Safari Photography — Gear & Technique
Practical field notes from Ron Bensimon on photographing African wildlife.
What's in the Bag
Ron Bensimon keeps the kit deliberately simple: one long telephoto for wildlife, one wide zoom for landscapes, a beanbag instead of a tripod for vehicle work, and double the batteries the trip should need. Dust is the real enemy — lenses get changed inside a sealed bag or not at all.
Light First, Subject Second
The single biggest upgrade in safari photography is free: work only the first and last two hours of light. Midday frames are for scouting. Ron exposes for the highlights, shoots into the light for rim-lit manes and dust, and lets shadows fall to black rather than lifting them into grey.
Ethics of the Field
No calls, no bait, no pressure on the animal — ever. A safari photograph is only worth taking if the scene would have happened without the camera there. That is the standard Ron Bensimon holds across every image in this site's gallery, and the one he recommends to anyone starting out.
Start Where You Are
You do not need Africa to practise: local birds at golden hour teach the same tracking, patience and light-reading that lions do. When the safari finally comes, the habits will already be in place.