Photographically, it has become more of a challenge.

As nature and wildlife photographers, we are keener on climate change and the effects it has had on the natural world. As I was writing this it was raining in Kenya, mid-January, and we all had on our jackets; it is supposed to be the hot dry season. There had only been a few days of hot weather at the beginning of the month. Winter temperatures, rain and clouds seem to linger on. I first began noticing the drastic change in the climate here back in 2015, an El Nino type year. January – March is supposed to be our hot dry season (summer). In February 2016, I included Amboseli in an itinerary because I was assured that large herds of elephants were coming to the swamp with incredible dust and light. Well, it rained every day in January of 2016, and when we arrived in Amboseli it was almost underwater with washed-out roads! Now I don’t make any promises concerning the weather in my itineraries.

In the beginning, these changes were frustrating. With extremely predictable weather patterns, dry season, short rain season, and long rainy season, it was easy to know where and when to go and be able to predict animal movement and behavior to set yourself up for the successful photographs you envisioned. It seems to rain throughout the year and at any given time, which not only affects the movement of animals and their behavior but also makes some areas like the Maasai Mara with black cotton soil a challenge just to drive in.

Stepping into the field these days requires a different outlook and skill set.

Accepting these unpredictable circumstances pushes one to seek out other unique opportunities in any situation and to have the skills and mindset to, “make it happen.” As I like to say during my workshops, “there is no such thing as bad weather, only a bad attitude.” Easy is boring and makes one lazy while overcoming a challenge makes one push the boundaries to find the possibilities, which often creates more interesting and dramatic images. 

Wildlife photography is the most difficult genre in photography since almost no aspect of it is controllable. Now there are even more challenges because the weather can’t be predicted, and this makes it even more important to not only have strong technical skills but to also have a new creative mindset. I have always been a big advocate of taking intensive workshops (s) at home to improve my skills before investing in a big international photographic safari or tour. You will be much happier with the outcome of your trip. However, it is also a whole different game on location in one of the most renowned wildlife reserves in the world and you can’t set up the shot! 

In the field, you must quickly adapt to every unexpected challenge thrown at you! You have seconds to evaluate the light, background, and action and communicate with your guide on positioning the vehicle. Therefore, in March of 2024, I teamed up with Vicki Santello to offer the first-ever Maasai Mara workshop. This is a full safari, but also an intensive learning workshop. There will be daily lectures and reviews of firsthand experiences in the field. We will discuss our thought process on our decision-making as it is happening. Our goal is to enable you to take your skill set to yet another level, which also includes teaching you how to quickly create a strong working relationship with your guide and leave prepared to ascend into any wildlife reserve under any circumstances and create award-winning photographs. Learn more here.