Top 100 Photos: Before and After

To edit, or not to edit, that is the question…

How important is editing? Some wildlife photographers religiously refuse to add or subtract anything, but photo software is so powerful these days that they might be missing out—especially if they don’t use generative AI! Do you believe your photos should be as representative as possible or as visually appealing? Are you a journalist or an artist?

I guess the only real test is to see the ‘before’ and ‘after’. Here are my Top 100 favourite shots before and after editing. Some of the ‘Before’ versions are quite frankly embarrassing, but which do you prefer…?!

(Images shown in alphabetical order.)

Before

After

"Ah, grasshopper..."

A lilac-breasted roller carrying a dead grasshopper in its beak lifts its wings to take off from the leafy branch of a bush. It has brown eyes, a grey beak, a white crown, lilac breast, turquoise and blue wings and long tail feathers. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 800mm lens in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania in January 2018.

ISO 640, 800mm, f/8, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

"Behind you!"

A cheetah chases a Thomson's gazelle in a clearing amongst whistling thorn acacia trees. It has golden fur covered with black spots, and its tail is thrown out at an angle for balance. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 320, 800mm, f/8, 1/1600, 0 EV

Before

After

"Bundle!"

A lioness lies covered in playful cubs on the grassy savannah at dusk. There are so many of them that only her face and paw can be seen. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in March 2019.

ISO 2000, 1000mm, f/8, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

"Call the Fire Brigade...!"

A leopard sits in the forked trunk of a tree. It has a brown, spotted coat and is looking straight at the camera. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 160, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

"Chase me, chase me...!"

A cheetah races along with a green safari truck in the background. It has golden fur covered with black spots, and its legs and the background are blurred by the slow shutter speed. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 280, 800mm, f/16, 1/100, 0.33 EV

Before

After

"Come on, darling, it's just a rock..."

A king penguin looks down and wonders what's lying on the beach: is it an egg to nest on or just a rock to step over? Another penguin is having a look, too, and they both have black and orange heads, white breasts with orange patches at the throat, grey backs and flippers and black feet. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in St Andrew's Bay, South Georgia, in February 2016.

ISO 200, 135mm, f/5, 1/640, 0.67 EV

Before

After

"Give me a lion - on the rocks"

A young male lion pokes his head above a rocky ledge under a blue sky. He has a short mane and is staring straight at the camera. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 140, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

"How 'Bout Them Cubs?"

Two cheetah cubs cuddle up under the tummy of their mother. They have brown, spotted coats and are looking straight at the camera. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 360, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/500, 1 EV

Before

After

"Is this close enough...?"

A male leopard stares at the camera. It has a brown, spotted coat, whiskers and a green eye. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in June 2019.

ISO 3200, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/250, 0 EV

Before

After

"It's always harder climbing down..."

A leopard stands in a tree that is covered in lichen. It has black spots on its brown fur coat and is turning its head to look up. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 1800, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

"Keep off the Grass"

A Kirk's dik-dik faces the camera from a shady spot in long grass surrounded by bushes. It has a brown coat, two short horns and a pale ring around the eyes. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens at Klein's Camp, Tanzania, in March 2019.

ISO 500, 800mm, f/8, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

"No means no!"

A lioness is about to slap a male lion with its paw after mating. They both have golden coats and are standing on a patch of burnt grass in the warm evening light. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in the Serengeti in Tanzania in March 2019.

ISO 180, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

"Tiger, tiger, burning bright…"

A Bengal tigress lies up to her neck in the dark shadows of a water hole. Her name is Maya 'The Enchantress', and she has orange and black stripes with white patches on her head. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 800mm lens in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in India in May 2017.

ISO 400, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

"Who turned out the lights?"

The golden profile of a giraffe's head and neck can be seen against a pure black background. Shot with a Nikon D800 and an 80-400mm lens at the Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno, near Santander, Spain, in June 2017.

ISO 1100, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/4000, -2 EV

Before

After

"You should see me run..."

