Photography

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21 Inspiring Wildlife Photographers to Follow on Instagram

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Will Burrard-Lucas

With close to 200,000 followers, Burrard-Lucas is one of the most followed wildlife photographers on Instagram. He is somewhat of a pioneer in the industry, having invented new gadgets including “BeetleCam” and “BeetleCopter”. His "Camtraptions" have helped him to achieve beautiful wildlife images from very unique angles the latest of which includes incredible nighttime images of a highly-elusive black leopard in Kenya.

David Lloyd

One of my personal favourites, David Lloyd is a New Zealand born photographer that has taken some of the best African animal shots out there. He is particularly skilled at capturing portraits that help the viewer to really connect with the subject and prefers to shoot in black and white. Lloyd’s fine art prints are often on exhibition and can be purchased on his website. For those based in the UK, look out for his photography workshops hosted by the British Wildlife Centre.

Konsta Punkka

Based in Helsinki, Finland, Konsta Punkka has managed to develop a style I am in total awe of. His wonderfully unique depiction of woodland animals including bears, foxes, and deer are truly a joy to behold. Most of his shots are moody and dramatic, with many other photographers aiming to emulate his work, but Punkka’s portfolio remains at the very top. A photographer whose work I'd happily decorate my home with.

Melissa Groo

Best known for her bird photography, Melissa Groo's feed contains perfectly composed shots often comprising soft hues and low contrast. Groo also posts some stunning images of mammals if birds aren't your cup of tea.

LEIGH WOODS

Shameless, perhaps, but when you write an article on wildlife photographers that gets a lot of hits I think it’s okay for a little self-promotion. I draw inspiration from all of the incredible photographers on this list, but those who have influenced my work the most are Shaaz Jung, Konsta Punkka and David Lloyd. Like many of the incredible artists featured in this article, I’m passionate about conservation and use my work to raise funds for non-profits like The Born Free Foundation, whose mission is to keep wildlife in the wild.

Brian Skerry

With over half a million Instagram followers, Brian Skerry is one of the most popular wildlife photographers on social media. A wildlife photojournalist for National Geographic magazine, he is an expert in marine wildlife and underwater environments. From the tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean to the freezing waters below the polar ice, Skerry has dedicated more than 10,000 hours to capturing amazing underwater images from all over the world.

Richard Peters

Awarded "European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015", Richard Peter's work is artistically composed with a combination of dramatic lighting and a minimalist feel. Most of his images are animal portraits exhibiting intense emotion and expressions. His unique style enables the viewer to engage with the subject in a way that most other photographers can't achieve.

Lee Fisher

Up there with the best photographers on this list, Lee Fisher has an incredible portfolio of wildlife images comprising some of my personal favourite subjects (Lion, Leopard, and Deer). Each image is a work of art in itself and would grace the walls of just about any home.

Shannon Wild

Shannon Wild is an Australian wildlife photographer and cinematographer based mainly in Africa. She is one of the few photographers that has mastered the art of creating vibrant and colourful photos without going too heavy with contrast or saturation. While most of her images contain African animals, she also has some amazing shots from the Arctic.

Shaaz Jung

Shaaz Jung runs his own safari camps in southern India and spends most of his time in the forest. This lifestyle has afforded him the opportunity to capture some of the best images of big cats that I've ever seen. I am particularly in awe of the beautiful leopard shots in his collection.

Austin Thomas

Another top bird photographer who has attracted many Instagram followers for his photos of walking owls and close-up shots of bobbing pelicans. His feed also contains some magnificent images of birds of prey in flight.

Brian Scott

This photographer has nailed the art of animal portraits and has a very similar style to that of Lee Fisher (particularly his black and white lion shots). All of his images have a very clean and crisp feel to them that makes them very pleasing on the eye. His work on birds draws particular attention.

Beverley Joubert

An award winning photographer and videographer, Beverly Joubert works with her husband Dereck to produce some of the most epic wildlife conservation documentaries including "The Last Lions" and "Eye of the Leopard". Most of her images reveal high contrasts with earthy tones. Her feed has a good mix of artistically composed and candid shots.

Sudhir Shivaram

Sudhir Shivaram is an award winning photographer that specialises in wildlife photography learning tours and workshops. Based in Bangalore, India, his work on tigers and Asian leopards are particularly noteworthy. Shivaram is one of the best photographers to follow for those who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in the art of photography.

Jon Cornforth

A great all-rounder with a portfolio of stunning photographs taken on land, underwater, and in the sky. Jon Cornforth is an award winning wilderness photographer that has built up a beautiful collection of images that he shares on his Instagram account. Personally, I'm a big fan of his humpback whale shots taken off the coast of Hawaii.

Suzi Eszterhas

If you're into cute baby animals then Suzi Esztherhas is the one person on this list you should definitely follow on Instagram. Suzi has published over 100 magazine cover and feature stories worldwide, with her stunning images of animal mothers and their young being very popular with followers.

Brendon Cremer

As a professional photo safari guide, Brendon Cremer has the added advantage that comes with knowledge in animal behaviour. His style is unique, with many of his images containing subjects in unorthodox poses. Some of the photos are very candid and his choice of composition is often out of the box, but that's what makes his work so interesting.  

