Initially training as an economist, Renato swapped a life behind a desk for one behind a camera, and now works as a wildlife photographer and tour leader.
- “The current was swirling in all directions and my buddy’s bubbles were heading downwards. Not a sight any diver wants to see...”
- “I endured one and a half hours submerged in the freezing water, with only my head visible.” Wildlife photographer shares adventures above the Arctic Circle
How did your career in wildlife photography start?
After spending 15 years working behind desks for large corporations, I made the decision to quit and start a career in nature photography. I can proudly say that I have been enjoying life as a wildlife photographer since 2014.
Photography has given me the opportunity to have a much more dynamic existence, to travel the world and see things differently. I don’t see it as a job, rather a thrilling journey.
What has been a recent focus of your photography work?
I support Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary near Freetown, Sierra Leone, where staff care for orphans whose parents have been killed for bushmeat, and also rehabilitate injured individuals.
I have been visiting the sanctuary since 2020, taking photographs and making films that tell the story of these chimps, and that raise awareness of wildlife crime and other environmental issues. It’s not always been an easy topic, but it’s paramount to preserve the country’s wildlife and habitats, and to support local communities.
What have been the toughest conditions you’ve ever had to cope with?
I am fairly used to challenging environments – I’ve spent most of my photography career either in the freezing cold, or in hot and steamy environments such as equatorial jungles. Where I do struggle is at high altitudes. I remember once working at an elevation of more than 5,000m in Bolivia, and it was very difficult to breathe, eat and sleep.
What sort of cold conditions have you experienced?
I usually travel to the Arctic and Antarctica in summer, but I have visited Svalbard in winter a few times. Once, I spent several days at temperatures of -25˚C. Luckily I had packed a few extra layers of merino wool...
- Arctic animals that not only survive, but also thrive, in this inhospitable freezing landscape
- Amazing Antarctic animals – including one with antifreeze blood and another with razor-sharp teeth to bite air holes in the ice
What’s been your most memorable encounter with wildlife?
I’ve spent a lot of time with chimpanzees, both wild individuals in Uganda and Rwanda, and rescued individuals at Tacugama. Chimpanzees have been listed by the IUCN as Endangered since 1996, due to a number of factors, including poaching and habitat loss, and I want to show them in all their splendour and give them the dignity they deserve.
Spending so much time with these primates has had a huge impact on my life. They are our closest relatives, and over time my encounters with them have become increasingly memorable.
On one occasion, after spending several days with one particular troupe, a female sat in front of me breastfeeding her infant, suggesting a deep level of trust.
Which other species would you like to photograph one day?
At the very top of my list is a long overdue visit to a colony of emperor penguins. I have seen many penguins across the globe, including in South America, South Africa and New Zealand, but I still haven’t managed to see the largest penguin species on Earth.
Which item of kit would you never be without, photographic or otherwise?
Someone once said “the best camera is the one you have with you”. For me, vision is more important than physical equipment. When I find myself without a camera in front of something interesting, I instead frame the scene in my mind.
Doing this keeps my eyes trained to find new angles and perspectives. It helps me to build an idea, a plan, a vision, which I will then go back and execute.
Any tips for budding photographers?
Put aside the technical knowledge of the camera and its features, and focus more on building your own vision. Be bold and determined to achieve your goals.
Get inspired by the work of others by visiting photography exhibitions and events. And take part in photography competitions – they can help you understand where you stand in this exciting form of art.
See Renato's work at renatogranieri.com.
Discover more incredible wildlife experiences
- “I’ve been frozen like an ice block, overheated to the point of melting and immersed in water for hours.”
- “I ripped off my trousers and stood there screaming.” Wildlife photographer on being accosted by driver ants in Rwanda
- “I was setting up a camera trap when we heard a trumpet. An elephant was charging, flattening every tree in its path.”
- "I was once charged by a musk ox – and they can shift. Fortunately, I could shift faster than the photographer I was with..."
