Our Wildlife Photography Tour Leaders have shared the stories behind a selection of bucket-list images that are genuinely achievable on our photography holidays, revealing the conditions, techniques and equipment that can help and inspire you to capture your own.
"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.
“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.
"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.
"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.
"Saunders Island in the Falklands just does something special when the light drops. This was right at sunset, with the wind whipping sand across the beach so it started to lift and drift like mist. I was lying flat on the ground watching this lone penguin making its way through it, and every now and then it would just fade in and out of view. For a second it honestly looked like it wasn’t even on the beach anymore, more like it was walking on clouds in that warm, golden light. It’s those little moments you can’t plan, when light and conditions come together for a few seconds, that keep pulling me back to places like this."
Kevin Morgans
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Canon R3, Canon 100-500mm
f/5, 1/3200 ISO1600
How You Can Capture It: Join Kevin in the Falkland Islands, where the wildlife is approachable on foot (within respectable distances), and learn how to use a wide-angle lens to capture the stunning landscapes and immense seabird colonies.
“For years, I dreamt of photographing the perfect big cat photo from a hide, putting in hundreds of hours across countless nights with the belief that one night, eventually, everything would align. Then came this night. Just before dawn, at Kenya’s Lentorre Lodge, movement appeared at the edge of the waterhole. A lioness stepped out from the shadows and, behind her, five cubs followed. They approached the water together and, for a brief moment, everything stopped. Six lions crouching side by side, perfectly positioned. In that instant, I knew this was different. Not just another sighting, but the reward for patience and persistence. Six lions. One fleeting moment. The image that made every hour in the hide worth it. If that wasn't enough, to complete the week we also enjoyed a rare opportunity to photograph a caracal who came to drink!”
Sean Weekly
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Nikon Z9 Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR S lens
F2.8, ISO 6400, 1/160secs
How You Can Capture It: Join Sean on our wildlife photography holiday in Kenya's Rift Valley and capture some of Africa's most iconic wildlife under the silence of the night.
"It’s early morning, and we’re surrounded by mist and dew-covered grasses with time to search for roosting butterflies and capture shots of them in various locations and light conditions. We'd been photographing this pair of silver studded blues for some time, before the sun came up and completely changed the image. The sun on the butterflies was too bright, so we shaded them and allowed light in behind to create a beautiful, colourful backdrop. The freedom and time to experiment is such a luxury and makes this trip different to others, where you have less control over the situation. Bulgaria is one of my highlights of the year."
Emma Healey
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Canon R5, 100-500mm
f/11, 1/125, ISO 640
How You Can Capture It: Join Emma on our Bulgaria Macro Photography tour to learn the language of light and timing when capturing macro subjects closer to home.
“I’ve been photographing wildlife from hides in southern Hungary for many years. They offer dazzling perspectives (including treetop, water-level and night-time shooting) in some truly wonderful settings. They're comfortable, designed specifically for photographers (one-way glass, fabulous backgrounds etc.) and set in a hotspot for strikingly healthy wildlife populations. Depending on the season, we shoot everything from otters, ground squirrels and hares to white-tailed eagles, goshawks and black woodpeckers. This is a picture of a wild beaver taken on my most recent trip.”
Mark Carwardine
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Canon EOS R5 Mark II - RF100-300mm f2.8 lens with 1.4x extender (shot at 140mm)
F4, ISO 2000, 1/640secs
How You Can Capture It: Join Mark on our Wildlife Photography in Hungary holiday and maximise your time in bespoke hides to capture a stunning portfolio of images.
"MalaMala Game Reserve is renowned for its abundant predator population and fascinating interspecies interactions. After a leopard-filled morning and afternoon, we departed a buffalo sighting as the light dimmed and encountered a coalition of four male lions sleeping. We waited for them to wake, when a lone bull elephant came wandering through and disturbed them for us. As this male raised his head, I utilised the side light provided by another vehicle to capture this image."
Jordan Fry
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Sony A1 II, Sony 400m F2.8 GM OSS lens
F2.8, ISO 2500, 1/100secs
How You Can Capture It: Join Jordan in South Africa's MalaMala Game Reserve and experience the drama that accompanies exceptional predator density in a world-class safari destination.
