Smartphone Travel Photography: How to Take Great Photos on Safari
When escaping the city for a bush getaway, there are plenty of things you need to think about packing. But, perhaps one of the most important gadgets to take along is a good camera. Capturing great photographs of your trip is the best way to cherish the memories of your trip for years to come, so it’s important you have the right tools, and the know-how to get the best photos while on safari.
But, that doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget on a bulky SLR camera, lenses, and all the other stuff ‘needed’ for taking great pictures. As it turns out, you’ve got everything you need to take great photos on your holiday right in your pocket — your smartphone. Unless you are a professional travel photographer or a serious hobby photographer, there’s no need to lug along heavy photographic equipment.
Renowned photographer, Christian Sperka, is based at KwaZulu Natal’s Thanda Safari, as the resident Wildlife Photographer and specialist Photography Guide. Sperka also conducts photography courses and teaches wildlife photography, and certainly knows a thing or two about taking amazing photos on safari.
Sperka teaches according to his “Basic Rules of Wildlife/Motion Photography,” with his motto being; “Keep it Simple”. With that motto in mind, he shares his tips for taking better photos on safari using a smartphone.
“I often hear it said, that when going on safari, one ‘must’ have a decent camera with a reasonable long tele-focus lens. And while it is an advantage to have such a camera, nowadays, most people have very good smartphones and prefer to travel light,” explains Sperka. “I take a lot of images and video clips with my smartphone. Personally, I work with Canon DSLR cameras, Apple iPhones and a DJI Phantom drone. And, in the last two years, I’ve taught far more people ‘smartphone’ photography than ‘proper camera’ photography.“
Smartphones are very good for taking a wide-angle picture (no pinching!)
Focus on the beautiful scenery and the wildlife, and you will create some great memories. Zooming in on pictures (pinching) should be avoided, as most smartphones only provide digital zoom (equivalent to picture cropping). It’s therefore best to take the picture ‘un-zoomed’ and crop it later. Some advanced smartphones, for example, the iPhone 12 or 13 Pro have a third tele-focus lens which do provide optical tele-focus capability, but they’re not necessary to have.
They’re great in low-light conditions
Smartphones are great for those difficult light conditions such as sunsets, sunrises and interesting cloud formations over beautiful scenery. These are often easier to capture with a smartphone than with a regular camera. Combined with a good photo ‘enhancement’ app, like Camera+ for iPhone, amazing pictures can be created.
Invest in an external telephoto lens
Clip-on smartphone telefocus or telephoto lenses are available at very little cost and having such a lens in your pocket will make it possible to get a decent shot of distant targets (e.g. lions, birds, etc) when out on safari. If you don’t have an external telephoto lens (long-focus lens) then binoculars can also serve as a telephoto lens in a bind. Make sure there is a small distance between the camera lens and the binoculars ocular, focusing first on the subject with your binos, before using your smartphone camera.
Smartphones are excellent for taking macro-shots
Anything from plants to small creatures can be captured very well. Make sure to check with your guide that it is safe to get close to any creature before taking a close-up photograph.
Visit a private game reserve for the best photo opportunities
Private game reserves, such as Thanda Safari, are great for smartphone photography as one is usually able to get much closer to wildlife than in a National Park. A professional and experienced guide knows exactly how close he can safely get to animals to ensure a good picture. Get as close to eye level with your picture subject as you can, and you will create some great shots.
If you’re an avid photographer, then Thanda Safari is the place to book your next bush break. There are a variety of photography services and photography courses available to guests at Thanda Safari, provided by Christian Sperka. These include:
Free Photography Lesson
Your African safari will reveal the most incredible sightings that you will want to keep alive in your memory. What better way to do this than with your own magnificent photographs? To help you capture your time at Thanda, guests are offered a 90-minute complimentary photography lesson to teach you more about the art of catching the perfect wildlife moment. During the lesson, Christian Sperka will teach you how to set up your digital camera or smartphone and introduce you to the basic rules of wildlife photography.
Photography in the Wild
After a complimentary 90-minute wildlife photography lesson or professional discussion, you head out on a three-hour evening game drive in a private safari vehicle to put into practice what you have learned during your lesson, or to hone your skills without being rushed. Wildlife photography takes skill and patience, and what better way to practice than to go in your own time on your own private vehicle?
For information about a Smartphone Safari and Photo Safaris, contact: reservations@thanda.co.za.
About Christian Sperka
Christian Sperka has travelled the world photographing animals in game reserves of South Africa and Namibia, the jungles of Costa Rica, Yellowstone National Park in the USA, and at zoos in Europe and the United States. He also worked as the official photographer and photography teacher at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Tennessee, USA. His work has been featured in wildlife magazines, books and many other publications.
All images were created with various iPhones (7Plus, X Plus, 12 Pro) with most being cropped. To see more of Christian Sperka’s photography follow him on Instagram @christiansperkaphotography