FINE ART WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: THE POWER OF EYE CONTACT IN ANIMAL PORTRAITS
A battle scarred Grizzly Bear looks to camera
My Fine Art Photography Journey
Last week I turned 60. Milestones often invite reflection and for me one of those involved reflecting on my photography jounrney over the last 15 years. I decided to select sixty images from my catalogue, each one carrying personal meaning. The process was emotional. These photographs represent moments that thrilled me, moved me to tears, or left me awestruck at the sheer beauty of the natural world.
Being out in the wild over the last 15 years has had a profound impact on my life, so I found it really interesting to pick out those images that held resonance for a variety of reasons- moments that made me cry, moments that were thrilling and moments that took my breath away from the beauty I was witnessing.
My selections were influenced by my love of fine art photography. Fine art wildlife photography goes beyond a record shot of a lion or polar bear. It’s about connection, storytelling, and emotion. My best fine art animal portraits I hope reveal something deeper whether that is individuality, the regal presence of a lion, and even soul especially with elephants.
One of my favorite novels, Howard’s End, contains the line: “Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted.” This idea of connection resonates deeply with me. Just as my life gains has gained meaning through connection with friends, family and colleagues, so too does my photography.
In this photo story I want to highlight what connection in the wild means to me. Eye contact can transform a photograph into an encounter. When the gaze of a lion, bear or leopard meets my eye, and the viewers, the image becomes incredibly powerful. However, there are those moments where a lion or bear ‘s attention is fixed on something outside of the frame and that can add a layer of mystery. You are drawn into the image. And then there is connection with the subjects themselves which highlight their social bonds and emotion. Those are moments that you never forget.
Intimate moment between Lynx mother and cub
Why Eye Contact Matters in Wildlife Portraits
Our brains are wired to respond to eyes. Across cultures, eye contact signifies trust, awareness, or confrontation. In wildlife portraits, the same principle holds true.
A direct gaze can stop us in our tracks, making us feel acknowledged by another being.
One moment where this happened recently was with the above image of a Lynx mother and cub. They had both been drinking at the waterhole and there was no clear view when the mother moved and started grooming the cub and then there was a few seconds when the lynx cub turned its head in the direction of our hide. To get not only eye contact with the cub, arguably more important than the mother, and to get a moment of tender connection between mother and cub was like hitting the wildlife jackpot!
Cheetah cub looks to camera
My Techniques for Capturing Powerful Eye Contact
Be Patient and Present
Eye contact cannot be staged. It must be earned through patience, skill, and respect. Over the years, I have developed several practices that help me capture these powerful moments Often, these moments are fleeting like with this Tigress Scissor. Her attention had been focused on her cubs who were in the bushes when she got up and momentarily looked in our direction, giving me my favourite Tiger image to date.
Portrait of Tigress called Scissor
Photograph at Eye Level
Perspective matters. Shooting at the animal’s eye level creates intimacy and equality. It invites the viewer to meet the subject on its own terms, rather than from a position of dominance or detachment.
Polar bear mother and cub huddle together on the ice
Use Light to Highlight the Eyes
Light is the soul of photography, and nowhere is it more vital than in the eyes. A catchlight—the sparkle of reflected light—brings vitality to the gaze. Dawn and dusk are my favorite times for shooting, when soft light adds atmosphere and depth to fine art portraits. These two lion portraits are two of my favourites for that very reason. The black and white image was captured pre dawn, and the light adds softness and a sense of wistfulness about this image.. The second colour image is of Nyekundu taken as he emerged from sleeping into the golden glow of late afternoon light. The image exudes power and majesty of a lion in his prime. In both instances the light in the eyes was the special ingredient that made this images have impact.
Portrait of a Lion king at first light
Portrait of male lion Nyekundu
Keep the Composition Minimal
In fine art photography, less is more. By using shallow depth of field and uncluttered backgrounds, I ensure the viewer’s focus remains on the eyes. Every compositional choice should serve the connection.
Fox Vixen on the move
Respect Ethical Boundaries
Perhaps most importantly, true connection must never come at the expense of the animal’s well-being. I will not chase, corner, or stress wildlife for a photograph. Genuine encounters come through patience and respect, not intrusion.
One example is from Amboseli, where I often work with my guide, Eric Ole Kalama. He knows elephants intimately and anticipates their movements with care. In this image taken a few years ago in Amboseli a mother and her two calves approached us. The mother stopped, and the two calfs huddled together, protecting the youngest one. Their attention was on me and our vehicle. Occasionally, I would look up and there was a profound moment of connection in the stillness of our movements.
The image may not be flawless, but it embodies why I do wildlife photography: to witness love, dignity and soul in its rawest form.
