In order to make the most of the photographic experience and get great images, the most important thing is a good camera, be it an SLR or even a compact one, high-quality lens is going to help a lot to improve the quality of the photos. However, having a good camera or even a professional team is useless if there is no "good eye" and “great timing” for nature on the part of the photographer. Here are a series of tips and tricks that helps catch a great shot during the Masai Mara safaris on your trip to Africa:
Taking up safari experiences in Africa (safaris in the masai mara Kenya, a safari in Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda) is not the same the whole year long. The best time to visit Kenya is from late June to October, which is generally the dry season. This is when the famous animal migrations occur in the Masai Mara of Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania, or when the southern winter allows greater visibility. of animals in places like the Kruger Park in South Africa.
There are animal species that have a greater activity at sunrise or sunset, so these will be the most favourable hours to capture a good shot. In addition, it turns out that these hours coincide with the moment when the light is much more favourable in order to achieve more striking images. Have you heard of the golden hour of photography? Well, this takes place just before sunrise and sunset and will give you incredible results if you know how to get the most out of it.
It is important that you handle different focal points, but you should also keep in mind that it is not very comfortable to carry out a safari with an excessive load of photographic equipment or too large and heavy materials. Try to have good lenses, light and with the greatest versatility possible, that allow you to take pictures both in the near and in the distance. That is, if you are going to use telephoto lenses make sure that the stabilizer intervenes in its use, to avoid that the photo comes out blurred, something very likely when taking photographs at long distances.
Going on a safari on your own can be, in addition to dangerous, unfruitful. The recommendable thing will be to hire expert personnel who know well the habits of the animals and the possibilities of the terrain to advise us and lead us to “spots” that offer us great photographic possibilities. It is essential here also to follow the recommendations of the guides to the letter, for our own safety and that of the animals.
Try not just capturing an image but craft a story through your wildlife photography. If what you want is to give your image much more realism, try to focus on some element, set of elements or precise moment that makes your photo have a special meaning
To order the elements that will appear in your photography and achieve a composition with greater harmony, divide the space of the frame with 4 imaginary lines: dividing the height with 2 parallel lines and the width also with 2 other parallel lines, at the same distance in both cases. The intersection points of these 4 lines are used as a reference to place the strong points of attention on the image. In addition, the lines also guide when choosing the place to locate the horizon, at 1/3 or 2/3 of height in the frame.
Since you will be in the middle of nature and, the weather will be dry and hot, it is very sure that there is more than one element that may “distract” your camera and finally focus on what you were not interested in. If you don't want to venture into the hardships of manual focus outdoors, a good option is to use autofocus. Focus on what interests you, reframe and shoot.
This will depend on the scene you want to immortalize in your wildlife photography. If it is a scene that is anticipated fast and fleeting, burst shooting is justified. Otherwise, it is not wrong to be patient and take some time to get a good photograph, thinking about it and waiting for the best moment.
Greater depth of field equals a greater number of elements focused both near and far from your camera lens, in wildlife photography. In the case of landscapes, unless you are interested in focusing attention on a specific point, adjust the aperture and calculate distances to clearly show all the framed elements. It is also important for landscapes, using a tripod if possible, allowing you to take photos with slower shutter speeds in low light and also reducing the danger of the photo is moved, providing greater stability to the camera.
In order that the camera does not turn off or you run out of space to take more photos at the most inopportune moment, always carry batteries and cards to spare. Whether you are a professional or an amateur photographer do let us know what other tips and tricks do you think could help to get great images of safaris in the Masai Mara Kenya or other adventurous safaris in Africa.
Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro & one of the main attractions when visiting East Africa. This volcanic mountain stands at 5,199 meters (17,057 Feet) and is a haven for experienced trekkers and mountain climbers. Many hikers have expressed that climbing Mount Kenya is actually a more challenging when compared to Kilimanjaro and they think it's a lot more beautiful and dramatic.
Explore MoreMasai Mara - The Mecca of wildlife located in the southwest of Kenya spreading to 1510 square Km. Those beautiful Documentaries on BBC and Nat Geo it’s all here. Home to an abundance of wildlife and bird watching, the Big 5-Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Elephants, Cape Buffalo’s, thousands of Giraffes, Zebra, Hippos, Cheetah, hyena, antelopes many more including seasonal wildebeest migration- The greatest wildlife spectacle and one of the greatest wildlife destinations on Earth when over a million wildebeest cross plains, valleys, and rivers in search of fresh pasture.
Explore MoreMasai Mara - The Mecca of wildlife nestled in the southwest of Kenya spreading to 1510 Km2. Those beautiful documentaries on BBC and Nat Geo it’s all here...
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