Decisions I made photographing a young male lion in the Serengeti

Have you ever stood shoulder to shoulder with another photographer, capturing the same scene, yet their photos turn out leagues ahead of yours? It’s a humbling experience, but it’s also an opportunity to grow.

The journey to capturing those breathtaking images starts with mastering your camera’s technical settings. The more control you have over your gear, the higher the likelihood of nailing that perfect shot when the moment strikes. But technical know-how is only the beginning. Every aspiring photographer should focus on five critical steps to elevate their craft, and our workshops are designed to guide you through each one.

The five critical steps to better photography

1. Research before you go: The groundwork for great photos often begins long before you arrive at a location. Knowing what to expect, where to be, and when to be there is invaluable.
2. Pre-visualization techniques: Develop a clear vision of the types of images you want to capture. This will help you make creative choices in the field.
3. On-the-spot composition decisions: Knowing how to frame and compose your shot is critical when the action unfolds.
4. Editing to bring images to life: Post-processing is where good photos become great. It’s not about altering reality but enhancing the story your image tells.
5. Learning from common mistakes: Avoiding pitfalls and learning from experience (both your own and others) can dramatically improve your photography.

Step into my shoes: Photographing a young male lion

My goal in this post is to virtually bring you alongside me while I photographed a young male lion in the Serengeti. I’ll share the research and pre-visualization that went into the trip, my in-the-moment decisions, and the post-processing techniques I used to achieve the final image. By applying these steps, the next time you’re out shooting, the person next to you will wonder how you got that shot!

The power of research

Research is key for a trip of this magnitude. Start by talking to people who have been there before. These conversations will provide insights into the best times and places to visit based on your photographic goals.

For this particular shoot, I was inspired by the sepia-toned images that adorn the tents at my favorite Serengeti camp. These images, showcasing solo animals against serene landscapes, have captivated me for years. In 2019, I set a personal goal to create my version of these timeless images.

I shared my vision with my guide, showing him the images throughout the camp. His understanding of my creative goal was crucial. This collaboration meant that when the opportunity arose, we were ready.

The moment of truth: Capturing the image

We had only been on the road for 20 minutes when we encountered a pride of 17 lions. As the sun began to rise, they started to stir. My guide pointed out the dry grassy plain ahead of us and said, “This is your chance to capture a lion against the grass that matches its coat.”

We quickly moved to the ideal spot, positioning ourselves to get the right composition as the lions approached. With a Nikon D850 and a NIKKOR 500mm ƒ5.6E PF ED VR lens in hand, I was ready. I double-checked my camera settings, ensuring slight overexposure to achieve the washed-out background I had envisioned.

Thirty minutes later, I had the shot I’d been hoping for—thanks to clear communication, thorough research, and thoughtful preparation.

Key takeaways for photographers

1. Communicate your vision: Whether working with guides or fellow photographers, ensure everyone understands your creative goals.
2. Compose with intention: Experiment with different compositions to find the best frame when time permits.
3. Leverage camera settings: Master your gear so you can focus on creativity in the moment.
4. Research to inform your approach: Before visiting Tanzania, I watched documentaries and scoured the internet for migration patterns and predation behaviors. This pre-visualization made me more comfortable in the unpredictable environment of the Serengeti.
5. Embrace the magic of Africa: After spending over 120 days in the Serengeti, I understand why people say Africa gets into your soul. It’s a place that calls you back again and again.

In-the-moment critical decisions

When the young male lion finally stepped into the frame, several quick decisions helped me capture the shot:

1. I knew I did not want this background in my image. I would have to either clone it out or alter my positioning to photograph from an elevated position. Elevation did not get me the POV I wanted on the Lion. I would have to clone it out.
2. I scanned the frame to ensure the other lions were not in the image.
3. I made sure I focused on the eyes.
4. I knew I would have to deal with that bush later. I ensured separation from the lion in case it was harder to eliminate than anticipated.
5. I ensured I had enough depth of field to have the hind legs in focus.
6. I wanted the foreground out of focus. I checked this as the lion approached.
7. I needed to see some details in the grass, so I increased my exposure compensation to brighten the shadowed areas in the image.

Post-processing: Bringing the image to life

Editing is where I refined my vision:

1. I only sharpened the Lion in this image.
2. I slightly brightened the foreground and desaturated the green to make the grass one color throughout the entire image. I then increased the overall exposure of the image to give it the brightness I wanted.
3. When I took this photo, I envisioned a lion in the grass in a color similar to the lion’s coat. I also wanted a 16×9 or 16×10 crop. When I cropped, I made sure there was less space on top than in the foreground to ensure the lion looked more imposing.
4. I lightened the eyes using an adjustment brush. When I edit the eyes of animals, I always lighten the shadows, increase exposure if necessary, and increase blacks or contrast.
5. I was able to eliminate this by using content-aware fill.
6. After I cropped the image, some of this background was still visible. Content-aware fill quickly fixed that problem.

My standard editing workflow

For those curious about my usual process, here’s a quick rundown:

1. Lens corrections: Correct lens distortion and chromatic aberration early in the process.
2. Crop the image: Establish the final composition before making other adjustments.
3. Adjust white balance: Fine-tune colors, especially during golden or blue hours.
4. Tone curve adjustments: Establish the right balance of highlights and shadows.
5. Global adjustments: Tweak exposure, highlights, and clarity where needed.
6. Local adjustments: Focus on specific areas of the image for fine-tuning.
7. Noise reduction: Apply this step before sharpening to maintain clean edges.
8. Sharpening: Only sharpen the critical areas of the image.
9. Final touches: Remove any minor distractions using cloning or content-aware tools.
10. Walk away from the image: I will often let an image sit for up to 30 days before I make final edits. I want the emotion of taking the image gone and want to judge it on its merit.

The end result

Camera settings for this image

• Camera: Nikon D850
• Lens: NIKKOR 500mm ƒ5.6E PF ED VR
• Aperture: ƒ5.6 for the desired amount of focus in the scene.
• Shutter speed: 1/800th of a second because he was slowly walking.
• ISO: 1600 was used because the sun was still not illuminating the scene.
• Exposure compensation: +2/3 to tell the camera to expose the image brighter.
• Metering mode: Matrix Metering

The bottom line

Photography is as much about preparation and intention as it is about pressing the shutter. By incorporating these techniques into your own workflow, the next time you find yourself standing next to another photographer, it’ll be your turn to wonder how you captured such an incredible image.

If you’d like to dive deeper into these techniques, consider joining Akari Photo Tours for one of our wildlife photography workshops. Let’s transform your photography together—from preparation and shooting to editing and final touches.