We never know what subjects will show up, so wildlife photography demands we make the best possible use of light.

In this video I visit Rietvlei Nature Reserve near Pretoria in South Africa, looking for perfect light. Unfortunately, I don't get it and have to make the best use of the light I have.

It's not easy to juggle between stills and video and I don't always capture video footage of the wildlife, a usable still and a piece-to-camera explaining the shot. When I do, I try to put it together to tell a story here on Youtube or to share some info that will help you to capture similar shots.

It's always difficult to pitch the information to the right level. I don't often talk about camera settings or equipment because in most cases it's possible to capture versions of the shot with different settings and different gear - there is no perfect solution.

There is instead, a range of them. I've found that this is often difficult to explain to beginners who typically want to follow a script. Wildlife photography doesn't really have many scripts, we are confronted by a range of problems and it is experience, practice, and patience that offer the best solutions.

Beyond camera gear and settings, wildlife photography, like life, becomes a game of chance and calculated opportunity. It's this experience that I hope to share in most of my videos because this is what really makes the difference between a snapshot and a wildlife photograph.