INTRODUCTION | PHOTOGRAPHIC GEAR | TECHNIQUE | TRACKING WILD TIGERS | SAFETY & RESPECT

PHOTOGRAPHIC GEAR

If there is one thing I have come to learn, is that tiger photography can be extremely frustrating. Finding tigers can be difficult enough, let alone trying to get a clear image of one. In the cooler months between November and February, the meadows are drenched in mist and dew. As a rule, tigers do not like getting their feet wet in this way, so they opt for the jeep tracks as these are obstacle free and relatively direct. During the hot months from March thru June where temperatures reach 40-50 °C, tigers regularly frequent waterholes in order to cool off – so you may find yourself waiting for some time beside one (and wishing you could get in as well!)

The light can also be a real obstacle. Tigers are most active during the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk. They largely hunt at night but during the crepuscular hours they will travel between their kill to water and / or their cubs. This is when you are most likely to encounter a tiger moving through the forest or walking along a jeep track. To successfully photograph in these hours of low light you need fast lenses, i.e. F2.8 or F4, and a very steady hand or support.

CAMERA

I use Canon’s 1DSmkII as my main camera. I also have a 5D and a pair of Canon 10Ds for backup in case something unthinkable happens to my main camera. In my opinion, digital photography has really opened the door for beginners and enthusiasts. The instantaneous results from digital can be very reassuring as you know, there and then, what you have captured. This also helps you to learn quicker from your mistakes. I’m not about to debate ‘digital vs film’ here, but my advice would be to go digital when you do wild tigers. It’s a real effort to reach the National Parks and the price is rarely inexpensive, so go prepared and make the most of this opportunity. You should know your camera very well. Therefore get plenty of practice before you go!

If you don’t already own a DSLR or digital point and shoot, there is a wealth of knowledge and reviews on the internet as well as the photographic press. I’d recommend Practical Photography for their hardware reviews. In my view, you can’t go wrong with Canon or Nikon. My advice to anyone would be to go to a photographic store and play with the cameras in-store. Don’t just buy blindly on the internet - hold them first! Many photographers know in the first few seconds, which camera is right for them. For me, the Canon just felt more natural. After you’ve decided, then by online. I invariably use WarehouseExpress.com

LENS

Simply put, the faster the better. Anything that will maximize the available light will help. I use Canon’s 300mm and 70-200mm L-series, image stabilized, F2.8 lenses. In addition, I take a 16-35mm for contextual images and habitat views and 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters. They can really make the difference to framing the shot. You can never tell how far away you will be from a tiger. It could be 2m, it could be 50m.

I know that most people will not want make such an investment into their glass, but you should by the fastest and sharpest you can afford. It is worth investing more into the lens, then the camera as camera technology increases (and prices decrease) far more rapidly than lenses.

SUPPORT

Although I often travel with my Gitzo tripod, the most practical support is the beanbag. You can buy them quite cheaply and take them to India empty. On arrival in Bandhavgarh you can ask the lodge/hotel to fill the beanbags with rice. This should only cost a couple of hundred rupees. Beanbags are perfect for use in a jeep as they can be deployed quickly on the jeep sides, seat backs, and roll bars. Unfortunately there is no device to counter the movement of a swaying elephant, so all photography from elephants will be handheld.