Kaisa Lappalainen

With one of the classiest portfolios on the list, Kaisa Lappalainen has managed to collect a fantastic set of images that cover a diverse range of species. She has managed to develop a series of striking wildlife photos without using heavy contrasts or vibrant hues. I'm a big fan of her work on bears, puffins, and orca.

Morne Hardenberg

As a huge shark fan, I just had to put Morne Hardenberg on the list. Specialising in both photography and cinematography, his Instagram feed contains some spectacular shots of a wide variety of shark species. The Burrard-Lucas of the sea, he has managed to capture many of his photographs from very unique angles.

Joel Sartore

I'm a particular fan of Joel Sartore because he uses his photography to draw attention toward conservation efforts to save endangered species. His animal portraits are incredibly beautiful and the type that one might stare at for hours. Be sure to follow Sartore if you enjoy close-ups and support conservation.

Paul Nicklen

I've saved the wildlife photographer on this list with the most Instagram follows until last. With a whopping three million people following his feed, it's not hard to understand why he has so many fans given his exquisite portfolio. Hands down one of the best conservation photographers in the world, Nicklen is renowned for his marvellous work on both the north and south poles.

If you liked this article, you can also follow updates on similar articles by following my own wildlife photography Instagram account @woodswildlife

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How to Capture Stunning Wildlife Photographs on a Low Budget!

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Wildlife Photography

An honest article written for aspiring wildlife photographers.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by wildlife and the natural world. As a child, I frequently fantasised about epic safari adventures and always envisioned that one day I might work with animals.

The most fulfilling careers aren't necessarily industry specific. We all have different interests and the things that motivate us vary greatly from one person to the next. In my experience, the happiest people tend to be those with jobs that entail work they feel passionate about.

During my mid-twenties, I developed a keen interest in photography. By merging my two passions in life, the ideal profession becomes quite clear. It feels great to be part of the minority who actually know exactly what they want to do with their life. But there's just one problem. Everybody wants to be a wildlife photographer. Okay, maybe not everybody. But I'm pretty sure most people would happily trade snapping photos of our beautiful planet's flora and fauna for their conventional nine to five.

Money is often the greatest obstacle for those wishing to pursue a career in wildlife photography. Firstly, you have to pay for all of the camera equipment and perhaps even a beginner's photography course to learn the basics. Continuous advances in technology also mean that in order to keep up with the competition, you may well need to regularly invest in new gadgetry. Once you have your medley of photographic devices at hand, you'll then have to part with your hard earned cash to fly yourself to the Serengeti or perhaps the Okavango Delta, if you prefer. That's already a small fortune you're going to have to kiss goodbye, but don't go thinking it stops there. There's also the expense of photo editing software and marketing to consider if you plan on going pro.

It has been almost four years since I made the decision to pack up the corporate lifestyle and the comforts that came with it in order to pursue my dream. Time and experience have taught me that achieving my goal isn't just going to happen overnight. In terms of career, rarely does anything good come to those who haven't worked hard for it. Persistence is key, and I've learned that one needs to be stubborn as a miffed mule to make it in this highly competitive industry.

Despite not being able to call myself a professional wildlife photographer, I am happy to have a foundation in place from which to build from. Fortunately, I've managed to establish a portfolio of fairly high standard wildlife images without having to pay big bucks. I'd like to share how I've managed to do this over the past few years, so that those working with a tight budget can also get the ball rolling. And hey, if it doesn't work out then at least you're going to have one hell of an adventure!

To start off, get yourself a DSLR camera. Don't buy into the fact you need to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to get great wildlife shots. Without a doubt, the more expensive cameras and lenses can help to achieve superior results, but there are a lot of photographers out there with all the gear and no idea. Some of the most creative photographers I've come across are using very basic equipment. All of my wildlife shots have been taken using entry level DSLR cameras and relatively cheap lenses. Most of them were captured using the very standard Canon Rebel T3i (600D) camera and a 55-250mm lens with image stabilizer.

So with the camera issue out of the way, now let's talk about how you can maximise your opportunities to build up a portfolio of stunning wildlife photos on a small budget.

From overlanding camping trips to luxurious five-star lodges, a wide range of itineraries and budgets are catered for with a large selection of tour operators and holiday packages to choose from. But unless you opt for a specialised photographic safari (which are incredibly expensive), expect your chances of capturing high-quality wildlife images to be limited. The average person will need to save up for an entire year to afford just one week on safari. Typically, your package will include a three-hour outing, twice a day. To sum that up, one week on safari might offer somewhere around 40 hours in which you could potentially capture hundreds of awe-inspiring wildlife shots. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't always quite work out like that.

Expect to spend half of the allotted hours driving whilst looking for new animals, and when do you find them, don't assume you're guaranteed to get the perfect shots that you had envisioned. Your subjects are wild creatures after all, with the freedom to do as they please. A journey of giraffe won't necessarily space themselves equally on a sunset horizon just because you''re expecting a handsome return on your investment. Other frustrating factors can include unfavourable lighting, poor vehicle positioning (good guides should be on top of this), and distracting surroundings. For your photo to really grab the viewers eye, the subject needs to pop out, and this can be hard to achieve when there is messy foliage or even other safari vehicles in shot. I once spent three days on safari in South Africa's beautiful Kruger National Park and didn't manage to get a single photo that I was happy with.

