There’s nothing quite like a photography holiday in Australia. Whether you’re snapping crocs in Kakadu, tracking kangaroos in the Outback, or capturing colourful lorikeets in the Daintree, our sunburnt country serves up wildlife encounters that’ll make your Instagram followers green with envy. But let’s be real: even the most epic locations won’t save your shots if you’re making these seven common blunders. Grab a cuppa, chuck on your Akubra, and let’s dive into the mistakes turning your wildlife snaps from “wow” to “woah, mate… what happened?”
- Ignoring the Light (Because “She’ll Be Right” Isn’t a Strategy)
Aussie light is brutal. Harsh midday sun turns fluffy koalas into washed-out blobs, while golden hour (that magic hour after sunrise or before sunset) serves up soft, warm tones that make feathers and fur glow. Yet, too many snappers rock up at noon, squint into the sun, and wonder why their shots look like a sandstorm hit.
Fix it: Plan shoots around dawn or dusk. Use a reflector or diffuser if you’re stuck in harsh light. And if you’re on a photography holiday, book tours that prioritise early mornings—your future self will thank you.
- Forgetting the Rule of Thirds (No, Centring Everything Isn’t “Artistic”)
Wildlife isn’t a school portrait. Placing a kookaburra dead-centre in your frame kills dynamism. The rule of thirds—imagining your shot divided into nine grids—helps create balance. Position the subject off-centre, leaving space for it to “look” or move into.
Fix it: Enable your camera’s grid overlay. If a croc’s gliding through a billabong, place its eye on a grid intersection. Suddenly, your photo tells a story instead of screaming “tourist snapshot”.
- Not Researching Your Subject (Spoiler: Emus Don’t Pose)
You wouldn’t stroll into a meeting with a saltie without knowing its habits, right? Yet photographers often skip basic research. Understanding animal behaviour—like when lyrebirds forage or how wombats react to rain—helps you anticipate shots.
Fix it: Chat with local guides on your photography holiday. Follow wildlife blogs or social media accounts for your destination. Knowledge = killer shots (and fewer missed opportunities).
- Rushing the Shot (Slow Down, It’s Not a Meat Pie Eating Contest)
Blasting 100 shots in 10 seconds might feel productive, but wildlife photography thrives on patience. Wait for the moment: a cockatoo mid-flap, a quokka’s cheeky grin, or a goanna flicking its tongue.
Fix it: Use burst mode sparingly. Watch through the viewfinder, breathe, and time your clicks. Quality over quantity, mate.
- Neglecting the Background (Because Bin Chickens Ruin Everything)
That perfect shot of a platypus? Ruined by a floating Coke can in the background. Cluttered or distracting elements pull focus faster than a drop bear joke.
Fix it: Scan the edges of your frame before clicking. Use a wide aperture (f/4 or lower) to blur messy backgrounds. On photography holidays, guides often know clean vantage points—ask them!
- Over-Editing (Put Down the Saturation Slider, Cobber)
We get it—Australia’s colours are bonza. But cranking saturation to 100 turns crimson rosellas into neon nightmares. Over-sharpening? Congrats, your echidna now looks like a prickly photoshop experiment.
Fix it: Edit subtly. Boost shadows instead of highlights to preserve detail. Use presets sparingly, and walk away from your screen before finalising edits.
- Using the Wrong Gear Settings (Your Camera’s Not a Didgeridoo—Learn to Play It)
Auto mode is great for barbie pics, but wildlife demands control. A too-slow shutter speed turns hopping ’roos into blurry messes. High ISO? Hello, grain.
Fix it: Master manual mode. For fast animals, use shutter priority (1/1000s or faster). Keep ISO under 1600 where possible. Practice before your photography holiday—YouTube tutorials are gold.
Final Tip: Embrace the Aussie Attitude
Wildlife photography, like a good pavlova, requires the right mix of prep and flexibility. Even if you stuff up, laugh it off—after all, you’re on holiday! Pack your sense of adventure, respect the environment (and its creatures), and remember: the best shots often come when you least expect them.
Now, chuck your camera in the ute and get out there. Australia’s waiting—and so’s that once-in-a-lifetime shot of a dingo doing a zoomie at sunset. No pressure, though. She’ll be right.
Rawat