Anybody can get lucky.
Anybody can go out on safari and get a fantastic wildlife shot. This Black Rhino, which is a very special sighting, walked across the road right in front of us. All I had to do was pick up the camera and shoot away. It is a great reference shot but fantastic wildlife photograph? Not necessarily but a lucky shot, absolutely.
The challenge is to go out there and do it again and again and again. Without relying on luck.
Yeah, yeah I know. Wildlife photography definitely ‘requires’ a certain amount of luck. Even more so than other types of photography because your subject, most of the time, just won’t do exactly what you want them to do.
If you are going to rely on luck you are going to get very frustrated when you go out there. Guaranteed!
Go out there with the intention of creating wildlife photographs. Set yourself a goal, whatever it is. You might not find what you are looking for but you will look at everything differently. You will look for photographic opportunities. You will have patience (hopefully) to work a scene and get great wildlife photographs!
After the Black Rhino above walked across the road, we decided to hang around for a while as he was extremely chill and we were all intent on getting some wildlife photographs. Our patience paid off and we spent the next 15 minutes taking pictures of an extremely endangered animal. Great privilege. Great images.
Next time you head out on safari with your camera, have a goal. The options are endless and could include:
- Numbers: Work a subject and shoot 5 different images of each animal.
- Color: Choose a color to include in every shot.
- Texture: Try and shoot only textures.
If you head out with the intention of creating images, of photographing wildlife and nature, you will be looking at things in a more ‘photographic’ way meaning you will be ready when opportunity presents itself. And as I have said before, there are photo opportunities everywhere!
I guess the bottom line would be intent, patience and luck (of course!) but you can never negate the need for sound technical knowledge. Yeah, you need to know how to use your camera! 
See ya tomorrow!
Gerry
This post was originally syndicated from
Site : Photo-Africa.
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Tags: photography, syndicated, Tips
