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Into the Wild – A Wildlife Photography Adventure at Bandipur National Park

June 4, 2022April 5, 2025 by photobuddiesin

In the heart of the jungle, patience meets magic — and with a camera in hand, every heartbeat could be the moment you’ve been waiting for!

If you’ve ever dreamt of capturing the raw, unfiltered moments of nature — locking eyes with a tiger or photographing the tender bond between a mother and her young in their natural habitat — then wildlife photography is your calling. On my recent trip to Bandipur National Park, nestled in the verdant landscapes of Karnataka, I experienced the kind of wild encounters that every nature photographer dreams of.

Nature’s best bond – a mother and her little one!

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 55 mm, Aperture: f 4, raised ISO to 6400 as it was late evening when the light was getting dim, Fast shutter speed of 1/1000 secs to freeze the motion, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through the sights we captured, the gear I used, and essential wildlife photography tips to help you get your best jungle shots — whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast.

The Best Time for Wildlife Sightings

Here’s a little insider’s tip: summers are the best time for wildlife photography. Being the dry season, water sources shrink — and animals instinctively come out of hiding and gather around the watering holes. This means better visibility, higher chances of sightings, and dramatic photo opportunities with wildlife.

Just a big cat living its best life — chilling in the wild spa!

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 250 mm, Aperture: f 5.6, ISO: 800, Fast shutter speed of 1/1600 secs to freeze the motion, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode, Composition Technique: Centred Composition

We stayed at the serene Bandipur Safari Lodge, perfectly located for early starts and evening drives. Over our stay, we did four thrilling safaris — two in the misty early mornings (6 AM to 9 AM) and two during the golden light of the afternoon (3 PM to 6 PM). Every safari was a different story. On our very first jeep safari, we had the ultimate beginner’s luck — we spotted a Tiger and a Cheetah! In the following safaris, we came across Deer, Wild Boar, Elephants, Monkeys, Reptiles, and a spectacular variety of Birds.

When you’re camouflaged but still want to stand out!

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 171 mm, Aperture: f 5.6, ISO 800, Shutter speed of 1/400 secs, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode.

Wildlife Photography: A Game of Patience, Precision & Perspective

Let’s be real — wildlife photography is both challenging and exciting. It teaches you to wait, observe, and act with lightning speed when the moment arrives. Animals often camouflage with their surroundings, so having a sharp eye and a calm mind is your greatest asset.

Crowned by nature – the Crested Serpent Eagle – silently observing while blending into the wild!

Wildlife Photography Techniques and Equipment

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 250 mm, Aperture: f 5.6, ISO 800, Fast shutter speed of 1/3200 secs to freeze the motion, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode, Composition Technique: Frame Within a Frame

The jungle doesn’t follow a schedule. You might go an hour without a single sighting, only to suddenly spot a Leopard napping on a tree branch. That’s what makes it so thrilling — and why it’s crucial to have your camera settings dialed in beforehand.

Just hanging out… literally!

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 250 mm, Aperture: f 5.6, ISO 800, Shutter speed of 1/800 secs, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode.

My Camera Gear: Ready for the Wild

For this trip, I used my Canon EOS 1500D paired with a 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens— a powerful combo for the variety of wildlife we encountered. A telephoto lens (250mm to 600mm) is essential to shoot safely from a distance while still capturing stunning details.

250mm is sufficient for large animals like elephants or tigers
For birds and smaller subjects, go up to 400mm or 600mm
Remember: longer lenses are heavier — choose based on your comfort and intended subjects
You can also rent a telephoto lens if you don’t want to invest right away

Dress for the Wild – Blending In

Your attire can make or break your safari experience. To truly become part of the environment, wear camouflage or muted shades — greens, greys, browns. Avoid bright colors like red, yellow, or white, which can scare the animals or make you stand out unnaturally.

A splash of color, a touch of grace… nature at its finest!

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 250 mm, Aperture: f 5.6, ISO 800, Fast shutter speed of 1/2500 secs to freeze the motion, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode, Composition Technique: Centred Composition.

DSLR Settings for Wildlife Photography – Quick Guide

If you want to walk away with crisp, well-composed wildlife images, here are the best DSLR settings that worked for me:

Aperture: f/5.6 – for that dreamy depth of field while keeping your subject sharp
Shutter Speed: 1/1000s or faster – to freeze motion and avoid blur, especially for birds and running animals
ISO: Start at 800 and increase as light reduces (up to ISO 6400 if necessary)
Focus Mode: AI Focus Mode for switching between still and moving subjects
Drive Mode: Continuous Shooting – ideal for capturing action sequences and choosing the best from a burst
Metering Mode: Center-weighted average – ensures the subject is properly exposed even in tricky lighting

Hold on tight, kiddo…parenthood is a wild ride!

Best wildlife photography mother and child

Camera Settings: Telephoto/Zoom lens of 214 mm, Aperture: f 5.6, ISO: 800, Fast shutter speed of 1/1250 secs to freeze the motion, Metering mode: Centre Weighted Average, Continuous Shooting mode, AI Focus mode.