A male cheetah jumps down from the diagonal trunk of a tree. He has brown fur covered with black spots, and in the background can be seen a line of trees. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 560, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

68mph

A cheetah races along with its legs tucked under its body. It has golden fur covered with black spots, and its legs and the background are blurred by the slow shutter speed. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 250, 800mm, f/16, 1/100, 0.33 EV

Before

After

A Watchful Eye

An Indian roller with a catchlight in its eye perches on a thin branch in a forest. It has a pinkish face with a blue patch on top of its head and brown wings. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in May 2023.

ISO 200, 600mm, f/4, 1/2500, -3 EV

Before

After

Alley Cat

A leopard is running over tyre marks on a sandy track through long grass in the golden light of dusk. It has golden eyes, black spots on a yellowish-brown coat and a white tuft at the end of its tail. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in Chobe National Park in Botswana in April 2016.

ISO 450, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/400, 0 EV

Before

After

Backlit Beauty

A plains zebra stands in silhouette as the sun clears the horizon at dawn. It is backlit, so all you can see is the outline of its head and mane. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 600mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, in August 2023.

ISO 100, 840mm, f/10, 1/1000, -2 EV

Before

After

Basking Baboon

A chacma baboon sits basking in the early morning light among shadowy bushes. It has a brown coat and is lifting its head towards the sun. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 200, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -2.7 EV

Before

After

Bateleur Beauty

A bateleur eagle perches on a dead branch in the early morning sunshine. It has brown, black and white feathers with a red and yellow beak and red talons. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 320, 600mm, f/4, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

Bath Time

A Bengal tigress with a catchlight in her eye lies up to her neck in the dark shadows of a water hole. Her name is Maya 'The Enchantress', and she has orange and black stripes with white patches on her head. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 800mm lens in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in India on 13 May 2017, which just happened to be my birthday!

ISO 220, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, -2 EV

Before*

After

Bear Gills

A brown bear with shaggy, brown fur is about to catch a salmon in its mouth at the top of Brooks Falls, Alaska. The fish is only a few inches away from its gaping jaws. Shot with a Nikon D800 and a 28-300mm lens in Alaska, USA, in July 2015.

ISO 400, 300mm, f/9.0, 1/1600, 0 EV

*Note: I no longer have the Raw file, so the ‘Before’ image was actually edited by Paul at Genesis Imaging. Sorry…

Before

After

Black and Blue

The right eye of a Grévy's zebra can be seen in close-up against a blueish background. Shot with a Nikon D800 and an 80-400mm lens at the Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno, near Santander, Spain, in June 2017.

ISO 1100, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/250, 0 EV

Before

After

Blue Bird

A lilac-breasted roller with a catchlight in its eye flies in the sunshine, looking towards the camera. It has turquoise and blue wings, a lilac neck and a black and white stripe on its head. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, in August 2023.

ISO 800, 600mm, f/4, 1/3200, 0 EV

Before

Blue Lagoon

Catfishing

An African darter swimming in the Chobe river tosses a catfish in the air. It has a brown and white striped neck with a translucent throat, backlit by the sun. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 125, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Cheetahs Never Win

A female cheetah sits in a grassy plain, turning her head to the right. She has brown fur covered with black spots, and the background is blurred out. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens at Kicheche Bush Camp in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 220, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Cub Scouts

A cheetah cub lies against the curved wall of a concrete pipe looking out while its sibling stands facing the other way. They have golden fur covered with black spots, and the pipe is surrounded by long grass. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 1600, 800mm, f/8, 1/1000, -0.33 EV

Before

After

Cuteness Personified

A young cheetah cub lies snuggling next to its mother on a grassy plain. They both have brown fur covered with black spots, and the cub is scanning the savannah. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 360, 800mm, f/11, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Dark Waters

A male white rhino walks past a waterhole at night. It has brown, wrinkled skin and one long and one short horn on its head. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens in the Greater Kruger, South Africa, in June 2024.

