BLACKRAPID SPOTLIGHT: Randall Ball

Randall Ball Photography – Wildlife

Randall Ball is an internationally award-winning wildlife and fine-art photographer with a background as a U.S. Marine combat photographer and former FBI forensic photographer. His work blends technical mastery with storytelling, capturing intimate moments of wildlife from across the globe.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Technical excellence matters, but emotion is what makes an image linger. If it tells a story or makes you feel something, that’s what resonates…no one cares what f/stop or shutter speed it was.

Up Close and Personal

Early one morning in Ndutu, Tanzania I was with a guest and we were photographing these two big male lions strolling down a dirt road right towards us. My guest and I leaned—somewhat precariously—out of the vehicle with inverted monopods, chasing a low-angle shot.

I was tracking him at 70mm when I realized he was filling the frame… then realized he was really close, like too close to focus the frame close. I calmly said to my guest “Freeze…Don’t make any sudden movements.” Because let’s be honest—he’s a big cat, and what do cats love to do when you dangle something in front of them and jerk it around?

Thankfully, like most lions, he was completely habituated to vehicles and walked past without so much as a glance. Close enough for a photo? Absolutely.