Pro Tips for Jaw-Dropping Wildlife Photography

Here are some field-tested tips straight from the jungle:

Use your jeep’s window frames or roof bars to rest your elbows and minimize camera shake
Keep your shutter finger ready – wildlife moments are fleeting
Respect the wild – no flash, no loud noises, no getting too close
Apply composition techniques to capture truly stunning shots
Carry extra batteries as your camera battery may drain during the three-hour jungle safari

Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Photograph

That moment when I captured the tiger’s intense gaze — locked through my lens for a mere second — was unforgettable. That’s the magic of wildlife photography. It’s not just about clicking pictures; it’s about being present, feeling the rhythm of the wild, and learning to anticipate the unpredictable.

Whether you’re planning your first safari or are already deep into your wildlife photography journey, keep this in mind: the jungle always has something new to offer. So, pack your gear, charge your batteries, and let the Jungle’s untamed beauty guide your next big shot.

When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express to develop your own style as a photographer.

Do Share the Learning – Like It, Post It, Pin It, Tweet It!

So, what’s your favorite type of photography? Is it Wildlife Photography?

Did this blog help you with some ideas to improve your wildlife photography? For more useful photography tips, examples, ideas & inspiration, please subscribe below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

How to Take Moon-ingful Photographs at Night? Go-to Camera Settings for Moon Photography

January 23, 2021May 26, 2022 by photobuddiesin

As photographers, we have the power to capture the beauty of our universe and share it with the world!

Astrophotography is the photography of astronomical objects, celestial events, and areas of the night sky which includes Moon Photography, Star Trails Photography, Milky Way Photography, Northern Lights Photography and more. We’ve already covered Sun Photography in our earlier blog, now let’s dive into Moon Photography.

Best Camera Settings for Moon Photography

Moon is beautiful and mysterious in all its phases – be it the Full Moon, Crescent Moon, isn’t it? Well, if you’re a night owl – you’ll love photographing the moon.

How to photograph the moon? (Pro tips for Moon Photography)

Use your longest lens 300mm or more (you can also try with 200mm or 250mm) to click the photograph of the moon

Depending on your creative vision – how do you want to compose the photograph, what elements of the scene you want in the frame, you can choose to go for Wide-angle lens or Zoom lens

If you’re using Manual Mode, you can use the ‘Looney 11 Rule’: Set Aperture to f/11 and Shutter Speed to the reciprocal of the ISO you’ve set.

For instance, set aperture to f/11, if you’re using ISO 400, then set shutter speed to 1/400 secs; if ISO 1600 then shutter speed of 1/1600 sec and so on

If you’re using either Aperture Priority mode or Shutter Priority mode, then to avoid the moon in your photograph to look like a white disc (without its craters), dial down Exposure Compensation to -2, -3, -4 or -5 so that the resulting image looks natural and depicts the craters on the moon’s surface (Remember: Exposure Compensation doesn’t work in Manual Mode)

You can experiment with settings like for ISO begin from 400 till 1600 and go for mid-range aperture: f/8 – f/11

If the exposure you’ve set is low, then adjust the camera settings

For instance, your settings are aperture: f/11, ISO 800, Shutter Speed: 1/800 sec, then try a different setting by increasing the exposure, maybe you can use f/11, ISO 1600, Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec or less

Tripod is highly recommended to avoid a blur photograph and give you a sharp image of the moon

If you don’t have a tripod, you can increase the ISO but remember a higher ISO will produce a more grainy image; so set your ISO accordingly

Use Self-timer mode to eliminate the possibility of camera shake when you release the shutter button to take the shot

You can either use single focus point in autofocus mode or infinity focus in manual mode (you will find the infinity symbol ∞ on your camera lens). See which option gives you a better picture – use that one

Try both the possibilities to shoot the moon – Live View mode and through the Viewfinder to check what works best for you in the given lighting conditions

How to focus to infinity without indicator

If you don’t have the infinity symbol ∞ on your camera, then you can find the infinity focus and mark it on your camera. Here’s how:

Turn your AF (Autofocus) mode on
Go for Single Focus Point and select center focus point
During daytime, point your camera (preferably mounted on a tripod) with the Single Focus Point on the top of a pillar, lighthouse, tree, mountain or a tower that is set against the skyline (Keep the top of the pillar in the center of the frame)
The AF mode will try to find focus on the top of the pillar
Through the viewfinder/Live View Shoot Mode, when you see your subject/pillar appearing sharp, halfway press the shutter button to lock the focus (the focus has been set to infinity)
Now, quickly mark that point on the focus ring with a marker or a tape (you’ve marked your infinity focus)
Turn AF (Autofocus) mode to MF (Manual Focus) mode
When doing moon photography, use MF (Manual Focus) mode, move your focus ring manually and stop at the marked infinity focus to capture a sharp image

How to focus to infinity without indicator

Note: After I marked the infinity focus on my focus ring (Canon 1500D) – I found out that when I move my focus ring to the extreme left (hard stop of the camera’s focus ring which is the place at which the focus ring will turn no further) and then move it back by a centimeter to the right, there lies my infinity focus.

