Capture It Yourself: The Stories Behind the Shots

The Shot: Something Different in the Serengeti

"How to capture something a bit different on an African safari? It’s a tough ask, after all millions upon millions of photos have already been taken. The wide open spaces of the southern Serengeti offer all sorts of exciting opportunities. For this shot I mounted my camera and remote trigger with a wide-angle lens on an extendable pole and lowered it out of the vehicle window, to achieve the all important low eye-level angle. The young lion’s curiosity did the rest - he couldn’t resist coming to take a look into the lens. But what really makes the image, is the lioness wandering through the background - she adds balance and a greater sense of depth to the photo and it makes such a difference.”

Nick Garbutt
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Nikon Z9, 24–120mm
f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO 400, remote trigger

How You Can Capture It: Join Nick on our tour during the Serengeti Migration and learn how to anticipate behaviour, refine composition, and capture images that go beyond the expected.

Serengeti Migration, Tanzania

Trip Highlights

• Potentially tens of thousands of wildebeest, zebra & other plains species
• Intimate encounters with big cats, particularly lions & cheetahs
• Rich & varied birdwatching
• Mature bull ‘tuskers’ elephants & possibly black rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater
• Atmospheric and iconic landscapes at sunrise and sunset
• Maximum four clients per vehicle, so plenty of space for photography kit
• No restriction on the distance covered in the parks each day

The Shot: The Art of Anticipation

“With bulging eyes and an inquisitive nature, jumping spiders are high on many macro photographers’ wish lists. They rely on exceptional vision to judge the perfect moment to leap and strike. Many are only half a centimetre in length and present a real photographic challenge. Yet with patience, it becomes deeply rewarding to anticipate their movements and capture decisive moments. Encounters like this are what make rainforest photography so special, the sheer density of life means there's always something extraordinary at your feet.”

Alex Hyde
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Canon R5, MP-E 65mm macro lens
f/9, 1/200, ISO 320, lit with an external flash (Canon 600EX-RT) with a homemade diffuser

How You Can Capture It: Join Alex on our Andes to Amazon Rainforest Photography Workshop in Ecuador and learn how to anticipate behaviour and capture the hidden details of one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

Andes to Amazon Rainforest Photography Workshop

Trip Highlights

• Extensive itinerary exploring the intriguing habitats of Ecuador
• A wide array of photographic opportunities for various subjects
• Possibility of photographing numerous captivating birds including Andean cock-of-the-rock, sword-billed hummingbird, hoatzin & many more
• Mammals including two and three-toed sloth & various primates
• Excellent macro opportunities throughout the itinerary
• Capture images of an incredible diversity of reptiles, insects & amphibians

The Shot: Drama in the Pantanal

"The Brazilian Pantanal is widely known as the hub for jaguar activity and when you first set foot in the area and push off in your boat for the day, you instantly realise why this place is so special. During the dry season, animals like caiman are forced closer together. This allows you to not only see more jaguars but also the possibility of a kill like this one here from a previous photography tour I led."

Ben Sutcliffe
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Nikon Z9, Nikon 500mm f/4
f/4 1/1000 ISO 500

How You Can Capture It: Join Ben in the Brazilian Pantanal in search of Brazil's Big Five and learn how to position yourself for powerful wildlife encounters and capture bucket-list moments that few photographers witness.

Brazil's Big Five Photo Safari

Trip Highlights

• Opportunity to see & photograph a huge variety of rarely seen wildlife
• Focus on the Big Five: jaguar, giant river otter, Brazilian tapir, giant anteater & hyacinth macaw
• Plenty of time to practice and perfect various photography skills & techniques
• Diverse habitats & wildlife photography opportunities in a diverse range of settings 
• Chance to photograph many other mammals including ocelot, crab-eating fox, southern tamandua, yellow armadillo & pampas & marsh deer
• Outstanding bird photography with up to five species of macaw, jabiru stork, greater rhea, great horned owl, great pottoo, sunbittern & agmai heron.

The Shot: Mana Magic

"The floodplains of Mana Pools National Park are a photographer’s dream. Heading out of the vehicle and walking here is unlike any other experience in Africa. Unusually, the wildlife is used to people making their approach on foot and allow incredibly close encounters. For me, it's the remarkable hues of golden light, combined with the chance to photograph African wild dogs that's so unique. Just imagine shafts of orange and yellow light, filtering through the canopy, illuminating a pack of dogs as they play and kick up dust. This isn't a dream, this is what makes me yearn to be laying on the dusty ground of Mana Pools again and again."

Bret Charman
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Canon 5D III, Canon 500mm  
f/4, 1/1250 ISO 1600

How You Can Capture It: Join Bret in Mana Pools National Park and walk amongst wild dog and elephants, capturing intimate encounters in the golden light and atmospheric drama that makes this one of Africa’s most iconic photographic destinations.

Mana Pools: Wild Dogs & Elephants Photography

Trip Highlights

• See & photograph Victoria Falls at sunset
• Witness the incredible natural beauty of Mana Pools
• Stay in a riverside camp with plenty of wildlife
• Enjoy photographic vehicle safaris & walks allowing incredible wildlife photography opportunities
• Experience wild dog & elephant encounters on foot
• Opportunity to go on a canoe safari along the Zambezi

Browse all our wildlife photography holidays, order a copy of our photography brochure, or to find out more about a specific tour contact our expert team today.