Pray: 6 Best Safari Photo Tips

“Photographic pros and amateurs alike can all learn from each other,” says wildlife photographer Chris Martin.  Chris and I are both bloggers for Africa Geographic – one of my favorite magazines. For this post I asked Chris Martin to share his six top safari photography tips for capturing great photos of wildlife.

 

Though I’ve been traveling to Africa for 30 years, I’ve never paid much attention to how to take a good safari photo.
PSP (point, shoot and pray) has been my photographic motto.

How to take a good safari photo alluded me.

But now that I’m writing stories and posting images for my own, as well as one of Africa’s top magazine blogs, it’s time to pay attention to the quality of my pictures.

That’s why I was delighted to find Chris’ top ten list for taking better photos of animals.

Read on to find six of his suggestions I find most helpful for taking a good photo, whether you are on an African safari or not.

 

Chris Martin’s 6 Tips on How to Take Great Safari Photos:

1. Get familiar with the workings of your camera

Chris’ first suggestion is probably obvious, but half the people on the safaris I lead (including me) have not taken the time to know their camera.

Chris says, “You need to understand how to switch between functions almost blindfolded. Often you will need to make adjustments to your shooting settings whilst the african animal is in the frame … easy to do if you know the location of all the function buttons, impossible if you don’t.”

2. An image is nothing if it isn’t razor sharp

“Forget post processing and the sharpening tool. If you are sloppy with your focusing you will spoil your image. This is probably the most common fault in most images I’m asked to review,” says Chris. He suggests using a camera support: either a tripod, monopod or a bean bag (if shooting from a vehicle). “I rarely hand hold a camera when working from my safari vehicle. When you settle into position on your sighting and are getting ready to shoot, turn off the engine as even the vibrations of the vehicle can potentially ruin a great shot,” he cautions. Remembering only this one tip will help you take good safari photos.

 

3. Get dirty and shoot from low down 

According to Chris, “Perspective is everything, and so often we become accustomed to having to shoot from above – a position that is generally unflattering. When you can, shoot from below the eye level of your subject. Try it, and see the difference.”

 

4. Consider your foreground, background and horizon

Always look at “the space behind your subject to see what else is in the image (do the same for the foreground). Consider whether you want the background to be in focus, or blurry. Be careful of sticks, branches etc in your foreground that could “grow out” of your image and potentially ruin your shot. Finally, if there is a horizon in your composition, make sure it’s straight,” says Chris.

5. Grab your first shot … and compose your second 

“As I approach wildlife, I always get a ‘grab shot’”, says Chris. “Once you’ve done that, move in closer and compose your next safari photos more creatively, using as many angles as possible and looking for unique ways to highlight the animals most distinctive features … even if the animal flees, you have one photo already in the can.”

 

The next safari photo tip will make every photo you take better.

6. The animal’s eye is your focal point: 

“The expression from an animal’s eye can make or break a safari photo. You should not only have the eye as your primary focal point, but should also look to use the available light to highlight this feature and really make your image stand out. Either way, the eye is always the sharpest point of any world-class wildlife image.”

This is hard to accomplish sometimes because the animal is looking away, or the light is not right, but when you can get their eye in the right light, you will understand why this is one of the most important tips for how to capture outstanding photos on safari.

 

I design the photo safari workshop itineraries for Jackson, Wyoming wildlife photographer Henry Holdsworth.  Join him to really take your safari photography to a whole other level.

To learn more about his next photographic safari in Africa, contact me, LoriSavingWild@gmail.com