ISO 1250, 130mm, f/2.8, 1/60, -2 EV

Before

After

Dawn Yoga

A lioness lies on the horizon in silhouette against the golden sky at sunrise. She is facing the camera with one leg stretched out on one side and her tail on the other. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 100, 130mm, f/5.6, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Downward Cat

A female leopard stretches her back on a rocky ledge surrounded by bushes. She has brown fur with a white underbelly and rings of black spots. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens at Ol Jogi, Kenya, in April 2022.

ISO 2500, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -0.7 EV

Before

After

Dust Bird

A water thick-knee nestles on the dusty Chobe floodplain. It has mottled brown, black and white plumage, and there's a catchlight in its yellow eye. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 800, 600mm, f/4, 1/3200, -0.3 EV

Before

After

Dustbuster

An elephant is throwing dust over itself with its trunk on a bare earth slope with trees in the background under a blue sky. It has mud stains on its trunk, and the dust is exploding in a cloud against its wrinkled grey skin. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in Chobe National Park in Botswana in April 2016.

ISO 140, 85mm, f/8, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Dusty the Elephant

A baby elephant lies on the Chobe riverbank, lifting its leg in the air. It has grey, wrinkled skin and has a catchlight in its eye. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 800, 600mm, f/4, 1/2000, 0 EV

Before

After

Easy Tiger

A male Bengal tiger walks through the forest, which is blurred in the background. He has orange and black stripes with white patches on his head and chest. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in May 2023.

ISO 50, 600mm, f/20, 1/5, 0 EV

Before

After

Eddie the Penguin

Three Adélie penguins watch another jumping between two ice floes. They have black heads and backs with white bellies. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens on Brown Bluff, Antarctica, in February 2016.

ISO 72, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

Eland Horizon

A common eland stands on the horizon just after sunset. It is thrown into silhouette by the bright orange sky. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya, in January 2024.

ISO 100, 600mm, f/7.1, 1/20, 0 EV

Before

After

Eye of the Rhino

A black rhinoceros stands staring towards the camera, lit from the side by the golden rays of the rising sun. It has brown, leathery skin and a long horn pointing vertically. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 600mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter at Ol Jogi, Kenya, in April 2022.

ISO 800, 840mm, f/5.6, 1/320, 0 EV

Before

After

Eyes Left

A Dalmatian pelican floats on a calm, blue lake, turning its head and casting a reflection. It has white plumage with a pink eye and a yellow and pink beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 400mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 100, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/8000, -2 EV

Before

After

Feeding Frenzy

One of a flock of Dalmatian pelicans stretches its neck and opens its beak to grab a fish lying on a rocky shoreline. It has white plumage with an orange eye and a pink and black beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 24-70mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 100, 26mm, f/2.8, 1/12800, -3 EV

Before

After

Fly Bee

A European bee-eater perched on a dead tree stump tosses a fly up in the air. It has green and brown wings with a black, brown and yellow head. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens at Kicheche Bush Camp in the Masai Mara, Kenya, in January 2021.

ISO 250, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/640, 1 EV

Before

After

Flying Kite

A yellow-billed kite lifts its wings coming in to land. It has mottled brown feathers, black eyes and a yellow beak and legs. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in October 2022.

ISO 500, 600mm, f/4, 1/3200, 0 EV

Before

After

Getting the Hump

A humpback whale surfaces just in front of an inflatable boat packed with photographers wearing multicoloured jackets and carrying cameras. The whale's dorsal fin is visible above the waves, and in the background can be seen a steep cliff covered in snow. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 400mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter at Foyn Harbour on Enterprise Island off the Antarctic Peninsula in December 2021.

ISO 640, 560mm, f/4, 1/2000, 1 EV

Before

After

Gnu Horizon

A blue wildebeest on the horizon is silhouetted against a yellow and black sky at sunset. Its horns are visible in outline, and it's standing with its head turned. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Serengeti, Tanzania, in April 2019.

ISO 64, 800mm, f/8, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

Going for Gold

A male lion is lying down facing right. The golden outline of his head, mane and paws can be seen against a pure black background. Shot with a Nikon Z8 and a 600mm lens in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, in July 2024.

