How to Photograph Tigers in Motion
Action Techniques from Tadoba, Bandhavgarh & Ranthambore
Photographing a moving tiger is one of the most difficult and gratifying experiences of any wildlife photographer. The reasons for this challenge include: low light conditions, the unpredictable nature of tigers, their habit of hiding in thick vegetation, and the quickness with which tigers move.
Photography tours to see tigers in India provide unique opportunities to see tigers as they walk through their territory, cross rivers, and patrol their territory. At these times, you will see how much more can be captured with the camera when a tiger is in motion than when the tiger is standing still.
In this blog, you will learn about the equipment, techniques, and strategies for photographing tigers in motion, as well as examples of actual cases from the three places in India where the best chances of photographing tigers in motion can be found: Tadoba, Bandhavgarh, and Ranthambore.
The Fall of Panna: When the Forest Fell Silent
By 2009, an unprecedented number of tigers had disappeared from the Panna Tiger Reserve, leaving only a hollow shell of what it once was. The disappearance of the tigers from the Panna Tiger Reserve created shockwaves throughout India’s conservation network because it raised serious questions about how it was possible for an entire population of tigers to simply disappear from such a monitored and protected area.
There were a multitude of drivers for this unprecedented event, including the existence of poaching syndicates, a lack of effective monitoring and enforcement of poaching laws, insufficient community involvement, and difficulty tracking tigers that dispersed away from the core area of the Panna Tiger Reserve.
The once loud and boisterous forests fell silent, and the silence was overwhelming.
How to Understand Tiger Movement in the Wild
Before you can adjust your camera settings, you need to understand how tigers move in the wild.
Unlike most animals, tigers are not sprinters by nature. Therefore, when they move, their movement is:
– Deliberate
– Energy efficient
– Purposeful
When is the best time to photograph action shots?
The best time is when a tiger is walking along a forest road just before or just after sunrise or sunset, when it is travelling between shade and water, when it patrols its territory after hearing alarm calls, and when it crosses open prairie or lakes.
It is important not just to understand equipment, but also to understand animal behaviour and read the animal’s behaviour. This is a fundamental principle of all wildlife photography tours where a professional guide accompanies you
Choosing an Ideal Reserve for Action Photography
Different reserves offer different opportunities to capture action shots. The landscape, visibility, and behaviour of tigers differ greatly from reserve to reserve.
TADOBA
Tigers in Tadoba are well-known for their aggressive and fearless approach towards vehicles, which is evidenced by their presence in the area. The spacious forest roads, open water bodies, and a large number of tiger sightings during the day make it the best place to photograph a tiger’s walking behaviour, drinking behaviours, and interacting behaviour.
Best Shots include:
- Tigers Profiled
- Tigers on Water’s Edge
- Mid-Distance Tracking Shots
BANDHAVGARH
Bandhavgarh is a truly cinematic experience with lots of intense action shots due to the speed with which tigers can appear and disappear from the damp undergrowth. Bandhavgarh is ideal for capturing incredible action shots, but you will need good, fast reflexes to do so.
Best Shots include:
- Tigers Making Sudden Directional Changes
- Low Light Motion
- Silhouette Shots in the Forest
RANTHAMBORE
Ranthambore has open terrain and many ruins/gardens/lakes that allow for good long shots as you track your subject from a distance. This is a great opportunity for photographers to learn how to anticipate tiger movement and improve their timing.
Best Shots include:
- Walk Cycles
- Action Shots with Environment Backgrounds
When shooting tiger safaris, your photography settings must be correct, even for fast-moving subjects like tigers.
Essential Settings:
Base Settings that can be adjusted based on conditions.
Mode: Aperture Priority or Manual
Aperture: f5.6-f8; this gives a good balance of sharpness and depth of Field
Shutter Speed: Minimum of 1/1000 seconds for tigers that are walking
ISO: Auto ISO with upper limit of (1600 to 3200 range depending on the camera used)
Drive Mode: High-Speed Continuous
Focus: Continuous AF (AI Servo / AF = C)
This allows you to have flexibility as the light and terrain change. This is essential when on wildlife photo tours in India, as things can happen quickly.
Shutter Speed, Autofocus Techniques & Tracking Methods
Shutter Speed
Walking Tigers should be set from (1/800 to 1/1250)- with more drastically increased speeds when tigers run or play (1/1600 +).
In low-light situations, you will need to slow down your shutter speed and increase ISO levels, but use caution as you may get a noisy image.
Autofocus
Use single point (or a small zone) for the best results and focusing on an Animal’s Eye or Shoulder.
