Snapping on safari: 5 tips to get the perfect shot
June 27, 2018
Source African safaris are the absolute pinnacle of what the natural world has to offer, and it is important to experience every facet of them. You need to make sure you are heading into your safari fully prepared to have the time of your life, and this means knowing what to expect. Yes, almost all safaris you go on are going to be different, but an adventure is half of the fun! What you need to know is what you should be bringing to enhance your safari experience. It’s fair to say that capturing your adventure through pictures and video is a priceless way to document this amazing journey. There are many reasons why safari photography is so important, and you want to try to see as many amazing creatures as you can, while you still can! As many as 35,000 elephants are killed in Africa every year, and this is the tip of the iceberg! Taking snaps on safari gives you a chance to preserve the majestic beauty of these creatures, so here are 5 tips to get the best shot!
Choose the Right Gear
Forget the term ‘All gear, no idea,’ when it comes to safari photography it is vitally important that you have the right gear. Interchangeable lenses are your friend here because you don’t want to have to be carrying too much stuff around with you. In fact, if you get the chance, you could set up 2 cameras, one with a long lens, and one with a wide lens. This is going to help you capture really crucial moments as soon as they happen, and you don’t have to miss things by switching over lenses. There are plenty of lenses you can choose from, but the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens is considered one of the best choices on the market for capturing safari wildlife.
Make Sure You Get the Right Location
It’s all well and good having the best gear money can buy, but if there is nothing to photograph it will all have been in vain. So, you have to think about the best possible location for your safari snaps. Taking a safari in Uganda is a great choice because you have 10 national parks to choose from. But, you might also like to consider South Africa, and, in particular, Madikwe game reserve, where you will have the opportunity to snap the Big 5, over 60 species of mammal, and more than 350 species of stunning bird as well. Getting the right location to allow for excellent safari snaps is so important.
Travel Professionally
By this we mean don’t try to organize a budget safari experience yourself. This is something that might save you money, but your experience will certainly suffer as a result. Quality travel advisors arrange private safari tours in exotic places like Tanzania, and these are vital for your photography opportunities. Furthermore, professional guides have a great understanding of the area, and the wildlife, and can ensure you’re in the right place at the right time for the snaps you want.
Light is King
As you will no doubt be aware if you are a hobby photographer, light is crucial for taking the perfect picture. In fact, the perfect time to shoot is considered to be around 2 hours prior to sunset, so you’re going to need to plan your photography session accordingly. Similarly, if you are keen to get some shots of the safe surroundings of the safari camp, it is important to wake as early as you can. Basically, you want to avoid the influence of the Sun too much when you are trying to get the right photos, especially when it comes to the animals.
Patience is Key
Safari photography is a lot like fishing in the sense that you could be out there for hours waiting for just the right shot. It might take a long while to get just a few snaps, but if they are the best possible quality, it will have been worth it. If you’re going to be more patient, you have to make sure you are as comfortable as you can be. This means ensuring you have plenty of fluids and sunblock, and that you’ve brought a hat. You need to be attentive and alert as you wait for the ideal moment, and being more comfortable can help you with that. These are five of the essentials you need to keep in mind when you want to capture the perfect safari snaps. You have to document your experiences in style, and this is the best way of achieving that. It is so important that you come up with techniques that are going to help you capture the ultimate pictures, and these are 5 things to consider that are going to help you with that.