ISO 64, 600mm, f/4, 1/4000, -5 EV

Before

After

Golden Pelican

A great white pelican comes in to land out of a clear, blue sky above distant, snow-capped mountains. It has white plumage with a pink eye and a pink and yellow beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 100, 70mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, -1 EV

Before

After

Green on Green

A white-fronted bee-eater watches the camera from a strand of barbed wire. It has a red, orange, white and black head with a green tail and wings. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens near Kambaku River Lodge, South Africa, in May 2024.

ISO 1250, 600mm, f/4, 1/2000, 0 EV

Before

After

Green-eyed Monster

A leopard lies in the fork of a tree with its head up. It has black spots on its brown fur coat and is looking for prey. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 64, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

He-Lion

A male lion lies with its head bathed in the light of dawn. It has a big mane and is staring into the distance. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in March 2019.

ISO 280, 1000mm, f/7.1, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Hippo Floats

A hippopotamus stands up to its eyes in a waterhole, staring toward the camera. The reflection of the clouds makes it look like it's floating in mid-air. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens at Kicheche Bush Camp in the Masai Mara, Kenya, in January 2021.

ISO 900, 800mm, f/8, 1/1000, 2 EV

Before

After

Horn of Africa

A backlit Cape buffalo stands facing the camera at dawn. Its body is in silhouette, and the sun is rising above the horizon behind it. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens at Kicheche Bush Camp in Kenya in January 2021.

ISO 90, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Hot to Trot

A blue wildebeest gallops across the savannah in the sunshine. Its legs and tail are blurred by the speed. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in April 2019.

ISO 31, 400mm, f/9, 1/50, 0 EV

Before

After

It's All Downhill From Here

A female cheetah chases a female common impala down a rocky slope. She has golden fur covered with black spots, and her tail is thrown out at an angle for balance. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya, in January 2024.

ISO 500, 600mm, f/4, 1/3200, 0 EV

Before

After

Jurassic Bark

A marine iguana is lying in dappled sunlight among rocks, leaves and moss-covered tree roots. It has a scaly black skin with brown and green patches and is in the middle of the frame staring straight at the camera. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador in January 2016.

ISO 400, 400mm, f/5.6, 1/250, 0 EV

Before

After

Last of the Mohicans

A long-tailed macaque with brown fur and a pinkish face leans on a bamboo pole in the trunk of a tree. Its head is resting on both its front paws, and it is looking straight at the camera. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 80-400mm lens on Monkey Island in Can Gio, Vietnam, in August 2018.

ISO 720, 330mm, f/5.6, 1/400, 0 EV

Before

After

Light Elephant

A female African bush elephant stands looking towards the camera, lit dramatically from the side against a black background. It has short tusks, and its trunk hangs down to the ground. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 70-200mm lens and a 2x teleconverter in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2022.

ISO 400, 242mm, f/5.6, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

Lions Rampant

During mating, a male lion and a lioness roar at each other. The female is lying down, and the male is crouching above her. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in March 2019.

ISO 450, 800mm, f/8, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before*

After

Little Brown Job

Close-up of a golden eagle's head with a catchlight in its eye in bright sunshine against a blurred grassy background. Shot with a Nikon D800 and a 50-500mm lens at Battle Abbey in East Sussex, England, in October 2014.

ISO 110, 500mm, f/9, 1/250, 0 EV

*Note: I no longer have the Raw file, so the ‘Before’ image is actually edited. Sorry…

Before

After

Live Cat Bounce

A male Bengal tiger races across a dirt track through the forest, passing a parked jeep. He has orange and black stripes with white patches on his head and chest. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in May 2023.