"During autumn in Finland, brown bears enter hyperphagia, a period of intense feeding before hibernation, and their activity reaches its peak. Against a backdrop of vibrant russets and golds, this magnificent male emerged from the forest edge. His prominent shoulder hump and rich chestnut coat lit evenly as he sauntered by. The combination of heightened bear activity and the presence of other predators like wolves, wolverine and eagles, make this a spectacular time to visit this vast area of European wilderness."
Harry Read
Wildlife Photography Tour Leader
Canon R6, Canon 500mm F4 lens
F4, ISO 2000, 1/640secs, 5700K white balance
How You Can Capture It: Join Harry on our Boreal Predators Photography in Autumn tour where you can capture stellar images of Finland's elusive predators in one of Europe’s last strongholds for apex wildlife.
Updated on June 5, 2026
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.
If you're inspired by this article, you may be interested in the following:
Group Tour
Witness the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and other game around the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem - truly one of the world’s greatest wildlife wonders. Accompanied by wildlife photographer Nick Garbutt, daily vehicle safaris will take you close to the action. Find Out More about Serengeti Migration
Group Tour
Explore the Mindo Cloud Forest, the Amazon Rainforest and the rugged landscapes of the Andes in company of wildlife photographers Nick Garbutt and Alex Hyde in search of the varied wildlife and macro photography opportunities that the diverse country of Ecuador has to offer. Find Out More about Andes to Amazon Rainforest Photography Workshop
Group Tour
The Pantanal is one of the greatest wildlife watching destinations in the world. It is also perfect for wildlife photography and this itinerary has been carefully designed to focus all of our time on photographing the wide range of wildlife that lives in this captivating area of Brazil. Find Out More about Brazil’s Big Five Photo Safari
Group Tour
Join us for a unique safari for close encounters and unrivalled photographic opportunities of the wild dogs and bull elephants of Mana Pools National Park. Accompanied by wildlife photographer Bret Charman, you will also view the majestic Victoria Falls as part of this Zimbabwean adventure. Find Out More about Mana Pools: Wild Dogs & Elephants Photography
Group Tour
A wildlife photography holiday to the Falkland Islands visiting the archipelago’s key wildlife sites with the chance to photograph five species of penguin, black-browed albatross, giant southern elephant seals, South American sea lions and so much more, led by expert photographer Kevin Morgans. Find Out More about Falklands Wildlife Photography
Group Tour
Join wildlife photographer Sean Weekly in southern Kenya for a full week of photography in the exclusive Olkirimatian Conservancy. Combine game drives, without the crowds, and time in purpose-built hides to capture a stunning portfolio with some familiar and lesser-known African species. Find Out More about Kenya’s Rift Valley Wildlife Photography
Group Tour
The Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria are arguably one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Join wildlife photographer and team member Emma Healey on this unique, dedicated macro photography tour during the spring to capture stunning images of the region’s thriving flora and fauna. Find Out More about Bulgaria Macro Photography
Group Tour
Hungary’s Pusztaszer Landscape Protection Area is famed for its exceptional biodiversity, with the birdlife being a particular draw. This dedicated photography allows you to build up a diverse portfolio of some of Europe’s most sought-after bird species from the finest hides on the continent with Mark Carwardine. Find Out More about Wildlife Photography in Hungary
Group Tour
Sandwiched between Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park, MalaMala Game Reserve offers some of the most prolific game viewing in Africa. This is a predator paradise and photographic opportunities are endless, with fantastic light conditions, stunning varied terrain, and our expert tour leader on hand. Find Out More about MalaMala Photo Safari
Group Tour
Photograph Europe’s elusive predators as the colours of Finland’s eastern forests change. With the colourful autumnal hues and wildlife busy preparing for winter, this is the perfect time for a photography tour using a number of purpose-built hides. This small group tour is guided by an expert photographic leader. Find Out More about Boreal Predators Photography in Autumn
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Awarded Silver in Favourite Tour Operator for Nature & Wildlife 2024 & 2025
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Awarded Bronze in Best Travel Company for Wildlife & Nature Holidays 2024