Wide Area/General AF options are not recommended; your focal point may be confused by branches or foliage located between you and the animal.
Tracking Method
Start tracking your subject before the tiger starts moving.
Make smooth movements with your camera to prevent jerking the lens during tracking.
Shoot in short bursts – instead of a plethora of images (spray and pray).
Working on your tactics during your photography on Tiger Safaris should be done with a trained mentor, as these techniques will need to be reinforced with practice before being put to use.
Six Tips for Composing Strong Action Frames
Action photography isn’t simply about stopping time. It’s about telling a story. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
– Leave room in front of the tiger
– Have full stride cycles that resonate (When the front paw is raised it shows a tiger at the highest point of its stride)
– Use leading lines like roadways, waterways, and tree rows.
– Include habitats where they occur – it helps the story.
– Remember: It is much more important to capture an imperfect frame that carries emotion than to get a technically perfect but unemotional image.
Mistakes Photographers Often Make
Most photographers struggle with capturing action shots of tigers, regardless of their experience level. Here are seven common mistakes:
– Overusing burst mode without anticipation of future actions
– Shooting at wide open apertures and losing the ability to control depth of field
– Only taking close-up shots of tigers rather than focusing on the entire action of the tiger
– Not paying attention to background distractions
The emphasis for the best guided wildlife photography tours is on slowing down to observe and choosing the moment for capture wisely.
Ethical Considerations When Photographing Moving Tigers
Ethically correct action shots of wildlife can be taken when:
– No pressure is placed on wildlife driving or crowding animals.
– No obstruction of pathways or access to water occurs.
– No baiting, calling or artificially inducing tigers to act unnaturally.
– To provide true wildlife photographic tours of India that focus on behavioral observation instead of creating artificial drama through “drama creating” methods. A tiger walking normally is much more impressive than one that has been induced to act unnaturally.
Guided Wildlife Photography Tours Enhance Results With Skill and Awareness
Guided wildlife photography tours do not guarantee animal sightings but do enhance the skill level and awareness of wildlife photographers. The professional wildlife photographic guides teach participants to better prepare for an unforeseen capture by helping photographers with:
- Recognizing alarm calls and animal movements
- Ethically and effectively locating vehicles for quick photography opportunities
- Real-time camera settings
- Encouraging photographers to anticipate photographs instead of reacting to an opportunity
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which tiger reserve is best for photographing action shots?
For amateur wildlife photographers, Tadoba will provide the best opportunities with the most open visibility for animal sightings, whereas Bandhavgarh has an abundance of action and is ideal for more experienced photographers. Ranthambore is an ideal location to learn about anticipation of an animal’s movements.
- What lens should I use to photograph a tiger in motion?
The optimal lens for photographing a tiger in motion would be 100-400mm, 200-500mm. These lenses will provide flexibility for following the movement of a tiger and not requiring change of lenses each time you find a tigress or tiger.
- What is the correct shutter speed to use when photographing walking tigers?
As a rule, set your shutter speed at 1/1000 sec. or faster, depending on the speed of the tiger and the amount of light available.
- What advantages do guided wildlife photo safari experiences have for photographers?
Guided tours help develop anticipation, facilitate rapid changes between shooting settings, and promote ethical wildlife photography.
- Should beginners attempt action photographs while on tiger safaris?
With expert guidance, new photographers can develop confidence quickly and learn effective techniques for photographing tigers.
- Is using burst mode on your camera enough to capture movement of tigers as they run?
While using burst mode does aid in capturing images of tigers in action, speed, timing, and anticipation are more critical to capturing tigers in action than using burst mode.
- How do ethical wildlife safari practices impact wildlife photography?
Practicing ethical safari methods results in calmer and less aware animals and contributes to an environment in which animals exhibit more natural behavior and allow photographers to capture better long-term photographic images.
Conclusion: Developing Mastery Requires Patience
Shooting moving tigers does not involve luck; it involves:
- A thorough knowledge of the behaviour of the animals you’re shooting
- Instant knowledge of the camera and photography equipment you are using
- Understanding the rhythm of the jungle
With the right wildlife photography tour in India, your classroom is the jungle, and each missed photograph prepares you for the best shot next.
Ethical Wildlife curates small-group, photography-led safaris in India and Africa. They specialise in tiger safaris in Bandhavgarh, snow leopard expeditions in Ladakh, and a multitude of trips that connect travellers with nature, ethically and meaningfully. Their focus is on deep experiences, guided by expert naturalists and photographers, and they hold their journeys to inspire, educate and respect nature and the wild.
Apoorva Jadon