How to Create a Wildlife Photography Story Instead of Just Taking Animal Photos

Tiger sighting is not all a Sundarbans wildlife photography tour entails. The true challenge is knowledge of the forest and knowing what the signs of animals are. The old-time photographers of wildlife spend more time looking at the tracks, sounds, move and changes in the surroundings than looking through the viewfinder of the camera.

The Sundarbans is a truly unique and special area for wildlife photography, with its rich diversity of mangrove forests, tidal creeks and muddy tidal flats.

Seeking Signs Of Animals In The Mud

If fresh pugmarks are found, it means that a tiger has recently walked over an area. The ability to catch deer tracks is also a popular activity among tracks that are created by other animals such as wild boar, otter, etc. If you know the size, shape and freshness of the footprints, they can be a helpful indication of the type of animal in the vicinity.

However, NEVER use tracks as an indicator that an animal is still there. Evidence can frequently be obscured in a short period of time by tide and older tracks can be observed even if the animal has travelled a long distance.

Watching the Behaviour of Deer

The spotted deer are one of the animals that is photographed most frequently in the Sundarbans, and can also aid in identifying predators.

Photographers should be very mindful that they are looking for any changes in the deer's behaviour. If a group suddenly becomes alert, ceases feeding, or repeatedly turns towards one particular area it may have noticed something unusual.

They may cause an annoyance with their wake-up calls. An experienced photographer may walk along with the animals' direction of focus rather than blindly running around the forest, but keeping a distance.

Marking The Forest's Lessons By Listening

Like many types of photography, wildlife photography is more a matter of hearing than seeing.

Any noise of birds, a sudden splash in the water and/or a bit of rustling vegetation or a eerie silence can help. When a predator comes close, various birds & animals respond differently.

It's hard to hear a bunch of photographers talking without meaning, since it is a rare sight for a safari. If you remain quiet you will help to ensure they hear sounds they wouldn't otherwise hear and will reduce impact to wildlife.

Get active in the mangroves

Animals may be difficult to see as mangroves are very dense. Photographers do not necessarily look for the entire animal, but rather for movements.

A flicking tail, moving branches, pair of eyes or a change in shape in the leaves may indicate the presence of wildlife. Against the animal may be hiding for minutes and will slowly come out so patience is very important.

This is where a long telephoto lens comes in handy! It allows the photographer to be able to photograph without disturbing a wild animal's activities or space.

Signs Are Not Just Footprints

This is an ability that can be strengthened when you go on a wildlife safari tour to the Sundarban. You're not always going to get to shoot a tiger or a rare bird, but by listening to the forest you can be better prepared for what you'll see and shoot more natural and meaningful photos.