Safari Testimonial – Martin de Graaff.
An inspiring client story from Kruger National Park — a week of wildlife, photography, and learning with Andrew Aveley.
I first met Andrew Aveley during a birding course in Makuleke in February 2024. He introduced himself, among other things, as the photographer who consistently shot using ETTL. To me, that was a curious remark, as it’s generally known that ETTR yields far better results. It seemed like a good thing I wasn’t taking his course 🙂 However, during that week, I became increasingly interested in his approach to photography. The participants under his guidance were also very positive about him. Once back in the Netherlands, I decided to have a better look on his website and dive into his photography style.
And I must say, his presentation, his photographs, and his overall approach started to appeal to me more. It increasingly appeared that he had a lot to offer.
So, around September last year, I emailed him to ask whether I could hire him for a week as a private guide and photo instructor. And I could. At the end of March 2025, we met in Kruger Park, and Andrew took me on a six-day photography journey. I wasn’t aiming to photograph specific animals. I mainly wanted to practice with light and composition, preferably in the style he himself used. Here is a synopsis of this six day trip.
What Does “Expose to the Left” (ETTL) Mean?
In modern digital photography, Expose to the Left (ETTL) is a technique where you intentionally underexpose your image slightly so that the histogram shifts more toward the left side, which represents the darker tones.
On day 1, Andrew explained that leading lines are important to him. But shooting through a natural frame often results in very surprising images. Even a single leading line can leave an impression, and don’t be afraid to underexpose, he said with a grin on his face.
On day 2, breakfast was ready at 5:30 AM, and at exactly 6:00 we were at the gate ready to leave. Andrew suggested to dedicate the first hour to backlight photography. At first, I thought this meant shooting wildlife or birds against the sun, but Andrew focused mainly on the foliage and plants. I would never have come up with that myself, but it produced fantastic images. And wildlife? Wildlife looks best in soft, low-angle light, Andrew said. And that’s easiest to find in the evening. Just like yesterday, ETTL was a major part of today’s session — and by now, I no longer needed to be convinced of the potential that this technique offers.
“How about black and white?” was the question after we’d been on the road for about an hour on day three. “Why?” I asked. “This is why,” said Andrew, and he showed me some photos he had just taken. With the explanation he gave, it quickly became clear to me how beautifully rim light can work in black & white.
Toward the end of the afternoon, Andrew concluded that the seeing, the wildlife, and the light were perfect for stunning evening shots. I don’t think he had the power to position both us and the buffaloes in exactly the right spot at the right time, but it sure looked like it. Here too, ETTL in combination with backlight worked brilliantly.
The following three days were filled with the pursuit of challenging light conditions, special species of animals and birds, and photographic moments that constantly pushed the boundaries of technique, composition, lighting, and artistic vision.
Sometimes, you get lucky in an unlucky moment: dull lighting and no wildlife in sight. But then suddenly, two foraging green parrots at the roadside. “Don’t mind the light, just go for the shot of the bird in flight.” They became enriching days for me, where I was continuously challenged to make the most out of the opportunities that presented themselves. The question of which animals or birds I wanted to see wasn’t. being asked anymore. But as the end of the week drew near, it seemed to bother Andrew more and more that we hadn’t yet seen a single lion or cheetah.
And I have no idea how he managed it, but in the end, everything fell into place: on the second-to-last day, we had an encounter with Casper, the white lion, and on the last day, we were able to follow and photograph a young cheetah for quite a while.
Did I learn anything from this photographer who so proudly wants to be known as Mr. ETTL? Absolutely. And not just in terms of photography, but also regarding wildlife management, bird knowledge, and respect for nature. And not unimportant during this week was Andrew’s excellent hospitality and his formidable cooking skills, though in all fairness, the dish prepared by Caroline, his wife, was also an absolute delight.
All I can say is thanks mate, for a wonderful, exciting, exhausting, and meaningful week.
See you next year.
Martin de Graaff, Netherlands.
