It’s not always about the Big 5.
Unfortunately, from a wildlife photography point of view it seems to be. Many years of tourism and travel marketing has left us all so enamored with the Big 5 and rightfully so. They are what makes an African safari unique.
It it was makes us want to go back again and again.
It is what creates the magic.
The reality however, is that most of the animals you will see in the wild places of Africa are not part of the Big 5.
Wildebeest. Impala. Zebra.
These are the animals that fill the time between elephant and rhino sightings.
These are the animals that the lions and leopard feed on.
Photographically speaking there is a whole lot more to African wildlife than just the Big 5.
Yeah, yeah I know. Must sound rather hypocritical right? How can I say that if the last few posts have included nothing but the Big 5?
The truth is that I love photographing lions, leopard and the other big guys.
Why?
Perhaps it’s because even when people see a mediocre image of a lion cub they think it is fantastic. Even a slightly out of focus leopard image gets more attention than a great impala photograph.
Why not set yourself a challenge?
Focus on creating interesting, compelling and striking images of the general game you see all the time on safari. ALong with that of the Big 5!
I am not referring to thousands of wildebeest crashing through a croc infested river but rather the single wildebeest grazing in a field. A small group of impala on the edge of a tree-line. A few zebra curiously staring at you as you stop close to them.
Creating images of these animals also tells an African story.
Creating images of these animals completes the full safari picture.
Creating images of these animals – that’s the challenge.
See ya tomorrow!
Gerry
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I totally agree! While I (and who wouldn’t?!) love lions and leopards, my favorite animals on safari were the giraffes and zebras. Maybe it’s something about their unusual markings or their sweet curiosity. But you are so right! Just as in our regular lives, we often bypass the everyday stuff to photograph the spectacular…when it’s the everyday stuff that really tells our story! Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for the comment Terry! Agreed!
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