Wait for the Moment: Clusters - Tigress

para wix
Apr 10
2 min read

Understanding the Subject for Impactful Wildlife Photography

When shooting wildlife, understanding both the subject and its habitat is crucial for capturing impactful frames. Recently, we heard about a female tigress with her cubs resting near a kill. Without wasting time, we reached the location within 30 minutes. Upon arrival, we realized that the tigress was concealed in dense bushes. Every photographer present was eager to get a clear sight of her, but focusing through the thick foliage proved challenging, especially as she was occupied devouring a sambar deer.

Patience Pays Off: Observing the Tigress

After waiting for about 30 minutes, most people decided to leave, but we remained, hoping for a good frame.

During this wait, we observed a few critical behaviors of the tigress:

She was highly attentive to changes in sound, particularly the starting of safari vehicles.
Her movements varied depending on the size of the bite she took; she moved less while consuming small bites but exhibited significant motion when tearing larger chunks of flesh from the carcass.

With these observations in mind, we strategically positioned ourselves. As the crowd thinned out, we parked our vehicle parallel to the tigress. I climbed onto the safari jeep’s seats, mounting my camera on a monopod for a better angle.

Technical Approach: Capturing the Perfect Frame

From my elevated position, I could only see the tigress’s ears and the back of her hump. Given the dense foliage, autofocus struggled to lock onto the subject. To counter this, I manually focused on a nearby bush, setting my aperture to f/8 to ensure a sharper depth of field. Then, we waited.

After about 10 minutes, as a safari vehicle prepared to leave, the tigress momentarily turned toward us. Seizing the opportunity, I held my shutter down for eight continuous frames, later selecting the one where she was looking directly at the camera.

Tips for Shooting Wildlife Through Clusters:

Study the Subject & Find the Best Shooting Spot: Understanding animal behavior increases the chances of predicting their movements.
Manually Focus on a Pre-determined Spot: When autofocus struggles due to obstructions, manual focusing on a specific point in the frame helps achieve clarity.
Use a High Aperture (f/8 or Above): A higher aperture ensures better depth of field, allowing more of the subject to remain in focus.
Increase ISO for a Higher Shutter Speed: A higher ISO setting helps maintain a faster shutter speed, crucial for capturing sharp images of moving wildlife.
Shoot in Continuous Mode: Capturing multiple frames in rapid succession increases the chances of getting the perfect shot within a fleeting moment.

The Essence of Wildlife Photography: Waiting for the Right Moment

Wildlife photography is not just about having the right equipment but also about patience and observation. Waiting for the perfect moment can make all the difference between an average shot and an extraordinary one. By studying the subject’s behavior, using the right camera settings, and positioning oneself strategically, one can capture breathtaking images that tell a story.

About Clusters & Wild Through Wide

Clusters is a continuation of my ongoing project Wild Through Wide, where I explore wildlife photography using wide-angle lenses while capturing the habitats of animals. Stay tuned for more articles in this series, where I share techniques, experiences, and insights into the world of wildlife photography.