Previsualisation versus reality
If you were to ask me anytime over the last 20 or so years, what would be my ideal photographic safari moment? I would have described my utopian moment of a leopard walking towards the camera, perfectly lit by early/late light and making eye contact. I could obviously add to this: a lush green savanna backdrop and maybe a cub playfully alongside. Previsualisation - the grown-up word for fantasising! Imagine my complete astonishment when it only went and happened....almost. Leopard 👍 Light 👍 Eye contact 👍 Green backdrop 👍 Surely I couldn't screw this up? Not the best reference photo for drawing either but a unique moment nonetheless, except that's not what I previsualised! So why didn't I drop the iso further as the light was so good? What didn't I change the aperture to give a greater depth of field? I was so excited that I just wanted to watch. Now I endeavour to always have my camera setting poised for the ideal encounter given the conditions,...