Randall Ball Photography

Randall Ball Photography Photographer and Photo Expedition Tour Leader

ReflectionsAmboseli National Park, KenyaNikon D850AF Nikkor 70-200mm, f/2.8
06/12/2026

Reflections

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Nikon D850
AF Nikkor 70-200mm, f/2.8

Pleased to announce that I was awarded an Honorable Mention for my image of “Roho” at the Exposure One Awards One Shot C...
05/27/2026

Pleased to announce that I was awarded an Honorable Mention for my image of “Roho” at the Exposure One Awards One Shot Contest.

Humbled to be recognized among some of the most talented photographers from 82 countries across the world.

Huge thank you to the judges from Vogue, Leica Gallery LA, SMOMA, Aperture, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Exposure One Awards

“The Sun King”Images like this are why we as photographers are rolling out at 0600 hrs whilst the “tourists” are still a...
05/23/2026

“The Sun King”

Images like this are why we as photographers are rolling out at 0600 hrs whilst the “tourists” are still asleep waiting on breakfast and coffee.

The sun came up and set the grass “afire” with its beautiful warm light, turning the plains into a sea of golden “fire” around this incredible lion.

Because this light? This mood? This moment? It’s gone long before that omelet is prepared.

Wildlife photography isn’t about showing up. It’s about showing up early enough to witness the world before everyone else sees it. This lion appeared for just a few minutes in a sea of gold light, and then the moment was gone. That’s the difference those early mornings make.

Enjoy your coffee in bed.
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I’m honored to share that my image has been nominated in the Exposure One Awards One Shot Contest for the People’s Award...
05/18/2026

I’m honored to share that my image has been nominated in the Exposure One Awards One Shot Contest for the People’s Award.

If my work has ever inspired you or simply connected with you in some way, I’d truly appreciate your support with a vote.

Every vote helps, and I’m grateful for each and every one of you who continues to support my photography journey.

Thank you so much!

https://exposureoneawards.com/people-vote-award?q=Randall%20Ball

PortraitsOne of the best things a wildlife photographer can do is study photographers outside the wildlife genre.Photogr...
05/15/2026

Portraits

One of the best things a wildlife photographer can do is study photographers outside the wildlife genre.

Photographers like Richard Avedon, Peter Lindbergh, Irving Penn, Andy Gott, Mark Seliger and Annie Leibovitz mastered light, simplicity, mood, and presence. Those same principles apply directly to wildlife portraiture.

A strong wildlife portrait is not just about documenting an animal. It is about revealing character.

Study how portrait, editorial, and fashion photographers use shadow, negative space, texture, expression, and clean composition. Then apply those ideas in the field and in your edits.

Sometimes the best wildlife portraits happen when you stop thinking like a wildlife photographer…and start thinking like a portrait photographer.





Happy Mother’s Day!
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

Leopardess. Sabi Sands, South AfricaEyes first. Always the eyes.Everything else falls away, the pattern, the form, the s...
05/03/2026

Leopardess. Sabi Sands, South Africa

Eyes first. Always the eyes.

Everything else falls away, the pattern, the form, the silence around it. What’s left is presence. Not aggressive. Not passive. Just aware.

This is where the image happens.





It’s fine. Everything’s fine. Yeah like totally fine.Yep…gonna be fine.Just me, a camera, and 500 pounds of an apex pred...
04/26/2026

It’s fine. Everything’s fine. Yeah like totally fine.

Yep…gonna be fine.

Just me, a camera, and 500 pounds of an apex predator close enough to boop that nose. No sudden movements. No direct eye contact...And definitely don’t drop the camera.

Probably gonna need to change these shorts.

What’s in your camera?

Nikon Z8
Af-S Nikkor Z 70-200, f/2.8
73mm
f/2.8
1/1250 sec
ISO 1600



Sometimes this is what I actually look for out there.So what am I looking for? Sometimes just quiet moments reflected. N...
04/22/2026

Sometimes this is what I actually look for out there.

So what am I looking for?

Sometimes just quiet moments reflected. Not action, not chaos, and not the obvious shot everyone’s waiting on. I’m watching for the little things, little interactions…how a calf stays tight to its mother, how the herd moves as one, how the light starts to fall into place late in the day. The kind of moment you’d miss if you were only waiting for something big to happen.

This right here…that’s the shot. Honestly, that’s what Earth Day reminds me of…the little things that matter.

Slow down long enough to notice what’s already there.

Happy Earth Day!

One of the biggest improvements you can make in wildlife photography has nothing to do with your settings. It’s how you ...
04/14/2026

One of the biggest improvements you can make in wildlife photography has nothing to do with your settings. It’s how you approach the moment when it first unfolds. Most people see an animal and immediately start shooting, trying to capture something before it disappears. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t.

A better approach is to just slow down…just for a second or two. Take in the scene, let your eyes look around the whole scene for brief moment. Ask yourself…what’s here, what’s possible, what can this become? But first get a few good solid frames, a few good clean documentary images of your subject. Something sharp, simple and reliable, because you may never see that animal again. Once you have that, everything changes, you’re no longer chasing the shot, you’ve already nailed that. Now you can start working the scene.

Change your framing…Go wide for the environmental, if the location adds to the image, like Mt Kilimanjaro in the background, include it! If it’s a bunch of cluttered brush, move on. Medium to tight portraits, try to get a variety of framing…Look for that good eye contact or body language that pulls you in. Look for behavioral interactions, two lions walking towards each other, get ready for the nuzzling! Pay attention to how the moment evolves, anticipate the behavior. Detail shots…look for extreme closeups, when possible. Shoot closeups of patterns in the fur, claws, eyes, skin texture…you get it, think outside the norm! When the basics are covered…push it, push it real good! Try something different, get creative! Play with the light…backlight, rim light, side light, silhouettes. Experiment…go for it! Shoot for that pan blur, abstract, creative framing…minimalism, negative space, Dutch angle, etc

Some sightings will give you everything. Most won’t, but across time, those moments start to stack up. This is where the story comes to life. The goal isn’t to take more photos, it’s the way to pull the most from each scene. Time to start shooting with purpose rather than collection.




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