A family elephant huddle together tp protect the youngest calf. I called this image Only Connect.
I hope each of these images demonstrates how eye contact can elevate wildlife photography into fine art. Each of these moments felt intimate, personal, and unforgettable, demanding that we recognize individuality within the wild.
Beyond the Gaze: Connection Between Animals
While eye contact is powerful, the bonds animals share with one another are equally moving. Witnessing a mother’s care for her cubs, playful interactions between siblings, or the unity of a herd reveals stories that resonate deeply with us.
I have seen polar bears nuzzling their young, cubs nose to nose, lions grooming each other with tenderness, and intimate moments between a tiny rhino calf and mother. These moments reveal the same themes of trust, love, and protection that shape our own lives. They remind us that the natural world is rich with emotion.
Some of my most recognized photographs in international competitions come from such scenes. Age of Innocence, featuring a polar bear mother and her Coys (cubs of the year), captured vulnerability in the harsh Arctic. Shape of Things to Come, showing a rhino calf, carried symbolic weight about the uncertain future of its species. These images are not just about wildlife; they are about kinship, survival, and hope.
You can read more about Age of Innocence in this photo story- 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife.
The same patience and anticipation required for eye contact apply here, but photographing interactions adds complexity. A pride of lions, for example, is chaotic. To succeed, I must constantly scan the scene, ready to capture the instant when a gesture or glance reveals a story worth telling.
Award winning image Age of Innocence shows two polar bear cubs nose to nose
Award winning image Shape of Things to Come shows a Rhino calf face to face with its mother
The same patience and anticipation required for eye contact apply here, but photographing interactions adds complexity. A pride of lions, for example, is chaotic. To succeed, I must constantly scan the scene, ready to capture the instant when a gesture or glance reveals a story worth telling.
Two male lions grooming one another
Conservation Through Connection
Eye contact and emotional storytelling are not only artistic choices—they are also ethical ones. When people see individuality in a lion’s stare or tenderness in an elephant’s gaze, they are less likely to reduce animals to statistics or abstractions. They become neighbors and kin.
This matters deeply in a time when so many species face existential threats. Wildlife photography can awaken empathy, and empathy can inspire action. A single image may not save a species, but it can shift perspectives, ignite conversations, and encourage conservation efforts.
For me, this is the true power of fine art wildlife photography. It transforms viewers from spectators into participants in the story of our shared planet.
Two elephants trunk to trunk
Fine Art Wildlife Photography masters
In fine art wildlife photography, the photographer is not just a recorder but someone who translates fleeting encounters into timeless art.
My photography vision has been shaped by photographers I deeply admire. These include-
Nick Brandt, whose black-and-white images convey majesty and fragility with haunting power. Over I decade ago I invested in two of his limited edition prints and they bring me joy and inspiration every time I look at them
Federico Veronesi, whose mastery of shadow and light transforms the animals that inhabit the African savannah into dreamscapes. His latest book “Walk the Earth” is a timeless tribute to the last Great Tuskers who walked the Earth
Marsel van Oosten, who highlights the elegance of form and pattern in nature.
David Lloyd, whose portraits radiate quiet dignity and soul with his masterful compositions
Their work reminds me that photography can be both art and advocacy. For anyone wanting to grow as a photographer, I recommend studying their images, reading their books, and reflecting on their approach. They exemplify how art can inspire empathy and conservation.
Conclusion: Only Connect
As I reflect on my 60th Birthday and fifteen years of wildlife photography, one truth stands out to me-connection is everything. I have enjoyed a month of celebrations with family and friends across each decade of my life. That has brought me enormous joy. As I am about to embark on another photo expedition across Zambia, Botswana and Amboseli I am excited about the new moments of connection that await me.
The images I treasure most are not just pictures of animals; they are encounters. They are moments when another being acknowledged my presence, or when I witnessed the connections they shared with one another. These encounters have left an indelible mark on me, and I hope they do the same for those who view my work.
In the end, fine art wildlife photography is not about capturing animals. It is about revealing presence, dignity, and soul. It is about reminding us that we are not alone on this planet, and that every glance across species is an invitation to connect.
As Howard’s End so beautifully says: Only connect
Image of me feeding an orphaned Elephant at the amazing Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphange
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this blog. In the coming weeks I’ll be adding to my thoughts on Fine Art Wildlife Photography looking at how black and white can create timeless images and the power of environment in wildlife photography.
If you are interested in knowing more let me know your questions via this link or connect with me on Instagram . Many of these images are available to buy via my Print Shop so do take a look and also find out more of their back story.
Thank you for your time.
Jules
