On safari we encounter animals, that is why we go on safari.  Typically, people photograph these animals in the same way.  They want the perfect shot.  That perfect shot is often defined as the shot where the entire animal fills the frame.  They often leave a bit of space around the animal and there you have the perfect shot.  These shots are nice to have, as you can see from my little collection, I have some of those.

          Remember when I wrote about working the scene, where I wrote about trying different angles, perspectives, and getting multiple shots from the same scene?  The idea is to get different shots.  Well, what if we applied that same concept to animals?  How about not ending the shoot with that "perfect" shot?  How about trying to get different shots from different angles to show a different perspective?

          Animals do not stand still.  We are not on foot and able to walk around to change perspectives or angles.  However, we have different lenses.  Instead of being satisfied with using the one that gives us the perfect focal length to get that perfect shot, why not try a few different perspectives?  As perfect as that perfect shot is, there are thousands of them and as with anything in abundance they get boring after some time.  Variation is always a good thing.

Twisting Elephant TrunkTwisting Trunk, Masai Mara, Kenya           Here I used a longer lens to create a different shot.  So what that most of the animal is not in the shot?  I wanted something different and I already shot the "perfect" shot.  This is the time to work the scene and to create different shots from the same scene.  Go in close (with your lens)(always be safe).  Get an intimate shot.  Show something that most people do not see.  Show a different perspective.  Show something interesting.  Shots like these can engage the viewer.  You notice things that perhaps you have not observed before, like the hair around the mouth and trunk.  Now that the intimate shot has been shot, how about going wider and showing the surroundings?

Elephant at WaterElephant at Water           An animal in a landscape shot brings interest.  We want to see where and how these animals live.  These kind of shots can also tell a story.  They place the viewer in the scene.  Today's message is simple; break away from just shooting the standard "perfect" shot. Shoot close ups, shoot the wider scene.  Get different shots.

          Happy "hunting" ...

P.S. These two shots were shot at different locations.