PROJECT CONCEPT: THE GLORIOUS GOLDEN LIGHT WE ALL CHASE
The golden hour! Like every wildlife photographer/cinematographer, we love for the golden hour. This glorious enchanting hour transforms the landscape, enhancing the beauty of our wildlife subjects and breathing life into every frame. To make the most of this exquisite light, we always start our expeditions and filming projects at dawn because the key to capturing breathtaking images is to be with our subjects before the sun breaks the horizon.
Waking up early is a small price to pay for the rewards that await, so you may require a cup of coffee to warm you up before the drive in the morning chill. As we head out to scout for subjects before sunrise, it’s essential to understand that photographing or filming animals in the best light often involves a lot of patience. There will be many times when you feel frustrated because, despite all your effort, you may get the most beautiful golden light, but with no animals, or at times, you have the animals, but with dull skies.
We always encourage our team members to prioritise their mental health, maintain hope, and be prepared to handle the frustrations that come with the job, especially during long expeditions that can last weeks or months. It’s always good to remember to keep going. When you do it consistently over time, eventually the golden light and animal activity do align, and when they do, it’s MAGICAL!
Â
Here’s a list of photographic opportunities you can consider while using the golden light
- Experiment on backlighting subjects
- Show the stunning landscape
- Golden Hour Wildlife Interactions
- Behavior
- Show Mood and Atmosphere
- Silhouettes (to be discussed in another article)
As warmth from the sun begins to rise, many animals, especially big cats become more active. This is when you are likely to witness beautiful scenes of cubs playing or a hunting behavior. Big cats use a lot of energy when hunting, they often take advantage of the cooler early hours to hunt and feed before the heat of the day sets in.
The golden hour presents incredible opportunities for capturing the beauty of wildlife and the stunning landscapes in which they live. We invite you to join our Private Guided Expeditions to experience the magical time of day that brings the African landscapes to life. We have established partnerships in breathtaking locations, providing you with the best opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and document wildlife photography.
Until the next one, stay WILD, yours, Clement.
Â
HAVE A LOOK AT OTHER ARTICLES WITH SOME RELEVANT INFORMATION:
Clement Kiragu – Golden Hour Daily Mail
Â
Â
