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Photo Safari at Fossil Rim - by David Oberbeck

Chef Casey Presents Dinner

Picturing Fossil Rim

Photographing in the wild usually means waiting for long periods of time in uncomfortable conditions and positions. If or when an animal appears it will be in front of your lens for a very short time.

Compared to the wild, photography at Fossil Rim is a bit of heaven! You can relax, because the animals aren't usually moving quickly and are genuinely curious about visitors.

The key thing to getting a great picture is to take your time. Take as long as you want to get through the park – and as any nature photographer will tell you the best images go to those who know their animals, and are patient, and wait – with camera ready – for something interesting to happen. And I absolutely guarantee that something will!

Newborn Gnu

Safety

No matter what, safety is paramount – both yours and the animal's. Always remember that these are wild animals and not pets no matter how friendly they might seem. Never step out of the vehicle – even for a moment – even if it's for that shot of a lifetime. Please don't crowd the animals either. If they are on the path they will eventually move out of the way; and while you are waiting be sure to look for those great compositions!

Photo Tips

Sweetlight: The absolute best times to photograph are early in the morning and late afternoon to just after sunset. Another great time is during the day right after a rain shower or thunderstorm, with the sun bouncing off the clouds; this gives strong, brilliant colors. If you have to shoot during midday, use a polarizer to reduce glare and reflections and also to help saturate colors; and also be careful of deep shadows.

Laughing Zebra

Story: The best images are ones that tell a whole story in an instant, rather than just a documentation picture. A picture of a beautiful zebra in an open field can be really nice, but a much stronger image is a zebra doing something really interesting – like “ laughing”.

Rhythm: Since you have the rare luxury of time to stay, observe, and not just take the first picture that you see, you can get to know the rhythm of the animals. As an example, as they are eating they will have their heads down – which may not be the best image. Wait for them to look up, then take the picture. Your quiet stillness and patience will reward you with a great image!

The Eyes Have It: Always focus on an animal's eyes because that's where our eyes go when we look at a picture. The strongest images are with the animal making direct eye contact with the camera and directly with the viewer.

Composition: Try different types of composition and change the location of your subject in the image. Putting the animal subject in the very exact center of the frame doesn't make for the strongest picture. Use the Rule of Thirds when composing. Placing an animal in a third of the frame will make a more pleasing picture. Also, don't crowd the animal with the edges of the frame: make sure there is enough “room” in the direction s/he is facing to give a pleasing image.

Tommy at Sweetlight, Thirds, Room

Closeups & Scenics: Try different types of images; go for that up-close eyeball image but also work those beautiful wide-open spaces that show the animals in their spacious habitat.

Details / Distinguishing Characteristics: Try for pictures that show what's really unique about an animal: perhaps the braided tail visual on a zebra, a cheetah's long legs, a giraffe's tongue, a rhino's eye protected by folds of skin... The possibilities are endless and up to you!

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