Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to observe these incredible and critically endangered primates in the Gunung Leuser ecosystem, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Combining my passion for wildlife with basic design skills, I've started creating infographics demonstrating the plight of some of the most iconic animals to roam the planet, starting with the world's largest arboreal mammal, the orangutan!
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!
Recently, I wrote a blog post about commonly spotted bird species in Akagera National Park (A Beginners Guide to Birding in Akagera). The article proved rather popular, so I thought, why not write one on birdlife in Kigali?
As Rwanda's capital becomes increasingly metropolitan, it's hard to imagine such a place could be brimming with wildlife. From the bustling city centre streets to the serene wetland suburbs, Kigali is teeming with feathered friends. Nyaraturama lake is one place I'd highly recommend for birders. Here, you'll find all manner of aqua-happy species including white-faced whistling duck, red-billed teal, and even pygmy kingfisher!
However, this post contains a list of birds that city dwellers have good to high chances of spotting, even in their own back yard. If you don't have a garden of your own then don't despair! You're just as likely to see many of these birds while out running errands or perhaps dining al fresco.
Red-billed Firefinch
A common and widespread resident of Kigali, the Red-billed Firefinch is a petite red and brown bird of the Estrildidae family. As their name suggests, the bill is a pinkish-red colour. The female has a largely dull brown plumage with red markings on the sides of the face and rump. The male, however, is mostly red with brown plumage restricted mainly to the wings. Both sexes may show small, faint white spots at the sides of the breast.
Variable Sunbird
A dainty little nectar-feeder with the male easily recognizable for its shiny colourful plumage and long curved bill. Females are similar in shape but with dull brown/grey plumage. Sunbirds are often confused with hummingbirds, but the latter are restricted to the American continents, while the former are widespread across Africa and Asia. According to Wikipedia, Rwanda is home to 26 species of sunbird. The Variable Sunbird is probably the most common and widespread.
Yellow-billed Kite
Spend five minutes in Kigali, and I can guarantee you'll spot this medium-large sized raptor. They're most commonly observed in flight, and are distinguishable for their angled wings and long slightly forked tail. Yellow-billed Kites are considered a subspecies of Black Kites, but their plumage is mostly dark brown. It's not uncommon to spot these birds roosting in large flocks across many different habitats including towns, villages and open country.
Ross's Turaco
A striking deep-blue glossed bird that looks entirely out of place in the city. You'll know this bird when you see it. Easily distinguishable features include a bulbous bright-yellow bill and eye patch along with brilliant crimson crest and outer wings. The Ross's Turaco is a fruit-eating bird and in Kigali, has been spotted mainly in mature gardens containing trees that suit their dietary requirements. This spectacular species often duets with a series of musical growls.
Green-winged Pytilia
These plucky little characters are brightly coloured waxbills and very common residents of Kigali. They're usually found feeding on the ground in pairs or small groups. A sexually dimorphic species with males having a red face and breast band. Both sexes have a small red bill, olive green wings and a red tail. Green-winged Pytilia are a very vocal species, using a persistent series of chips, squeaks, and nasal notes.
Hamerkop
A surprisingly common yet extraordinary water bird that has its own taxonomical family. Easily identified from any other bird by its unique shape which includes a long crest and flattened bill that give off a hammerhead appearance. These medium-sized dull-brown waders build enormous tree nests and have been known to share them with other species including Grey Kestrel and Egyptian Goose. They are considered magical or birds of ill omen by the superstitious.
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
You could be forgiven for mistaking this species with its smaller cousin, the Little Bee-eater. While they do look very similar, the Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater is quite a lot larger. They belong to a family of easily identifiable birds with signature long curved bills and black eye masks. This species has dark green upper parts and deeper rufous-cinnamon below. Pairs and small groups are quite common in gardens, where they generally perch high up in tree canopies.
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Another small and attractive garden bird and a member of the waxbill family. Their plumage is mostly brown and powder blue and they're often spotted feeding on the ground in pairs or small groups. Like Green-winged Pytilia, the males and females possess non-identical plumage, but the difference is slightly more subtle in this species. Males have a small red patch on the cheek that the females do not exhibit. Their contact call is an often-repeated high-pitched siii siii...
Pied Crow
Many people think of crows as boring birds and even pests. While they do have a tendency to go through your garbage and make a total mess of your outdoor spaces, the corvids are some of the most intellectual animals on the planet. Like just about any species with "pied" in its name, this crow has a boldly marked and distinctive black and white plumage. Their variable calls include both long and short caws in flight, but while perched may utter a deeper call.
Tawny-flanked Prinia
In terms of plumage, the Tawny-flanked Prinia is relatively inconspicuous but they are busy little birds! A small warbler which frequently cock and wave their long tails from side to side. Typically, they are pale-brown/grey but have a distinctive black eyeline and obvious pale supercilium (the plumage feature some birds have which is a stripe running from the base of its beak and runs above the eye). Very common garden bird and often seen in pairs.
Photo by servalpaul
Hadada Ibis
Ever been woken up in the early morning by an annoying and repetitive haa haa ha-aaa? This incredibly noisy bird is so named for its varying bugled and onomatopoeic calls. They are a stocky and predominately dark ibis with green/purple glossed wings and short legs. Pairs and flocks are common and widespread mainly around the suburbs, but it is not unusual to spot them perched in trees located close to the city centre.
Lesser-striped Swallow
Quite a large swallow and fairly common, this species is strongly marked and richly coloured with an extensive bright rufous cap and heavy black and white streaking on the underparts. Sexes are similar, but females tend to have shorter outer-tail streamers. Singing in flight is common, but they're most vocal when perched. These resourceful birds build bowl shaped mud nests on the undersides of suitable structures such as buildings, caves, and tree branches.
