One of the first things I emphasize in every presentation—and it may sound counterintuitive—is that you shouldn’t just “take pictures.” Instead, aim to make images. By this, I mean actively engaging in the creative process. Don’t expect great images just because you’re in a fantastic location; instead, work intentionally. With a little preparation and determination, you can create memorable wildlife photos. Making great images takes effort, preparation, and determination. Hopefully, with some of the tips I’m going to share with you, you can elevate your craft in making wildlife images.
Draw Viewers In
One of the most common mistakes in wildlife photography is neglecting the eyes of the subject. No matter the position or pose, the eyes should always be a focal point. This goes beyond simply focusing your camera on the eyes; it’s about framing them in a way that builds connection. This eye contact draws viewers in and makes your images more captivating and memorable.
Why Eye Focus Matters
To illustrate, here’s an example with a squirrel monkey I photographed during a workshop in Costa Rica. These monkeys, among the smallest and cutest I’ve encountered, make for great subjects. In this image, the monkey’s eyes aren’t in focus, so the connection with the viewer is missing. The photo has a beautiful composition and sharp details, but it lacks that essential engagement. Simply waiting for the monkey to look at the camera would transform it into a more compelling shot.
Similarly, in a shot of a family of white-faced capuchin monkeys, the initial image captures them all looking in different directions, which weakens the connection. By waiting a few seconds, I managed to capture the front monkey looking directly at the camera with a curious expression. This adjustment turns the photo from a standard family shot into an engaging portrait that draws the viewer in.
Bringing Emotion to Your Images
Let’s look at another example: a harbor seal pup, just a few days old, resting on the beach. You can even see its umbilical cord in the image, emphasizing how young it is. The background is beautifully detailed, and the fur textures almost feel tangible, but the closed eyes prevent a strong viewer connection. However, by waiting for the pup to look toward the camera, I captured an image that feels more personal and engaging. The pup’s flipper near its mouth adds an expressive touch, creating a sense of wonder and curiosity that draws the viewer deeper into the scene.
Mastering Depth and Focus
Focusing on the eyes doesn’t mean every part of the face has to be in focus. For example, in a close-up of a tiny gladiator tree frog resting in a mushroom. Our depth of field here is razor thin. This is a macro shot, meaning our depth of field is measured in millimeters. These frogs are pretty small, they’re about an inch in size. The narrow depth of field means that only the eye closest to the camera is in sharp focus. Yet, the connection is strong because the snout and one eye are clear. This balance lets the viewer focus on the subject while keeping the image visually interesting.
Let me show another example of what I mean by that. So here’s that same frog in another pose. And here we have both eyes in focus. But you see that by having the snout out of focus, It makes the image a little bit uncomfortable. It distracts from the image itself.
If we were to shoot more of an angle and include the front of our subject and the eye in focus, it creates a much more compelling image.
Here’s one more image of that same frog in a different setting. We now are applying what we learned to include both the eye and the front of our of our subject in focus. But by the way, that plane of focus also is including this tiny mushroom in the foreground, adding a lot more interest into the scene. So focusing on those eyes is very important, but it’s not to the exclusivity of everything else in the scene.
Capturing True Connection
In addition to keeping the eyes in focus, capturing subjects looking directly at the camera strengthens the connection. For instance, a spider monkey in Costa Rica was looking just past the camera, which diluted the viewer’s engagement. Waiting a fraction of a second until the monkey looked directly at me made for a much stronger, more impactful image.
Consideration Creates Impact
Wildlife photography thrives on capturing the soul of your subject through their eyes, crafting images that tell stories beyond their visual appeal. By focusing on the eyes, waiting for expressive gestures, and considering how depth and angle affect the shot, you can create images that resonate. Remember, it’s often these small adjustments that make the difference, transforming simple photos into powerful wildlife portraits.
This article is excerpted from Juan Pons’ KelbyOne course: The Biggest Mistake Wildlife Photographers Make & How To Avoid Them. All images ©Juan Pons.
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