ISO 1000, 95mm, f/2.8, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

Long Jump

A young greater kudu jumps over a sandy track through the bushes. It has a brown coat with vertical white stripes on its flank. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 200, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, 0 EV

Before

After

Low Profile

A lioness lies on the horizon in silhouette against the golden sky at sunrise. She is facing left, staring into the distance. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 720, 400mm, f/16, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Lying Low

A Dalmatian pelican floats on a calm, blue lake, resting its head, neck and beak on its body and casting a reflection. It has white plumage with an orange eye and an orange and black beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 400mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 250, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/32000, -2 EV

Before

After

Miss Saigon

A blue wildebeest is silhouetted against the setting sun on the horizon. It has curved horns and is walking towards the sunset. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 280, 800mm, f/16, 1/500, 0.67 EV

Before

After

Mother's Pride

A lion cub sits staring towards the camera. It has mottled brown fur with a paler chest and a bright rim of gold around it due to the backlighting. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 600mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter at Ol Jogi, Kenya, in April 2022.

ISO 400, 840mm, f/5.6, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

Nesting

An African fish eagle flies overhead, carrying nesting material in its talons. It has a white head and neck, a yellow beak, brown wings and yellow claws. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 250, 600mm, f/4, 1/2000, 0 EV

Before

After

No Limits

A Dalmatian pelican floats on a calm, blue lake, casting a reflection. It has white plumage with an orange eye and a red and black beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 400mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 100, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/8000, -2 EV

Before

After

Oh!

A young chacma baboon sits playing with a stick and yawning. It has a brown coat and brown eyes with catchlights in them. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 400, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Olympia

A leopard lies on the branch of a tree that is covered in lichen. It has black spots on its brown fur coat and is looking for prey. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in the Masai Mara in Kenya in July 2018.

ISO 800, 800mm, f/5.6, 1/250, -1 EV

Before

After

On a Wing and a Prayer

A lilac-breasted roller with a catchlight in its eye takes off from a thorny branch, looking towards the camera. It has turquoise and blue wings, a lilac neck and a black and white stripe on its head. Shot with a Nikon D850, an 800mm lens and a 1.25x teleconverter at Klein's Camp, Tanzania, in April 2019.

ISO 2500, 1000mm, f/16, 1/2000, 0 EV

Before

After

On the Hop

A Dalmatian pelican lifts its wings and hops along to help it take off from a lake near a row of trees on the shoreline. It's silhouetted against the light of dawn with golden highlights on its head and neck. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 400mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 250, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/12800, -2 EV

Before

After

Panning for Gold

A female cheetah races past on the African savannah. Her head is sharp, but her legs and the background are blurred by the speed. Shot with a Nikon Z8 and a 600mm lens in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya, in December 2024.

ISO 32, 600mm, f/13, 1/25, -1 EV

Before

After

Paws for Thought

A lion cub walks through long grass towards the camera. It is lifting its right paw and staring intently. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in April 2019.

ISO 2000, 1000mm, f/8, 1/500, 0 EV

Before*

After

Pig-aboo

A pig peeps out from behind a wall on the street in an old Indian village. Shot with a Nikon D800 and a 28-300mm lens at Tordi Sagar in India in November 2013.

ISO 250, 300mm, f/11, 1/125, 0 EV

*Note: I no longer have the Raw file, so the ‘Before’ image is actually edited. Sorry…

Before

After

Red Run

An African wild dog bounds across a sandy road, backlit by the early morning sunshine. It has a brown and black coat, and its body, legs and tail are outlined in gold. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa, in June 2024.

ISO 640, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Road Runner

A male Bengal tiger races across a dirt track through the forest, chasing another male off his territory. He has orange and black stripes with white patches on his head and chest. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in May 2023.

ISO 1000, 95mm, f/2.8, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

Rock, Tree, Leopard

A female leopard lies on a rock surrounded by trees. She has brown fur with a white chest and rings of black spots. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 600mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter at Ol Jogi, Kenya, in April 2022.

ISO 1250, 840mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Shadow Cat

A female leopard walks past shadowy bushes in the early morning sunshine. She has a golden eye, white whiskers and a tawny coat covered in black spots. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 100, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1.7 EV

Before

After

Shell Game

A leopard tortoise walks across a dry, grassy plain. It has a black shell with mottled brown spots and scaly front legs. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens at Ol Jogi, Kenya, in April 2022.

