The world we live in is rich with beauty and these five spots provide exceptional opportunities to capture it. The next time you are ready for some adventure, grab your favorite video camera and get ready to get wild!
Denali National Park, Alaska
The landscape here is among the grandest in the United States, and the moose, wolves, and grizzly bears will strike a pose almost on command. Indeed, as these animals make their way through backdrops of tundra and glaciers alike, it will not be difficult to frame your photographs perfectly. Furthermore, migratory birds call the park home during late spring and summer, which makes this a favorite destination of bird watchers around the world.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
Of all the national wildlife refuges in America, this is the crown jewel. While the avian species you will see here provide splendid shots, this is a park where the ponies steal the show. While the mystery of exactly how the horses arrived on Assateague Island has yet to be solved, the mystery of their appeal will be evident the moment you shoot your first seconds of video.
Baja, Mexico
The surreal landscape of the western area of the peninsula provides the perfect backdrop for the more than 100 species of desert dwellers that reside here. In fact, the 30,000 square miles of desert will provide no shortage of opportunities to see scorpions and snakes, as well as eagles and falcons.
Banff National Park, Canada
While the American Rockies are beautiful, the Canadian Rockies have some of the most majestic mountains in the world that are filled with caribou, bears, and bison. Without a doubt, some of the best mountain backdrops can be captured here, and while wildlife species are plentiful here, wildlife filmmakers will have to search for them as they have become quite adept at hiding from prying lenses which makes shooting footage here a little more challenging than at other parks.
Ranthambore National Park, India
One of the best destinations in Asia, you will find leopards, tigers, and wild boar in abundance here. Indeed, the jungle canopy provides one of the most enchanting backdrops to film these beautiful animals in. Be forewarned that tigers can be a bit persnickety about appearing on camera, and they frequently come in for a close-up, which means you can leave your big zoom video camera at home.
Here are Five More Destinations for the Adventurous Wildlife Filmmaker!
I couldn’t just stop at five!
Here are five more destinations that every wildlife filmmaker must visit. Without question, these places will provide unique opportunities for wildlife filmmaking that you will not find anywhere else in the world.
The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Ever since Darwin first weighed anchor here, scientists and wildlife filmmakers have continued to flock here to capture the beauty of the avian, reptilian, and aquatic wildlife that inhabit these islands. One thing that wildlife cinematographers need to remember when packing for the Galapagos Islands is to bring the right cameras. Indeed, while the wildlife here will let you get up close and personal with them, the rugged terrain sometimes makes that difficult. Therefore, having a decent zoom will definitely come in handy.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
For most wildlife filmmakers, there is nothing more thrilling than getting up close and personal with lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, and of course, black rhinos. After a week here, you will have seen all of these animals and many, many, more as they coexist among the changing plains of the safari. Indeed, the excitement of shooting video here is unrivaled anywhere else in the world. One of the more recent additions to the park is the option to take a hot air balloon over the savannah so you can get a bird’s eye view of all the action taking place down below.
Antarctica
For the more adventurous filmmaker, Antarctica is a lesser visited destination where the rewards for the willing are well worth the trip. Leopard seals, whales, and dozens of other species can be found in abundance here. If you go, plan your trip in the summer months when it is just a little bit warmer as the wildlife are a little more active. When you go, be certain to pack plenty of batteries as the cold weather drains them very quickly.
The Bahamas
Grab your dive gear, because the best filmmaking here takes place beneath the waves. Sharks, turtles, living coral, and thousands of fish species inhabit the crystal clear waters here. Without a doubt, this is the best underwater filmmaking spot in the world. Most wildlife cinematographers like to visit a spot called The Out Islands due to the abundance of wildlife, shipwrecks, and corals that are found there. Furthermore, the famous “blue” holes are located here and provide a spectacular backdrop for the marine life that make their homes there.
Odzala Park, Republic of Congo
The silverback gorilla is quite justifiably the star of this national park. The brave wildlife filmmaker will have many opportunities to get up close and personal with the silverbacks here and capture their natural behaviors for everyone to see. In fact, if you have seen a picture of a silverback gracing the pages of National Geographic, there is a better than fair chance that it was taken here.
What Did I Miss?
How many were on your must film list? Do you have any on your list that you think should be on the list? Please share and post a comment and let me know. Or click on the Send Voicemail tab on the right side of the page and let me know if you agree or disagree.
A grizzly bear stands silhouetted against a stormy sky
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