While on safari everyone wants to see and photograph the big five, Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo, and Rhino. Some of us are also interested in photographing birds and some of the other animals. But how often do we give any love to the little ones? Do we even notice them? Are we so excited about getting that award winning big five animal picture, that we are not looking for and therefore not even seeing any other photographic possibilities? While at a hippo pool, are we also noticing a dragonfly? While enjoying the Elephants, are we also seeing the dung beetles at work? What about noticing the Ox Peckers on the Buffalo? The little creatures can also be photogenic.

What about seeing and photographing this guy? When we cross river beds we are always focused on the looking up and down the river bed for larger animals, but it is often here that we see Lizards on the rocks. They can be colorful too. As with bird photography, try to shoot them from the perspective of their eye level. Blur the background. If the light is harsh, look to see if there are any clouds that may soon move in front of the sun. If so, why not wait a bit to take the image then, when the light is softer?

          The best way to prepare your mind for safari photography (I find this equally true for landscape photography) is to have no image in mind (unless you are preplanning a specific image). Having great images in mind makes me look for only those images, which we may never see, thus preventing me from seeing other possibilities. Let's face it, how many of us go on a safari with a picture of this Lizard in mind? Yet, a closed mind will only see what it is looking for thus missing out on the whole experience, missing out on a variety of images, missing out on giving the little ones some attention. Have an open mind and photograph what you see. What you don't see and only dream of seeing may not necessarily be seen. And so, we may end up with no good images when we could have had some images.

          Perhaps, just perhaps, we may end up with more unique images, images that others don't have.