ISO 100, 158mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

Side-by-Side

Two Dalmatian pelicans swim side-by-side in bright sunshine across a lake, reflected in the rippled water. They have white plumage with orange eyes and red and black beaks. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 400mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 200, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/32000, -2 EV

Before

After

Stealth

A male Bengal tiger walks in darkness, lit by the setting sun. He has orange and black stripes with white patches on the head. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in May 2023.

ISO 800, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Take a Bough

A female leopard lies on the branch of a tree at sunset, lifting her head and dangling a paw. She has a tawny coat with black spots. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2024.

ISO 500, 600mm, f/4, 1/500, -1 EV

Before

After

Take Me Home

A lioness walks down a gravel airstrip next to her young cub. They both have golden coats, made to glow in the warm early morning light. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 800mm lens in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in May 2019.

ISO 640, 800mm, f/8, 1/500, 0 EV

Before

After

The Eye of the Tiger

A Bengal tiger pokes its head past a tree in a forest, letting its mouth hang open. It has orange, black and white stripes on its head. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Bandhavgarh National Park, India, in May 2023.

ISO 2000, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -3 EV

Before

After

The Last Mile

A blue wildebeest walks at dawn along the horizon. Its body is thrown into silhouette by the sun rising above distant hills. Shot with a Nikon Z8 and a 600mm lens in Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya, in December 2024.

ISO 64, 600mm, f/4, 1/26000, -2 EV

Before

After

The Pointer

A male polar bear stands on the tundra, lifting his paw as if he's a pointer. He is backlit in the darkness, so you can only see his golden silhouette. Shot with a Nikon D850 and an 80-400mm lens at Arviat in Nunavut, Canada, in November 2021.

ISO 80, 270mm, f/9, 1/3200, -4 EV

Before

After

The Rock

A backlit chacma baboon sits on top of a termite mound. It's a silhouette surrounded by golden rim lighting against a black background. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in October 2022.

ISO 500, 600mm, f/4, 1/1000, -1 EV

Before

After

Three's a Crowd

Three male lions take down a female Cape buffalo on the African savannah. They are all grabbing her from behind with their claws and teeth as the buffalo falls to earth. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in the Serengeti in Tanzania in April 2019.

ISO 1250, 260mm, f/11, 1/1250, 0 EV

Before

After

Too Close for Comfort

A male polar bear stares towards the camera with a single golden eye on the left side of his face. He has whitish fur that has a blue tinge in the early morning light. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 400mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter at Arviat in Nunavut, Canada, in November 2021.

ISO 8000, 560mm, f/4, 1/1000, 0 EV

Before

After

Tortoise Crossing

A Galápagos tortoise lumbers slowly across a long, straight dirt road that stretches off to the horizon. Beyond the grass verge, there is dense forest on either side. Shot with a Nikon D810 and an 80-400mm lens in the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador in January 2016.

ISO 360, 400mm, f/8, 1/200, 0 EV

Before

After

Watch the Birdies

Two little bee-eaters perch on a diagonal branch with a green, leafy background. They are both turning their heads and have catchlights in their eyes. They have green, yellow and black feathers and black beaks. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 600mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in May 2022.

ISO 640, 840mm, f/5.6, 1/3200, -1 EV

Before

After

Wet and Wild

A female cheetah races through standing water in the African savannah. Her feet are gathered under her, and she leaves a splash of water in her wake. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya, in January 2024.

ISO 5000, 600mm, f/8, 1/1600, 0 EV

Before

After

White Run

A gentoo penguin stands in profile at the top of a snowy slope, holding its flippers by its sides and thrusting its head forward. It has a white chest, black and white head and red beak, but everything is blurred by a fierce blizzard. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 400mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter on Danco Island off the Antarctic Peninsula in December 2021.

ISO 640, 560mm, f/4, 1/2000, 1 EV

Before

After

Wing Beat

A malachite kingfisher beats its wings taking off from a river. It has an orange chest, a blue back, grey wings and a red beak, in which it's holding an insect it's just caught. Shot with a Nikon Z8 and a 600mm lens in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, in August 2024.

