The Ultimate Smartphone Photography in a Safari Tutorial
What if you badly want to go on a safari, but the only camera you have is the one on your smartphone? Because smartphones aren’t considered the best devices for taking pictures of wildlife, people often tend to give up on the idea. But not owning a professional camera shouldn’t stop you from going on a safari and taking pictures because smartphones can take great wildlife photography.
Even though it sounds quite unimaginable, smartphone photography on safari has now become relatively common. But to take a good picture of the magnificent wildlife you’ll encounter, you should be familiar with what your smartphone can do. In this article, we will give you the best smartphone photography tips so you return home from your Tanzania safari with memorable, high-quality shots.
What is The Best Camera For Safari?
There is a common misconception that the best camera for a safari is a bulky camera loaded with heavy equipment and long lenses, but that is not necessarily true. Your smartphone camera can take amazing pictures, so don’t miss out on an amazing safari opportunity just because you don’t own a professional camera.
The Ultimate Smartphone Photography Tutorial
In this tutorial, we will be looking at the following:
True Basics of Smartphone Photography
Before taking a picture, make sure the lens on your smartphone is clean.
Carrying a small lens cleaning cloth can prove to be helpful.
Tap your finger on the screen when you want to focus on an object. When you tap the screen, you will notice a yellow sun icon. iPhone users can drag this icon to adjust the focus. Android users can tap the sun icon and use the slider to change the focus.
Be aware that the shutter trips only after you lift your finger off the click button in the camera app.
Try to keep steady as much as possible. When you are steady, you get sharper photos. You can either tuck in your elbows slightly or lean against something to keep steady.
Always keep level and watch your horizon.
If you want to capture a wider scene, photograph horizontally. But if you want to take pictures of trees or buildings, then vertical photographs are better.
What to Photograph When Going On A Safari
Most people go on a safari to witness the magnificent wildlife, so it's no surprise that you would want to take pictures of many animals. But no matter what device you are taking photos with, go beyond the animal mug shot. Capture other details.
Don’t forget to capture the beauty of your surroundings as well, the scenery can be just as breathtaking as the lion sitting next to you in the grass. Take a picture of the view from your room, the environment, the food, and the people.
Capture nature’s beauty, like sunrises and sunsets, landscapes, trees, flowers, insects, and silhouettes. The natural beauty Tanzania holds is incomparable. Thus, every detail deserves to be captured.
Safari Smartphone Photography Tips
With these tips, you can capture amazing pictures during your safari trip.
The Framing
When taking a picture, make sure the framing is on point. Use the environmental structures you are surrounded by to your benefit. You can use these structures as elements to bring focus to your photograph's main subject.
When you are going on a safari, you are most probably surrounded by trees, bushes, and animals. Think of them when you are taking a picture. Think of the sky, the landscape, and how you want your photo to turn out. What can you use to make your picture perfect?
Here’s an example. When you are on a game drive, use the vehicle's rearview mirror or side mirrors to take a picture of the animal, tree, landscape, or beautiful sky. In this case, the sky, the landscape, or the animal are the main subjects, and the rearview mirror is the object you are using to accentuate the beauty of your subject.
Use Leading Lines
Leading lines help you guide through your photograph. Leading Lines can direct the viewer to the subject or focal point of the image. The leading lines can be straight, diagonal, curved, straight, or suggested.
This is how leading lines photography would look.
Try The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a feature used to produce a balanced image. The rule of thirds will divide your photo into three lines across and three lines down. The rule of thirds is to place the necessary elements along the gridlines or at the intersections where the lines meet. If you want to see the rule of thirds, you must activate your grid on your smartphone.
This is how the rule of thirds photography would look.
Always Find the Light
It is important to know that light is an essential part of photography. This is because light can make or break your image. Light can help tell a story, bring focus to the subject, create a specific mood, etc. Light is a natural filter that you should use to your advantage. Natural light is fleeting and ever-changing, so don’t hesitate to take that shot - the best time during the day to capture warm, soft light is the “golden hour” during sunrise and sunset.
Make Use of Silhouettes
Silhouettes are a great way to capture images when the light has faded or to create anonymity in a photo. Imagine the opportunity to create a silhouette image when the sun stands behind your object. Shoot against the sun. You may have to get lower and point upwards to separate the subject from the horizon.
Experiment Your Angle
Everyone tends to use a particular angle when taking photos. But using the same angle every time won’t make your pictures look good. Experiment with different angles to take photos that convey a story. While on a safari, tell the whole story and include the animal’s environment.
Shoot a Panorama
Most smartphones now have the panorama option, which allows you to take a wide picture and tell a story. But you need prior practice and a steady hand to make it look good.
Take Videos
Videos capture a lot of impressions that photos don’t, and vice versa. Here are some things to consider before taking a video.
Put your phone in airplane mode when recording
Lock the exposure to avoid a change in brightness
Use a mini tripod for stabilization
Try time-lapses; nothing can beat a time-lapsed sunrise or sunset video
Film close and wide shots
Us the cinematic film option on your iPhone to capture dramatic footage
It is The Little Things That Count
The whole point of taking pictures is to capture memories and tell a story. So what device you use to take a picture doesn’t matter as much as long as you know what to do with the device you’re using. If you liked what you read, please check out our other safari-related content on our website.
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