Mountain Gorilla Photography tips

Immersing yourself in the presence of mountain gorillas is an experience beyond words. As you venture deeper into the mist-shrouded rainforest, the anticipation builds with every step. The air is thick with life, each sound magnified by the dense jungle. Then, finally, you see them—majestic and serene, their eyes brimming with intelligence and curiosity. There’s an instant connection, a silent recognition that these creatures share more with us than meets the eye. It’s not just a wildlife sighting—it’s a profound moment of mutual understanding.

Photographing mountain gorillas is as much an art as it is a technical challenge. The dense foliage, low light, and ever-present rain require patience, preparation, and a good understanding of your gear. But with the right approach, you’ll capture more than just images—you’ll immortalize moments that stir the soul.

Here are my tips based on personal experience photographing these magnificent creatures.

1. Preparing for the Trek:

• Best light: the rainy season. While it may seem counterintuitive, the rainy season provides the best light for photography. Overcast skies act like a natural softbox, diffusing the light and eliminating harsh shadows. The result is a soft, even light that beautifully highlights the gorillas’ features.

• What to wear: Trekking to find a gorilla family can take time, often through steep, muddy terrain. Wearing durable, waterproof hiking boots and breathable rain gear is essential. Staying dry and comfortable keeps you focused on what you came for—capturing that perfect shot.

• Protect your gear: The rainforest is unpredictable, with sudden rain showers that can ruin your equipment if you’re unprepared. Simple solutions like a Ziploc bag or a specialized dry bag work wonders in keeping your gear safe from moisture.

• Porter: Local porters are available to help carry your gear and assist during the trek. Even if you’re used to carrying your own gear, hiring a porter is a small but impactful way to support the local community.

2. Camera Settings that Work:

• Aperture: Mountain gorillas live beneath the jungle canopy, where light is often limited. A wide aperture (low f-stop) is essential for letting in more light. This also creates a shallow depth of field, isolating the gorillas from the background and adding a professional blur that emphasizes your subject.

• ISO: Don’t be afraid to push your ISO. Modern cameras handle high ISO settings exceptionally well, allowing you to maintain a fast shutter speed in low light.

• Shutter speed: Gorillas are constantly in motion, whether it’s a silverback moving through the trees or a youngster playing nearby. A fast shutter speed ensures you capture these moments with clarity, preserving every detail of their movement and expressions.

• Tripods and Filters and….: While tripods and filters often make it onto my travel gear checklist, they are not essential when visiting the mountain gorillas. These magnificent animals are constantly in motion, and gear like this can shift your focus from the thrilling action to your equipment. Unless you have a specific photographic need for them, I recommend leaving tripods and filters back at base camp. This way, you can remain fully immersed in the experience, ready to capture those dynamic, unforgettable moments.

• Lights: Any form of additional photographic lighting is strictly prohibited when photographing gorillas. These lights can distract and disturb the animals, so we must refrain from using them. It’s important to respect their natural habitat and behavior, relying instead on ambient light to capture the beauty and essence of these incredible creatures.

3. Composition:

• Light (natural light), where’s the light. Always be aware of how the light interacts with your subject. Backlit gorillas may appear as silhouettes, with their faces obscured by shadow. However, when the light catches their faces, especially their eyes, the results are breathtaking. A well-lit gorilla’s eyes can reflect a warm amber hue, drawing viewers into the image and creating an emotional connection.

• Capture personality. Anyone can take a picture of a gorilla, but you’re there to capture their personality. Focus on the intricate details—the texture of their fur, their facial expressions, or their hands. These intimate shots tell powerful stories and evoke strong emotional responses from your audience.

• Step back for context. While close-ups capture the details, wide shots provide context. Show the gorillas in their natural environment, surrounded by the towering trees of the rainforest. These wide-angle shots convey a sense of scale and help tell the story of the gorilla’s place within their ecosystem.

• Snack time. Normally, you wouldn’t photograph someone while they’re eating, but gorillas are different. Watching them eat—carefully selecting leaves or bamboo—offers a glimpse into their daily lives. Their hands, with their similarity of dexterity, make for captivating subjects.

• Social interactions. Gorillas are deeply social animals. The bond between a mother and her infant, or the subtle gestures of dominance from a silverback, are moments rich with emotion. By capturing these interactions, you reveal the complex dynamics of gorilla families and their deeply connected social structure.

• Be present. Walking among mountain gorillas is a privilege, an experience that few will ever have. As a photographer, you have the opportunity to share this extraordinary moment with others, preserving the wonder and emotion of these encounters in a single frame.

The Bigger Picture:

Mountain gorillas were once critically endangered, their future uncertain. Today, thanks to tireless conservation efforts, their numbers are on the rise. But the fight to protect them continues. Through responsible tourism, by supporting local communities, and by contributing to ongoing conservation work, we can ensure that these gentle giants continue to thrive.

By protecting them, we’re doing more than preserving a species—we’re maintaining the delicate balance of our planet’s biodiversity. We’re ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to experience the awe and wonder of these creatures, just as we have today.