ISO 2200, 600mm, f/4, 1/2500, 0 EV

Before

After

Wing Forward

A little bee-eater with a catchlight in its eye spreads its wings as it dives towards the camera from a bare branch. It has green, yellow and black feathers and a black beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in October 2022.

ISO 500, 600mm, f/4, 1/3200, 0 EV

Before

After

Winged Wonder

A black-winged stilt flies along a river in the sunshine, raising its wings. It has black wings, a white body, red legs and eyes and a black beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 600mm lens in Chobe National Park, Botswana, in October 2022.

ISO 200, 600mm, f/4, 1/3200, -0.7 EV

Before

After

Winging it

An Antarctic petrel flies directly towards the camera. It's banking so far that its wings are positioned diagonally, and the sky is a perfect blue. Shot with a Sony ⍺1, a 400mm lens and a 1.4x teleconverter in the Southern Ocean in December 2021.

ISO 320, 560mm, f/4, 1/3200, 0 EV

Before

After

Wings of Gold

A Dalmatian pelican stretches out its wings and feet just before landing on a calm lake near snow-capped mountains. It has white plumage with an orange eye and a red and black beak. Shot with a Sony ⍺1 and a 70-200mm lens on Lake Kerkini, Greece, in February 2023.

ISO 320, 173mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, -1 EV

Verdict

I hope you preferred all the ‘After’ versions to the ‘Befores’, but that still leaves the question of which edits are valid and which aren’t. Paul Goldstein once warned me about ‘going too far’ with my changes in Lightroom, and I freely admit that’s a risk, but I reserve the right to make up my own mind!

I classify myself as an artist rather than a journalist, so I’m not trying to make my images look representational or naturalistic. However, I don’t want them to look unrealistic either—and it’s a fine line between beautiful and fake!

I know that some people would never do this on principle, but I’m happy to remove distractions with the Lightroom remove tool using generative AI. I accept that some wildlife photographers or viewers of wildlife images might want to represent real life, warts and all, but I don’t think they should assume that’s the only approach.

If a photo contest has strict terms and conditions about post-processing (as well as baiting, wildness and training), I’m happy to comply. Their house, their rules. However, buyers of my prints or digital downloads might not be so fussy, so I’m happy to oblige them by providing versions of my works that are as aesthetically pleasing as possible—whatever I have to do to them in Lightroom!

What’s your view on this? Are you a strict ‘representationalist’, or do you see yourself as a no-holds-barred digital artist? Perhaps you’re somewhere in between. Either way, feel free to leave a comment below.




If you’d like to order a framed print of one of my wildlife photographs, please visit the Prints page.

If you’d like to book a lesson or order an online photography course, please visit my Lessons and Courses pages.

Nick Dale
I read English at Oxford before beginning a career as a strategy consultant in London. After a spell as Project Manager, I left to set up various businesses, including raising $5m in funding as Development Director for www.military.com in San Francisco, building a £1m property portfolio in Notting Hill and the Alps and financing the first two albums by Eden James, an Australian singer-songwriter who has now won record deals with Sony and EMI and reached number one in Greece with his first single Cherub Feathers. In 1998, I had lunch with a friend of mine who had an apartment in the Alps and ended up renting the place for the whole season. That was probably the only real decision I’ve ever made in my life! After ‘retiring’ at the age of 29, I spent seven years skiing and playing golf in France, Belgium, America and Australia before returning to London to settle down and start a family. That hasn’t happened yet, but I’ve now decided to focus on ‘quality of life’. That means trying to maximise my enjoyment rather than my salary. As I love teaching, I spend a few hours a week as a private tutor in south-west London and on assignment in places as far afield as Hong Kong and Bodrum. In my spare time, I enjoy playing tennis, writing, acting, photography, dancing, skiing and coaching golf. I still have all the same problems as everyone else, but at least I never get up in the morning wishing I didn’t have to go to work!
http://www.nickdalephotography.com
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