Photographing Giants: Elephants, Bears & Whales
Join me on intensive expeditions across Africa, Russia, and India to capture the immense scale and power of the planet's largest animals.
The raw power of two bull elephants fighting for dominance in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Witnessing and filming this intense battle was an unforgettable experience for our entire group.
A family of elephants silhouetted against a fiery sunset in Amboseli. These backlit moments are a specialty of my African tours, creating emotional and artistic images.
This video is a recap of my scouting trip to Kamchatka, Russia. It showcases the incredible diversity of the region, from volcanoes and hot springs to the main events: brown bears and orcas.
A lone elephant bull walks across the plains as birds fly overhead, all silhouetted against the vibrant orange sky of an African sunrise.
An elephant raises its trunk against the setting sun, with two Egyptian geese flying past. This is a moment of perfect timing and composition.
The setting sun creates a beautiful rim light effect around this elephant, highlighting its form as it walks across the dusty plains of Amboseli.
A mother and calf elephant silhouetted against the sunrise. These tender moments are especially powerful when captured with such dramatic light.
About Giants of the Wild: Elephants, Bears & Whales
Most safaris pack too many people into a single vehicle, but on my tours, I enforce a strict limit of three to four photographers per jeep. This is not just for your comfort. It is a necessity for your gear. You need that extra space to swing a long lens, track a moving subject, or capture a high-speed action sequence without hitting the person next to you.
When we talk about the 'Giants of the Wild,' we are looking for more than just size. We are looking for scale, power, and the specific stories these animals tell.
In Amboseli, the goal is often finding that iconic, backlit silhouette of an elephant against the African sunset. It takes patience and a deep knowledge of the park's topography. My groups do not just wait for the light. We position ourselves to capture the rim light that outlines an elephant's trunk and ears, turning a standard frame into a dramatic narrative.
Kamchatka is a different beast entirely. It is raw and rugged. My recent scouting trips to the Kamchatka Peninsula showed me just how vast this region is. From the Kuril Lake brown bears fishing for salmon to marine expeditions with orcas in the Pacific, this is not a casual holiday. It is an intensive photography expedition. You will be dealing with unpredictable weather and wild terrain, but the reward is access to species and behaviors you will not find anywhere else.
My approach is simple. I combine field instruction with actual storytelling. Whether we are in an Indian tiger reserve or the African savanna, I guide you on how to anticipate movement. We do not just sit and watch. We observe the animals, predict their next step, and have our cameras ready to fire. You will learn to manage exposure in high-contrast light, like shooting directly towards a setting sun, and how to handle your gear in demanding field conditions. Join me if you are ready to put in the hours and chase the light.
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