Wildlife photography is so much more than just taking a picture. It’s about telling a story—one that evokes emotion, inspires awe, and sometimes even drives conservation efforts.

Through your lens, you’re not just capturing an image; you’re sharing a piece of the natural world that many people will never experience firsthand.

*Polar Bears Play wrestling in the Churchill River, Canada. 1/5000, f5.6, ISO 1250*

Great wildlife photography begins long before you press the shutter.

It starts with understanding animal behavior, researching the environment, and having the right gear for the job. Having good guides that know when and where to find your subject can make all the difference in the world.

*Juvenile Elephant Seal. Patagonia, Argentina. 1/1600, f5.6, ISO 250*

Timing your trips around migrations or mating seasons can provide incredible opportunities to witness unique behaviors.

*Mating Atlantic Spotted Dolphins off Bimini, Bahamas. 1/500, f8, ISO 1000*

Equally important is your equipment. While you don’t need the fanciest gear, having the right lens and a camera that performs well in low light can help make your shots better.

*Arctic Fox off Churchill, Canada. 1/1600, f11, ISO 640*

HOT TIP. Always carry extra batteries and memory cards—you never know when the perfect moment will happen. If nothing else I shared doesn’t resonate, remember this tip… I learned this one the hard way.

*Blue Sheep Kibber Valley, Himalayas, India. 1/2500, f11, ISO 2000*

Capturing dramatic compositions is key to creating images that stand out.

Use natural light to your advantage, whether it’s the golden glow of sunrise or the soft hues of sunset. Pay attention to your background and how it might complement your subject.

*Sealion hunting baitballs off Magdalena Bay, Baja. 1/500, f8, ISO 1250*

For fast-moving animals, mastering your camera’s focus settings is essential. Practice panning with moving subjects to achieve sharp focus on the animal while keeping a sense of motion in the image. And don’t be afraid to experiment—sometimes, the unexpected angles produce the most compelling results.

*Jaguar hunting a yellow anaconda, Northern Pantanal Brazil. 1/4000, f5.6, ISO 1600*

Wildlife photography comes with a responsibility to respect the animals and their environment.

Always keep a safe distance and avoid actions that could stress or disrupt the animal’s natural behavior. Remember, a great shot is never worth compromising the well-being of the wildlife you’re photographing.

*Lemon Shark getting its teeth cleaned by a young remora off Tiger Beach. 1/320, f9, ISO 400.*

While portraits of animals are beautiful, my personal favorite images are behavior shots.

There’s something magical about capturing an animal in action—whether it’s a whale breaching, a bird feeding its chicks, or a predator stalking prey.

Behavior images tell a story and bring the animal’s world to life in a way that static portraits simply cannot.

*Bobcat catching red winged blackbird, Rio Grande Valley, Texas. 1/1000, f7.1, ISO 5000*

One of my most memorable shots was of a bobcat catching a bird while jumping through the air. The image was not perfect, however the long hours we put into trying to capture this wild moment is why this image will forever be one of my favorites.

*Giant River Otters, Northern Pantanal, Brazil. 1/1600, f7.1, ISO 1000*

Wildlife photography is a journey of patience, skill, passion, and a lot of luck!

Each image you capture is a window into the natural world. It is your chance to inspire, educate, and protect our beloved wildlife.

So grab your camera, step into the wild, and start telling stories.

There’s a stretch of country road I drive almost daily here in South Texas, whenever I’m home. It runs alongside a wide brush field—raw land growing wild with cactus, tall grasses, and scattered mesquite trees. As soon as I hit that road, I instinctively slow down and start scanning the field. There’s almost always a herd of wild nilgai grazing out there.

They’re never close. But they’re there. Every day.

I usually pull over for a few minutes to watch them. Even from a distance, their size is impressive—nilgai are massive antelopes, striking and out of place in a way that makes you look twice.

I’ve always wanted to photograph them. Not from across two football fields, but up close. Close enough to show the texture in their coats, the power in their build, the wary look in their eyes. But they always keep their distance, so I’ve contented myself with just watching—at least for now.

Still, it makes me happy. Happy to know that places like this still exist. That here, in my own backyard, there’s land wild enough for animals to stay wild.

Of course, nilgai don’t actually belong here in South Texas. They’re native to the northern Indian subcontinent. But in the 1930s, the King Ranch imported a few for game hunting. The species adapted quickly and flourished. Today, the population in South Texas is estimated at around 37,000.

Because they’re considered invasive, nilgai can be hunted year-round—and they know it. The local population is incredibly skittish. Anytime I pull over, even at a distance, their ears snap to attention. Moments later, they begin their slow retreat into the thick brush, taking no chances.

But then... magic happened.

After seeing them out there for weeks, one afternoon I spotted them much closer to the road. Close enough for some clean shots with a 400mm lens. It was a group of male bachelors—the kind of moment I’ve been waiting for. The males are giants, sometimes tipping the scales at 700 pounds. They are powerful, beautiful animals.

And guess what? I didn’t have my camera.

Not even my backup. Gloria (my main camera) was sitting at home. All I could do was watch in frustration, cussing and kicking myself for leaving it behind. It was one of those perfect wildlife moments… and I missed it.

Lesson learned. Again.

After that brain fart, I’ve been bringing my camera with me every time. Of course, since then, I’ve only seen the nilgai way out in the distance again. But I’m happy to report I did manage to capture a few images—nothing I’m crazy about, but a few decent landscape-style shots, and some with the early morning fog rolling in, which gave them a nice moody feel.

What I’m really after, though, is a close-up of a big buck—face forward, looking straight into the lens, that massive neck filling the frame. That’s the shot I want. So I’ll keep showing up, camera in hand, waiting for the day the nilgai get brave enough to wander in close and give me that moment.

This a good perspective shot to see the size difference between a nilgai buck near a white tailed deer

I’ll be back out there tomorrow, hoping it’s my lucky day.
Until next week, my friends…

Thanks for reading.

Through the Lens: Capturing Wildlife Moments That Tell a Story

ALWAYS Bring Your Camera!