A heron flying over water with its wings outstretched, with a background of green reeds and water droplets
A small bird with orange, black, white, and gray feathers perches on a tree branch against a blurred green background.

Free Guide: Narrative in Wildlife Photography

A man wearing glasses and a brown cap is looking through the viewfinder of a large camera with a long telephoto lens, outdoors near a grassy area.
Person in camouflage clothing taking photos through a wooden window of a serene lakeside landscape with trees and bushes.

Capture more than a moment — tell a story.

Learn how to craft compelling photo sequences that reveal animal behaviour, emotional tension, and narrative depth

A bird with brown and blue feathers perched on a weathered tree branch against a blurred warm background, with a presentation title overlay about wildlife photography.

Inside you'll learn:

• The four essential components of a photo-narrative

• How to anticipate action and choose moments that matter

• Using time, behaviour, and environment as storytelling tools

• Tips for composing dynamic sequences — not just hero shots

Whether you’re just starting out or refining your wildlife photography voice, this short guide will help you see beyond the shutter.

Colorful male and female mandarin ducks swimming in dark water, with their reflection visible.

This is not a technical manual.

This is a storytelling guide for photographers who want to go deeper — to transform wildlife encounters into emotionally engaging narratives.

Written by Victor Sulakvelidze and built from live presentations at the WWT London Wetland Centre, this free PDF guide walks you through real-world examples of storytelling in the wild: from split-second heron hunts to seasonal portraits of blue tits, to the subtle drama of coot parenting and lapwing aerial dogfights.

A bird with a colorful red, white, black, and yellow plumage perched on a branch with green leaves and pink buds against a blurred green background.