Robert Testagrossa – Reasons to Love a Nature Photography Trip

I first decided to start taking photographs of nature after following the brilliant Robert Testagrossa on his social media pages. At that stage I was looking for a particular genre of photography to get involved with, and this called to me more than the others. Since I have been snapping shots of nature there has been so many amazing moments for me, and as I became more serious I started to take trips into nature to try and capture the most amazing components of the natural world. This for me is one of the best ways of investing my time as a photographer, and here is why I think everyone who loves to snap, will love a trip.

Pure Focus

Going camping is certainly one of the best ways to enjoy nature and setting yourself in the heart of a place removed from the modern world is wonderful. If however you take a trip with your camera, then you get more into the scenery the more that you spend time there. This is of course because of the fact that you are quite literally staring into nature all of the time, waiting for slight changes and inspiration. If you truly want to become one with nature, this is absolutely the way go about doing so.

Real Challenge

When you only have an hour or so to try and get a shot you tend to spread yourself out a bit and take as many shots as you can. This often is as much as you can do in fact. When however you have a great deal of time to spend in nature, such as during a trip, there is much more of a challenge to get the right shot, and not just any old shot. I have spent an entire day before in a certain setting, trying to capture its majesty in the best way that I could with the talent that I have. I have certainly felt more of a challenge to get the right shot when I am in this kind of trip, then when I only have a short time in nature.

Those Little Surprises

One of the reasons why I loved the genre of nature photography so much is that animals and wildlife always throw up these little surprises that give you the chance to capture something truly special. It stands to reason therefore that the more time that you spend in the natural world, the more open you are to these little surprises taking place. This could be anything from a family of geese walking by to a fish diving into a river to catch its prey. If you are ready with your camera then it just may be that you are able to capture one of these surprises as they happen, giving you an amazing photograph to take home.

This is why I love going on trips into nature, armed with nothing more than a tent and a camera.

Continue Reading

The World’s Best Places for Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography is an art in its own right. Some people, like Michael Palin and David Attenborough, seem born into it. Others, like Elvis Dzebic, grow into it. All of them have one thing in common, however, which is that they know where to go for the best shots. So if you fancy yourself a bit of a wildlife photographer, and you have some money to travel, where should you go?

  1. Bristol Zoo Gardens

At Bristol Zoo Gardens in the United Kingdom, you can get up close to some 450 different species of animals from all over the world. Additionally, you can learn a lot about the different animals by attending the expert talks. In the summer, there is huge festival and music event, allowing you to take shots of the perhaps this planet’s wildest animal of all: the human.

  1. Ranthambore National Park

This park in India is one of the country’s most famous attraction for tourists interested in wildlife. In fact, thousands of photographers flock here every year. Do make sure you know what the opening times are, as they change depending on the season. Essentially, you can only enter the park when there is daylight.

  1. Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park in South Africa is perhaps the best known wildlife park in the world. It is absolutely huge and you can see countless animals in their natural environment. Because this park is so big, it is recommended that you go for a few days, and there is plenty of accommodation available for you to do that. Plus, the guides are very well-trained, so they can tell you exactly where to go and at what time to get the best pictures.

  1. Jasper National Park

Canada’s Jasper National Park is the country’s largest rocky mountain park and you will be able to take some truly unique snaps there, focusing specifically on local wildlife in its natural environment. Again, it is a huge park and spending a few days there is the best option. You can travel into the park using a variety of different means, including horse riding. July and August are peak season, but it is open all year long.

  1. Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo in Australia is the second oldest in the country, and it is home to around 1,800 different animals, including many endangered ones. Between 10.30am and 2.30pm, you can tag along with a guided tour, so that you can see it all.

It can be difficult to decide just where you want to go for the best wildlife photography. You need to think about exactly what it is that you want. If you are most interested in knowing for a fact that you will be able to see animals, then a zoo is perfect for you. If you want to risk not seeing anything but, if you do, catch a truly unique shot, then national parks may be the better option. Either way, you are guaranteed to have a good time.

Continue Reading