If your pictures aren’t good enough, then you aren’t close enough.
Robert Capa, war photographer and photojournalist
A hasty person misses the sweet things.
Kiswahili proverb
Before my trip to Tanzania, I was uncertain about how I would capture close-up photographs during the wildlife safari. My Fuji X100F is excellent for street photography, but its fixed lens meant I couldn’t get close enough to the animals for clear shots. I considered purchasing a cheap camera with a telephoto lens or a new phone with powerful zoom capabilities.
One evening while out with friends, I discussed my upcoming trip and the photographic dilemma I was facing. My friend Tory then generously offered me the use of his Nikon camera and telephoto lens. “Really? You would trust me with your camera?” I asked incredulously. “Sure, you should be fine as long as you stay in the safari truck,” he reassured me.
The following weekend, Tory came over and gave me a quick lesson on how to operate his camera. With that, I was all set.
During the safari, with Tory’s camera, I managed to zoom in close to the animals, but then came the challenge of capturing a shot that justified the close-up. I quickly learned that close-ups of an animal’s rear end are not very interesting. I had to patiently wait for the animal to face me because it wasn’t feasible to reposition the vehicle for a better angle. More importantly, I had to wait for moments of action or emotion to unfold, as these are crucial elements in wildlife photography that make for compelling shots.
For convenience in travel, I still prefer my lightweight Fuji X100F that I can easily tuck into my backpack or jacket pocket. However, if I find myself needing to shoot wildlife again or subjects where I can’t safely get close, I would choose a heavier camera with a telephoto lens. Regardless, I am grateful to my friend Tory for generously allowing me to use his camera to try my hand at wildlife photography.
The following are photographs using Tory’s Nikon camera and telephoto lens.
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