"The Intentional Frame: Visualizing Wildlife Images That Tell a Story"

Wildlife photographers often reach a point where their images feel technically correct—but emotionally flat.
You’ve nailed exposure, sharpness, and focus. Yet something is missing.

That missing piece is usually intention.

In this new Journal of Wildlife Photography Masterclass, world-renowned expedition leader and certified performance coach Gerry van der Walt will guide you through how to create with clarity—how to visualize your final image before you even lift your camera.

Gerry’s background bridges two worlds: decades of experience guiding photographers through Africa’s wildest landscapes, and formal training in psychology and human performance. This unique perspective helps photographers connect their technical skills to a deeper creative purpose.

What You’ll Learn

This session explores how to align your technical, creative, and emotional decisions—so every frame tells a story that matters.

1. Visualizing the Final Image Before You Shoot

Learn how to translate an idea or emotion into a visual goal. Gerry walks through how to pre-visualize the outcome so each click serves a larger story.

2. Photographing an Animal in Its Space vs. a Space That Happens to Have an Animal

Understand this subtle but powerful distinction—and how it completely changes composition, depth, and emotional impact.

3. Letting Story Drive Your Gear Choices

Gerry explains why great images come from decisions, not devices. You’ll learn to choose lenses, focal lengths, and perspectives based on the story you’re trying to tell.

4. Seeing More Within a Single Moment

A single wildlife encounter holds many untold images. Discover how to spot—and capture—multiple stories, compositions, and moods in a single scene.

5. Finding the Creative Opportunities Others Miss

Most photographers stop shooting once they get the “safe” shot. Gerry will show you how to push further, finding the 50% of potential that remains hidden in plain sight.

6. How Processing Begins in the Field

Your editing success depends on the clarity of your field vision. Learn how light, exposure, and framing choices simplify post-processing and preserve authenticity.

7. The Difference Between a Good Image and a Lasting One

Understand what separates technically perfect wildlife shots from those that truly resonate—and how to craft the kind of images that stay with your viewers.

Who This Masterclass Is For

This training is designed for photographers who want to go beyond technique and reconnect with why they shoot:

• You’ve mastered your camera but feel your work lacks emotional depth.
• You want to be more intentional and less reactive when you’re in the field.
• You’re ready to stop chasing luck and start designing moments.
• You’re ready to shoot not just for clarity—but for meaning.

About the Presenter

Gerry van der Walt is a professional wildlife photographer, expedition leader, and certified mindset and performance coach.
For over two decades, he has guided photographers through some of the most demanding environments on Earth—from the plains of Africa to the ice fields of the Arctic—helping them unlock both technical mastery and personal growth.

His approach bridges the worlds of art and psychology, showing photographers how to bring more awareness, intention, and emotion into every frame.