I am a Skilled Photographer and These Are My Safari Picture Secrets and techniques

I realized my first lesson about safari images the exhausting manner. There I used to be, at a small airstrip in Botswana, shopping for an additional airplane ticket for my digicam bag. I’d uncared for to think about the strict baggage weight restrictions on most bush planes, and I used to be over the restrict. (It was fortunate that the airplane may accommodate the additional bag in any respect.) 

By the top of the journey, I hadn’t touched the wide-angle lens I packed; the tripod in my bag was unused. Over 10 days, I additionally bought a real-world training in digicam settings, working in dusty circumstances, and with the very actual risk of operating out of house on my reminiscence playing cards. And to suppose that I had already been doing this for a dwelling for a number of years. 

Since that fateful first journey, I’ve gone on a number of different, extra profitable safaris—throughout which I’ve honed the next methods for maximizing my time within the discipline.

Select correctly. 

Whereas I’m cautious about overpacking, one factor I received’t compromise on is touring with two digicam our bodies. I carry two Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, an Alpha 7R III and an Alpha 7R V. I match each with a distinct lens so I don’t must swap lenses in the course of no matter motion I’m making an attempt to seize. I sometimes use a 24-70 mm for wider photographs of the panorama, animal herds, and creatures that come shut, and a 200-600 mm tremendous telephoto for tighter photographs. I additionally deliver alongside a 70-200 mm, simply in case. 

Be ready.

In terms of uncommon sightings—a cheetah feasting on a contemporary kill, a hyena, a sable antelope—you may solely have a break up second to seize the second. “Too usually, visitors arrive in Africa with brand-new digicam gear they’ve by no means used,” says Shaun Stanley, the founding father of Stanley Safaris. “Follow previous to your arrival and take into account investing in a images course.”

Maintain it clear.

I at all times carry Zeiss lens wipes, microfiber cleansing cloths, and a rocket air blaster for eradicating mud with out the danger of scratches. My lenses are additionally fitted with UV filters, which defend them from scratches and harsh sunshine.

Keep regular.

For sharp pictures, stability is vital—however a conventional tripod is cumbersome contained in the confines of a safari automobile. I’ve realized to like the Kinesis SafariSack, a beanbag-style pouch you possibly can relaxation on the facet of a Land Rover or over a seat. “Many lodges and camps have them, however you possibly can by no means make sure, so I at all times deliver my very own,” says Ian Proctor, a member of the T+L A-Listing and president of Final Africa Safaris. “I pack it empty after which ask the lodge for some beans to fill it once I arrive.”

Carry further reminiscence.

I’ve gotten the dreaded “SD card full” message many instances, and it at all times appears to occur once I’m capturing some thrilling second. “It’s not out of the norm to shoot upwards of a thousand pictures per day,” says Julian Harrison, one other A-Listing advisor and the CEO of Premier Excursions. Many lodges inventory further reminiscence playing cards, however I’ve but to discover a stable digicam store within the bush—and also you don’t need to run in need of house mid-game drive. 

Know your settings.

Each safari is completely different, however I are inclined to depend on a couple of frequent settings. To seize fast-moving wildlife, I exploit fast shutter speeds, sometimes 1/1000 or sooner. Burst mode, which takes a collection of rapid-fire photographs, can also be important. Quick shutter speeds usually name for greater ISO settings, however an excessive amount of sensitivity can create “noise,” so I attempt to keep at 1600 or decrease. When taking close-up or zoomed-in images, I at all times deal with the animal’s eyes, utilizing an f-stop between f/2.8 and f/6.3 to present a shallow depth of discipline that makes for a lovely blurred background. 

Insure your rig.

Whether or not your gear value $2,000 or $20,000, you’ll need to defend that funding: camera-specific plans from Lemonade, Progressive, and State Farm cowl your gear nearly anyplace on this planet. Some house owner’s insurance policies additionally embody protection.

Go it alone.

“In the event you’re critical about images, I recommend paying further for a personal safari automobile,” Stanley says. “That manner you possibly can deliver all of your gear with out imposing on different visitors.” 

Choose the appropriate vacation spot.

With their plentiful recreation and spectacular surroundings, big-name nationwide parks are well-known for a cause—but additionally draw bigger crowds. “Photographers ought to hunt down non-public concessions, the place not more than three autos can collect round a specific animal sighting,” Stanley says. These additionally are inclined to have fewer restrictions on entry, that means you possibly can arrive earlier than dawn or keep out after sundown to seize wildlife within the dreamy mild of daybreak or nightfall.

Be current.

I’m actually responsible of spending an excessive amount of time behind the lens, so I’ve made a degree of, every so often, merely placing down my digicam and soaking all of it in.

A model of this story first appeared within the July 2025 subject of Journey + Leisure beneath the headline “Animal Magic.”