Benjamin James

Benjamin James is an ex-professional athlete turned wildlife photographer, conservationist, and filmmaker. Widely regarded as one of the top jaguar photographers in the world, his work captures raw, intimate moments of big cats in the wild — particularly deep in the Brazilian Pantanal.

He was a freelance videographer for The Wild Immersion, a company using immersive nature content to educate and inspire the next generation of conservationists. Benjamin is also the founder and director of CLIC, an NGO dedicated to providing solar power to remote Indigenous communities in Colombia.

His visual storytelling, deep field experience, and passionate conservation work make him a trusted voice in wildlife tourism — and a tour leader who doesn’t just take you to the jaguars, but teaches you how to see them.

📸 View his SONY Alpha Creator profile:
alphauniverse.com/member/#/benjamin-james

This tour is designed for anyone who feels a deep connection to nature — whether you’re a seasoned wildlife photographer, a beginner just learning to use your camera, or someone who simply loves animals and wild places.

You don’t need to be a professional. You don’t need the best gear. All you need is curiosity, patience, and a desire to witness the natural world in its rawest form. Benjamin James will be there every step of the way — offering guidance, helping you improve your photography (if that’s your goal), and ensuring you get the best possible angles, light, and sightings.

Whether you're building your portfolio, chasing your first big cat image, or just want to be fully present in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, this experience is crafted to meet you where you are.

You’ll leave with unforgettable memories, improved photography skills, and a deeper understanding of the Pantanal’s extraordinary ecosystem.

Animal Behaviour

In your wildlife photography tour, you will be taught everything you need to know about wildlife photography; and understanding animal behaviour as all our settings change depending on the animal and their behaviours. Understand gear, camera setup and settings for optimal results. We will master advanced focus techniques for tracking animals and birds

Shoot manually

We will learn to use every setting manually to give your photography its own unique style. Only you know what you want within in a picture, automatic settings or aperture priority etc only know what the camera wants.

Shutter speeds

This photography differs from other wildlife photography as you are handheld on a boat, there is always movement, so you build the skill of having a steady hand.

The Camera

We will learn about the technical aspects of the camera and lenses

Yes — and this is where the magic (or the mess) happens.

Each evening, after a full day on the river photographing jaguars and other wildlife, we’ll sit down together, load our shots into Adobe Lightroom, and dive into the editing process. This is your chance to take great images and make them exceptional — or, if you’re not careful, overdo it and lose the essence of the shot.

I’ve seen it happen many times: people spend thousands on gear and travel, only to wreck their images in post. That won’t be you.

We’ll focus on:

• Developing your own editing style — so your work stays consistent and recognizable.

• Understanding the histogram — learning to balance highlights, shadows, blacks, and whites without crushing your image.

• Color grading and tonal correction — to bring your photos to life without making them look unnatural.

• Selective adjustments — using masks, gradients, and brushes to draw attention where it matters.

• Sharpening, noise control, and export settings — to make sure your photos look crisp whether they’re going online or to print.

By the end of the tour, you’ll know not just how to shoot powerful images — but how to finish them properly and consistently.

You don’t need the latest, most expensive setup — but having the right tools will make a big difference. Here’s what we recommend for getting the most out of your time in the Pantanal:

📷 Camera Bodies

You can’t go wrong with anything from Sony, Nikon, or Canon. Mirrorless or DSLR — both are welcome. The key is having a camera you’re familiar with and comfortable using.

🔭 Lenses

Reach matters in wildlife photography. While a 70–200mm lens is incredibly versatile (especially for birds, landscapes, or animals that get close), the sweet spot in the Pantanal is around 400mm — which is why Benjamin James uses a 400mm prime.

Other strong options:

• 100–400mm – A great all-rounder for both close encounters and long shots.

• 200–600mm – Ideal for maximum versatility and reach, especially for birds or elusive animals at a distance.

• 1.4x or 2x teleconverters – For those who want to extend their range further without changing lenses.

🎒 Other Essentials

• Extra batteries and memory cards (you’ll shoot a lot).

• A fast, portable SSD or hard drive for backups.

• A laptop with Lightroom for editing sessions (optional but strongly recommended).

• Rain cover for your gear — Pantanal weather can be unpredictable.

• A camera strap or harness for comfort during long hours on the boat.

You don’t need the fanciest gear — but a well-matched setup will help you capture sharper, closer, and more impactful images.