ROB IRWIN’S FIVE TOP TIPS FOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

• Learn and understand the animal you want to photograph before you try to track it down in the wild. Understanding the behaviour of an animal first will get you much closer to the action.

• You really need to be patient if you want a great shot. Capturing an animal in its natural habitat isn’t easy, so I’ve often found that hiding nearby, watching and waiting for the right moment is a great strategy.

• Always be ready for the shot. Sometimes the action happens so quickly and you have to throw point number two out the window! I find that if I’m out photographing in varied lighting conditions, I set my shutter speed high and keep ISO on auto. I had one experience where I watched a pride of lions bring down an impala; it unfolded so quickly that I had no time to think about settings but, luckily, I had everything already set and ready to go. Sometimes you can forfeit manual controls and rely somewhat on your camera’s auto features until you have secured the frame. Then you can think about settings. Whatever you do, don’t miss that first image – it’s often gold!

• Think about what story you want to tell. Rather than just taking a photo of an animal, try to consider the environment it is in. If there are any conservation stories, you can illustrate or showcase particularly interesting behaviour.

• Photograph everything. Don’t be afraid to capture lots of images, especially when you start out. Once you hone your skill you can be more selective, but when you first start your photography journey, photograph anything and everything you want to. The more time you spend photographing, the quicker you will progress and find your style. And even if it’s not a particularly rare animal, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it look amazing!