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5 TIPS FOR CAPTURING STUNNING WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
5 Essential Wildlife Photography Tips by Jacques-André Dupont
Wildlife photography is an art that demands patience, preparation, and a deep respect for nature. Whether you're capturing the silent intensity of a predator on the hunt or the playful curiosity of a young elephant, the right techniques make all the difference. Jacques-André Dupont, award winning wildlife photographer and Pictorem ambassador, shares five tips to improve your wildlife photography, no matter where you are on your creative journey.
1. Know Your Subject
Great wildlife photography is about more than just taking a picture—it’s about telling a story. Understanding animal behavior helps you anticipate the perfect moment. Research the species you plan to photograph, learn their habits, and observe their interactions. Big cats, for example, are most active at dawn and dusk, making these the best times to capture them in action. Elephants follow predictable routes to water, and predators often display subtle cues before they hunt. The more you know, the better you can position yourself for that decisive shot.
Take lions, for example—they are highly social within their pride, forming deep family bonds. Knowing this helps you anticipate tender moments, like this one, where a cub finds comfort between a sub-adult lioness and a young male. This moment of affection, likely strengthening their social ties, could have easily been missed without patience and observation. Sometimes, the most powerful images come not from action, but from emotion.
2. Master Your Camera Settings
Wildlife rarely waits for you to adjust your camera, so being comfortable with your settings is crucial. Shooting in manual mode or aperture priority gives you control over exposure in changing light conditions. The right settings ensure you don’t miss the moment when nature moves at full speed.
Key settings to consider:
- Shutter Speed: Use at least 1/1000s to freeze motion, especially for birds in flight or fast-moving animals. For extreme speed, like a cheetah sprinting, bump it up to 1/2000s or faster.
- Aperture: A wide aperture (f/4 to f/6.3) isolates your subject with beautiful background blur.
- ISO: Be flexible—wildlife photography often requires higher ISO settings (800–3200) in low light to maintain fast shutter speeds.
Like this moment, when a cheetah went from 0 to 100 km/h in just three seconds, launching into a full-speed chase. There was no time to rethink settings—only to react. With a fast shutter, continuous autofocus (AF-C), and burst mode, I was able to freeze its motion mid-air, capturing the raw speed and grace of the world’s fastest land animal.
3. Focus on the Eyes
The eyes are the soul of an animal’s portrait. Sharp, well-lit eyes create an instant connection between the viewer and the subject. Today’s mirrorless cameras, like my Sony A1, offer advanced AI-driven features such as real-time Eye AF for animals and birds, significantly improving your chances of nailing the focus. This technology helps track and lock onto an animal’s eyes, even in motion, making it easier to capture that perfect, tack-sharp gaze.
If you’re using a DSLR, rely on single-point autofocus (AF-S for still subjects, AF-C for moving ones) and manually adjust your focus point when necessary. If the eyes aren’t sharp, the image loses impact—make them your priority.
Like the moment when a magnificent sub-adult male lion lifted his head and locked eyes with me through my long lens. For a brief instant, there was nothing between us but the raw intensity of his gaze. Moments like this are why eye focus is everything in wildlife photography—it transforms an image into an encounter.
4. Get Low and Work the Light
Perspective changes everything in wildlife photography. Shooting at eye level or lower creates a more intimate, immersive connection with the subject. When possible, take advantage of soft, golden-hour light—the first and last hours of the day—when the warm tones enhance textures and create natural drama in your shots. Overcast days can also work in your favor, softening harsh shadows and reducing contrast in shaded areas like forests.
Like the moment when we spotted a cheetah cub perched on a mound, bathed in the soft glow of sunrise. The low angle emphasized its small yet regal presence, while the morning light brought out the rich textures of its fur. Sometimes, the perfect light and composition come together effortlessly—but only if you're in the right place, at the right time, and ready to capture.
5. Be Ready for the Unexpected
Wildlife photography is unpredictable—nature unfolds on its own terms. One moment, everything is still, and the next, a breathtaking scene erupts in front of your lens. Like this elusive leopard, emerging from the shadows after sunset. In near darkness, with only the last traces of light filtering through, I had only seconds to adjust my settings and capture its silent, ghost-like movement.
The key to capturing these fleeting moments? Always be prepared. Keep your camera settings optimized for the environment, use continuous autofocus (AF-C) and burst mode, and anticipate movement before it happens. In low-light situations, bumping up your ISO while maintaining a fast enough shutter speed can make the difference between a sharp image and a missed opportunity.
When wildlife decides to surprise you, the difference between a blurred memory and an award-winning shot is how quickly you can adapt. Patience and preparation are your greatest tools.
Final Thoughts
Wildlife photography isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about patience, connection, and respect for nature. The best images happen when preparation meets opportunity. As photographers, we have a responsibility to keep a safe distance, minimize disturbance, and let animals behave naturally. Ethical photography leads to more authentic moments—and helps protect the incredible creatures we aim to celebrate.
My passion for wildlife goes beyond photography—it's about giving back. 50% of the net proceeds from every image sold via my Pictorem boutique is donated to NGOs dedicated to conservation efforts. By choosing to bring these images into your home, you’re directly contributing to the protection of the wildlife that inspires us all.
To learn more about Jacques-Andre and his work, visit jadupontphoto.com
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