Of all the many fascinating wildlife photographic subjects out there, few species will get your heart racing like that of the larger than life, Mountain Gorillas of the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. These magnificent creatures are and absolute must photograph species. No words can describe the feeling when sitting within a few feet of a 500 pound Silver back Mountain Gorilla, with a head the size of a man’s torso, hands the size of dinner plates and the strength of more than 10 football players.
Their intimidating size and yet a stare that carries an indescribable gentleness has dubbed them the name “Gentle Giants”. Gorilla tours in Rwanda are the easiest photography subject to take as the park is lighter though the landscape is not all that flat and most certainly one of the most rewarding when you get it right. Weather conditions play a vital role when photographing Gorillas in Rwanda. Soft overcast conditions are the best. Do not be deterred by rainy conditions as these do expose a very different side of Gorilla behavior. Make sure you are well prepared though with a default camera setting that allows you an adequate shutter speed in these darkened conditions as well as protection for your gear.
Porters are available (tip them US $ 10 – 15 per day) to help carry your gear/backpack and help you through steep and difficult parts of your trek. I would highly recommend using one. Not only are you supporting the local community, but there are a few times when it’s helpful to have someone spot you when you are climbing on a step rocks. Trekkers in Volcanoes National Park are supposed to stay 7 meters away (approximately 23 feet) from the gorillas. The gorillas, however, do not follow this rule. Some will walk ride by you or even touch you. You can only photograph these sorts of interactions if you camera can focus when it’s close to the subject. IPhone 6s is great at photographing at these short distances, where the lens I had on my Canon required more distance hence making Rwanda an ideal place to take a photo safari.
The vines and bamboo in Rwanda help create interesting ways to frame the animals. The mountain gorillas in Rwanda have some very human behaviors, but they won’t pose for you. Look for angles that will allow you to frame the animals creatively. Ideally you want to be able to focus on the gorilla’s eyes. It is unlikely that the lighting will always be ideal for this. Apps like After light and VSCO‘s clarity and shadow save adjustment features can help enhance your gorilla photos during your editing process. If you’re shooting with a DSLR, this can also be done in the editing process if you use Light room or Photoshop.
