Light, Ticks & Camera Tricks

I always find there’s some pressure when it comes to shooting Angama properties simply because everything is so beautiful. The design, fall of light, carefully chosen materials and endless support from the staff in getting you exactly what you need or want for a scene all mean that as a photographer, it’s on you to create magic because the conditions are already there.  

That being said, standing knee-deep in long grass outside Suite 3 of Angama Amboseli, I was facing pressure of a different kind.  

Crawling up my legs were at least three hard bont ticks... and those were just the ones I could see. Of course, most guests would never encounter many ticks here, as they would stick to the paths. But does any well-meaning lodge photographer do that? Certainly not! The perfect angles always seem to be behind the furthest bush or the most inconvenient tree.  

‘Do you want gum boots?’ Bryan, Angama’s resident videographer, yelled helpfully from the safety of the Suite. ‘No, thank you!’ I yelled back, brushing the ticks off with resolve, noting the failing light and the shortening of time before my photography window would be up, but mainly noting my stubbornness.  

Skip forward a day, and that had all changed. Clad in overalls and gaiters and clutching a can of insect repellent, I was ready to face the hordes of pepper tick nests and those pesky bont ticks that are easier to see but not great to find. Much to everyone’s amusement, my name was quickly changed from Teagan to ‘Tickan’.  

It’s incredible how quickly five days can fly by. Alita, Angama’s Head of Marketing, and I set out to capture every corner of Angama Amboseli to share what makes it so special. Mount Kilimanjaro peeked shyly above Suite roofs and floated above clouds, CGI-large in the landscape. 

Early starts and late evening finishes were the name of the game, always accompanied by decaf coffee for me and good humour by Alita and the Angama team. We 'tick-ed' off scene by scene. Yet, still, there felt like more to shoot — the beauty of Kimana Sanctuary and the lodge kept unfolding around us, providing endless photographic opportunities.

One misty morning, as the fog rolled in, elephants emerged through the haze, walking straight toward the Guest Suites. I quickly made the decision to deviate from the original plan for the morning and we all jumped in the safari vehicle to capture what turned out to be some of my favourite shots.

The light filtering through the towering green-hued fever trees onto the chanting Maasai warriors had me entranced. The play of light and shadow on the walls and floors was in constant motion throughout the day — a quiet nod to the clever minds who considered every detail long before we arrived. 

It was while walking towards the Mnara (along the path this time) that it struck me. Angama’s mission is to delight guests, but here I was, a working photographer, delightfully 'TICKled'.

Teagan Cunniffe has now photographed all three Angama properties — from Angama Mara to the Angama Safari Camp, and now Angama Amboseli. With a background in editorial photography and a career that’s taken her from horseback journeys to high-end design shoots, her lens brings warmth, wit and precision to every story told.