Photographing Wild Tigers: An Indian Safari

Forgive me for emphasising that these are wild tigers. Simply put, a captive tiger is not a tiger at all. It is just a large, striped, fat, cat. When you see a tiger in the wild you instantly recognise the difference. A wild tiger moves with intent and looks at you like you are definitely on the menu...

  
INTRODUCTION | PHOTOGRAPHIC GEAR | TECHNIQUE | TRACKING WILD TIGERS | SAFETY & RESPECT
"How To Photograph Wild Tigers: An Indian Safari " written by Elliott Neep
Copyright © Elliott Neep Wildlife Photography (ENWP)


INTRODUCTION

Photographing these magnificent creatures in the wild obviously takes a very different approach to zoo photography. There is no safe, double-lined fence for you to walk up to and poke a lens through. In fact there can be nothing at all between you and a 3-metre long, 250kg, master predator. This in itself can take some adjusting. Not to mention a spare set of underwear!

My first experience of trying to photograph tigers in the wild was quite comical. I shot hundreds of images of everything the tigress did: Walking, sitting, licking, walking away, behind bamboo, behind more bamboo… I saved 3 frames out of a very costly burst of photographic abandon. The ones that were dumped were as blurry as hell; badly exposed; missed the subject altogether. Basically, they were all rubbish.

This was because I was inexperienced and was totally overwhelmed by the encounter. You see, tigers are extraordinarily beautiful. They are staggering to behold. They can also be terrifying. There are very few creatures left on this planet that will make a meal out of a fully-grown man and tigers are one of them (probably one of the most basic reasons why they have been persecuted to near-extinction). You can really sense this when they look at you. They stare straight through your eyes and burn a hole straight into your soul. Right then and there you reach the conclusion that they deserve your every respect.

I guess what I am trying to say, in a rather roundabout way, is “prepare yourself.” You will shoot lots of rubbish images on the first couple of encounters - it is just natural. You feel you ‘may not experience this again so I have to photograph everything.’ The beauty of India’s national parks is that you are likely to see tigers quite often, so try and relax. There is nothing wrong with just watching them. In fact this can be a lot more rewarding!

The following pages have been designed as a guide to photographing tigers in the few remaining jungles of India. These experiences and tips have come from nearly 5 years of professional wildlife photography, where I have had the most amazing opportunity to visit the jungles for nearly a month at a time.

Elliott Neep