TOP 7 TIPS FOR BETTER BIG CAT PHOTOGRAPHS

Know your subjects

Learn as much as possible about the habits of your wildlife subjects. Ben has done hours of research over the years, but the Longleat guides are invaluable, knowing the big cats and their characters intimately, and if they were likely to sit happily, or are about to attack the truck!

Wear suitable clothing

Dress for comfort. Warm and protective clothing is paramount when shooting outdoors, especially if you’re on safari. The more comfortable you are, the longer you will be prepared to stick it out, and the more chances of winning shots.

Composition

Work on compositions to complement your subjects. Use AF points to position them off-centre in your frame for a more balanced shot. For big cat portraits shoot head-on, symmetry is important.

Switch lenses

Don’t just shoot with your longest telephoto lens at its longest end all the time. Look to include your subject’s surroundings, by zooming out, or moving further away if using a prime.

Metering for wildlife

Choosing the right metering mode can make life much easier. When capturing headshots you can use evaluative metering for most wildlife, except for situations where the subject is backlit or has a darker background in the shade, then it’s best to use Spot metering off the cat’s head instead.

Manual ISO

Auto ISO can be handy, but try to control it manually. You may need to boost it for higher shutter speeds, as you’ll get more bites of cherry at 1/4000 sec than you would at 1/1000 sec for fast subjects.

Perch perfect

If Ben shoots at ground level, he uses a beanbag for support, as it’s quick to set up and offers solid support. In the trucks, with the windows down, the frame was the ideal perch to take the weight off long lenses and get sharper shots.