Pin-tailed Whydah
Beautiful little birds, but don't be fooled by their endearing nature! This species is a brood parasite, laying their eggs in the nests of a variety of waxbill species. Breeding males have a striking black and white plumage, a red bill and very long, narrow black tail. Non-breeding males are similar in appearance to females. They have a boldly patterned head but relatively bland colours on the lower body. This species is the commonest and most widespread of all whydahs in east Africa.
Brimstone Canary
A small finch with mostly greenish yellow and brown plumage. Easily confused with the Yellow-fronted Canary, but has a heavier pinkish horn bill. They also possess a far lighter malar (cheekbone) stripe than their canary cousins. The rump and mantle are both green with dark streaking. Pairs or singles are commonly spotted in city gardens and their songs vary from a fairly rapid high-pitched chirping, to sweeter, varied refrains.
Cardinal Woodpecker
Not necessarily the only woodpecker that inhabits Kigali, but certainly the most likely to be spotted. The Cardinal Woodpecker is one of the smaller species in the family and the most widespread across the eastern parts of the African continent. Males have a bright red cap whilst females sport a blackish-brown top to the head. Both sexes have lightly streaked sides to the face, well-streaked underparts, and spotted wings.
Cape Dove
The Cape (or Red-eyed) Dove is very similar in appearance to the Ring-necked Dove, but the latter is less prevalent in Kigali. Like the Ring-necked Dove, they possess a black half-collar on the hind of their necks. They have dark red eyes surrounded by a small diamond-shaped area of dull maroon skin. Their call is typically a very rhythmical oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo, which almost sounds like "I-am-red-eyed-dove!".
White-browed Robin-chat
A very boldly marked member of the thrush family with bright rufous orange below. The crown and sides of the face are entirely black with a long white supercilium. This species is the most widespread robin-chat in east Africa and is common across many areas of Rwanda. Their song is a simple refrain of three high notes, followed by two lower notes. One of those birds you're likely to spot anywhere in the city and now be able to say, "Oh look, there goes a White-browed Robin-chat!".
African Paradise Flycatcher
Stunning and highly variable, the African Paradise Flycatcher has two distinct colour morphs. A typical rufous male has a slightly crested black or blue-black head merging into grey underparts. The mantle, wings and tail are chestnut with very long central tail feathers. A typical white morph male's chestnut parts are replaced with white plumage. Adult females and immature birds don't possess the long tail feathers. This bird is fairly common in mature gardens.
Northern Fiscal (Common Fiscal)
The Northern Fiscal has been nicknamed "jackie hangman" and "butcher bird" for its rather gruesome eating habits. They use a kind of larder system where they impale their prey on acacia thorns to store for later consumption. Also known as the Fiscal Shrike, they are slim, narrow-tailed birds with white scapulars that form a very obvious "V" across the back. Sexes are very similar with black-and-white plumage, but the females have a small chestnut flank patch.
African Harrier-hawk (Gymnogene)
One of two raptors on the list, the African Harrier-hawk is a large, mostly grey bird with a relatively small slim head and bare yellow facial skin. In flight they have an easily recognisable single white bar across their broad black tail. Their underparts are densely barred black and white. These beautiful predatory birds can sometimes be spotted stealing young chicks from cavity nests using their long and flexible yellow legs.
Tropical Boubou
A black-and-white bird of the bush shrike family that sometimes displays a pinkish tinge on the lower breast extending toward the rump. They also exhibit long white wing stripes for easier identification. Like all boubous, this species is rather stocky and moves actively, but slowly. They are quite common in gardens and green spaces around Kigali. Pairs usually call a melodic wii-hoo wii-hoo duet, so perfectly timed as to sound like one bird.
African Pied Wagtail
Very common and widespread wagtail species that span across most of sub-Saharan Africa. Like all wagtails, they are slim and slender little birds that are often seen walking on the ground whilst constantly bobbing their long tails. As mentioned in the Pied Crow description, the name of the species indicates a black-and-white plumage. Sexes are alike with both having a broad black breast-band. They are also very tame and comfortable around human dwellings.
Dark-capped Bulbul
This species belongs to a group that are notoriously difficult to identify. However, the Dark-capped or "Common" Bulbul is one of east Africa's most widespread birds and is relatively easy to distinguish from its relatives. They are a slim brownish bird with an almost black head, pale belly and a bright yellow vent. Their heads are almost square in shape and their tails are ever so slightly forked. Often spotted in small groups feeding upon small fruits such as berries.
Bronze Sunbird
The second sunbird that made the list and probably the second most widespread of all 26 species in Rwanda. Far less colourful than the Variable Sunbird, this species is aptly named due to the males shiny bronze/green plumage around the head and upper breast. Like most species in this taxonomic family, the female is far more modestly coloured. They are one of the larger species in their family and have one of the loudest and most complex calls of all sunbirds.
Speckled Mousebird
Relatively inconspicuous with almost entirely light brown/grey plumage. They are most notable for their long tails and scruffy crest. Other distinguishing features include whitish cheeks and a blackish patch around the eye. Speckled Mousebirds feed mainly on leaves and shoots and can often be spotted roosting in groups where they'll buff up their feathers. They do this to allow more sunlight to hit their bodies which helps speed up the fermentation process.
Massive thanks to Melihat Veysal, Mihir Bhatt (Mihirmax Bhatt Photography), Obed Temba Tuyumvire, Paul Rushworth (servalpaul) ,and Shelly Anne Rosen of Intore Expeditions for contributing some of their amazing photos to this blog. If you're interested in birdlife in Rwanda, why not join the Facebook group Birding in Rwanda where you can find more fantastic images and updates!
Images without watermark or owner written in caption are Copyright © Leigh Woods 2017 with all rights reserved.