(Always try to get sharp images coz if your images aren’t sharp, even post-processing in Lightroom won’t help to correct/enhance your image)

Take a look at the below pictures and Camera Settings that were used to photograph the moon:

Phase of the Moon: First Quarter

(It is a primary Moon phase when we can see exactly half of the Moon’s visible surface illuminated)

Camera Settings – Aperture: f/5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec, ISO: 1600, Focal length: 250mm, Exposure Compensation: -5

Phase of the Moon: First Quarter (with a different setting)

Camera Settings – Aperture: f/5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec, ISO: 1600, Focal length: 250mm, Exposure Compensation: -5

Phase of the Moon: Waxing Gibbous

(It is the intermediate phase, Waxing means moon is getting bigger; Gibbous refers to the shape, which is less than the full circle of a Full Moon, but larger than the semicircle shape of the Moon at the Third Quarter)

Camera Settings – (Looney 11 Rule was used) Aperture: f/11, Shutter Speed: 1/1600 sec, ISO: 1600, Focal length: 250mm

Photograph of the White Desert of Kutch (India) using Wide-angle lens

Camera Settings – Aperture: f/5, Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec, ISO: 100, Focal length: 46mm

We bring you ‘Jo & His Camera’ Comic Strips wherein a Magical Camera gives DSLR photography tutorials to Jo.

Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Moon Photography with the help of practical examples.

When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express to develop your own style as a photographer.

Do Share The Learning – Like It, Post It, Pin It, Tweet It!

So, have you photographed the moon yet? If yes – do share your moon photographs and the settings you used to photograph it, in the comment box below.

Did this blog help you with some ideas to improve your photography skills? For more useful photography tips, examples, ideas & inspiration, please subscribe below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email. Thank you!

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How to Photograph the Moon

Camera Settings for Sunrise Photography, Sunset Photography and Everything in Between

January 16, 2021May 26, 2022 by photobuddiesin

Camera Settings for Sunrise Photography and Sunset Photography

Looking for photography inspiration? Well, our world is full of inspiration – sometimes we find it within, sometimes in nature, wildlife, people and so on.

To sharpen your photography skills, you visit photography tutorials websites and check out famous photographers’ works on the internet and social media.

One of the best places to get inspired is ‘Movies’; you get entertained while learning composition skills from their excellent cinematography, isn’t it? Talking about sunrise photography, I fell in love with the opening scene of a beautiful lake at sunrise in the popular Hollywood movie ‘The Notebook’.

You can capture the beauty of the Blue Hour which occurs before sunrise and after sunset; it lasts between 20 – 40 mins before sunrise and between 20 – 40 mins after sunset before it gets too dark. Sometimes, you may also see orange, yellow, pink colours near the horizon.

The Golden Hour aka Magic Hour is also a great photo op that occurs after sunrise and before sunset; it lasts for about 40 mins after sunrise and 40 mins before sunset.

Take a look at the below photographs and Camera Settings that were used to capture them:

Before Sunset

Camera Settings – Aperture: f/22, Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec, ISO: 100, Focal length: 55mm

Shining Clouds before Sunset

Camera Settings – Aperture: f/32, Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec, ISO: 100, Focal length: 220mm

Setting Sun

Camera Settings-Aperture: f/5.6, Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec, ISO: 800, Focal length: 250mm

Dramatic Sky after Sunset

DSLR Camera settings for sunset photography

Camera Settings-Aperture: f/8, Shutter Speed: 1/250 sec, ISO: 800, Focal length: 55mm

Afternoon Sun Flare in the Dark Woods

Camera Settings-Aperture: f/4.5, Shutter Speed: 1/1000 sec, ISO: 800

(Post processing was done in Lightroom to adjust exposure (brightness))

Sunrise in the City

Camera Settings-Aperture: f/11, Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec, ISO: 200, Focal length: 105mm, Metering mode: Spot

Pro tips for Sun Photography

If you’re travelling to a new place, check the sunrise and sunset timings beforehand so that you can reach the place early and plan your composition for the photograph

Beginners can use Aperture Priority Mode before advancing to the Manual Mode

Tripod will help in capturing better photographs

Go for Wide angle lens/Zoom lens depending on your creative vision or what visual story you want to convey to the viewers

We bring you ‘Jo & His Camera’ Comic Strips wherein a Magical Camera gives DSLR photography tutorials to Jo.

Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Sunrise and Sunset Photography with the help of practical examples.

Camera Settings for Sunrise and Sunset Photography

When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express.

Do Share The Learning – Like It, Post It, Pin It, Tweet It!

So, what’s your favourite time to be out amidst nature and photograph it – is it Blue Hour, Golden Hour, Sunrise or Sunset?

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Tag: basics of photography

Into the Wild – A Wildlife Photography Adventure at Bandipur National Park

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How to Take Moon-ingful Photographs at Night? Go-to Camera Settings for Moon Photography

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