So here is the trick. Don't shell out thousands for a safari vacation. Instead, follow in my footsteps and sign up for an FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) accredited nature guiding course. Not only did it cost me far less money than a package holiday, but I got to spend every day on a beautiful big five game reserve for two whole months! Furthermore, I gained a wealth of knowledge and practical skills thanks to the comprehensive training programme, and was later rewarded with a professional nature guiding license to boot!

The course entailed a great deal of hard work and studying, but it also afforded me the opportunity to spend lengthy periods of time each day with magnificent animals including lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippos and numerous species of antelope. The time spent with them provided plenty of opportunities for capturing some of my favourite photographs to date. Other perks of the programme included gaining certifications in first aid, rifle handling, and off-road driving. Throw in a course on wine tasting and it really was a no-brainer.

The biggest challenge for most people is determining how to negotiate two months out of work. The truth is, you might have to pack your job in. Chasing this dream requires vast amounts of time, effort, and sacrifice. The plus side is that your newfound skills can help open the door to further opportunities. Since obtaining my guiding license, I have led numerous safaris across southern and eastern Africa which, in turn, has allowed me to further enhance my portfolio.

If you're not willing to take the plunge, or perhaps you have other commitments, it's worth mentioning that you don't necessarily have to go on safari (or to Africa for that matter) to capture meritorious wildlife images. Large mammals make for pretty amazing subjects, but during the time I spent training to become a guide, my eyes were suddenly opened to the plethora of wildlife that surrounds us in our everyday lives. Birds and insects are fairly easy to find and often make for equally interesting subjects as the animals you might find in the great wilderness. Some of my favourite photographs are of wildlife I found in local parks and even my own back garden!

Camera tips:

If you want to achieve top-notch images, you'll first need to familiarise yourself with your camera and practice with the settings. I can't stress highly enough how important it is to do this before you head out on your wildlife adventure. When I first started out, I missed the chance to gather some amazing shots of great white sharks breaching the ocean surface because I hadn't yet learned how to adjust the camera's settings for fast moving subjects. Weather, climate, time of day (i.e. lighting), and the surrounding environment make every scene unique, so you'll need to have a good understanding of what your camera can offer, especially in terms of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.

One suggestion that I usually make to fellow amateurs (and many photographers will label this blasphemy) is to switch to sports mode (if your camera has this feature) at times when your vehicle is moving. I advise this because every now and again, an animal - particularly elusive species such as leopards - may appear suddenly and have vanished behind thick vegetation before you've had the chance to stop and adjust your settings. Sports mode will allow you to get a fairly clean shot of the fast moving subject even if you might have to compensate with a grainy background. If the animal does decide to stick around, you can always switch back to manual mode and adjust your settings accordingly. This approach is best followed in areas with thick bush and isn't really necessary in open spaces.

For those who are still not confident using manual mode, I'd recommend using the aperture priority setting. Your camera's sensors should focus on the main subject in the foreground, leaving the background with a blurred effect. By selecting the appropriate ISO and shutter speed to suit the environmental conditions, your subject will really come alive. Note that this mode works best when the subject is relatively still.

Editing tips:

Rarely do photographs capture all of the elements that made the actual scene so special. It is therefore necessary to become accustomed with editing software in order to transform your images into breathtaking works of art.

Play around with brightness, contrast, hues, and saturation to make your photograph all the more eye catching, and try to use similar settings throughout your whole portfolio as you begin to exhibit your own signature style.

If your photo features a particularly interesting subject, but something about the whole picture just doesn't look quite right, try converting into black and white. One of the biggest causes of busy looking photos is often the periphery colours that don't complement the main subject. As an example, you may have captured an incredible shot of an elephant in the open savannah, but a bright red car in the distance may draw too much attention and thus spoil the overall effect. If you happen to be well versed in Photoshop, you can always use this method to eliminate any unwanted features, but don't go too crazy with image manipulation.

Cropping can also play a major role in creating the perfect image as composition is extremely important. I can't tell you how many images I have initially looked over, but later found with a bit of clever cropping, I had a really beautiful photograph all along.

General tips:

  • Maintain a high shutter speed as animals are usually on the move.

  • Think about the background and how you will frame the subject.

  • Focus on the eyes as it helps the viewer to connect with the subject.

  • Take advantage of the more favourable light conditions around sunrise and sunset.

  • Photograph from a low position as it gives the subject greater presence and the increased distance from the background helps it to pop out.

  • Always bring at least one spare battery and make sure you have enough space on your SD card. There is nothing more frustrating than missing out at the perfect moment because you've run out of power or memory.

  • Shoot in RAW to get higher quality images that are easier to edit.

  • Use Adobe Lightroom or another comprehensive photo editing software for image processing.

  • Only exhibit your best work. I have taken literally tens of thousands of wildlife photos and have condensed them down to the select few I display on my website.

 

Happy snapping!