Criz Quinn (@crizquinn) is a travel and aerial photographer based in the United States. She enjoys visiting remote locations, immersing herself in diverse cultures, capturing stories and stunning vistas, and using these photographs to share stories of the people she’s met during her travels. She recently won our Alpha Female "Pop of Color" theme micro-grant with this colorful image of elephants at sunrise. Keep reading as she shares her story behind the shot in her own words below, and join our Alpha Female Facebook Group to enter our weekly micro-grant contest for your chance to win $500.
Product Preview – In This Article You'll Find:
–Sony Alpha 1 II
–Sony 24-105mm f/4 G
–Sony 70-200 f/2.8 G Master II
The Scene
There’s something enchanting about sunrise – how it bathes the landscape in warm hues of orange, pink, and gold, turning ordinary moments into something timeless. Two years ago, I visited an elephant sanctuary outside of Buri Ram, a remote part of Thailand. I was deeply moved by the stories of the mahouts (caretakers) and their elephants. Mahouts dedicate their lives to caring for these elephants, often under very difficult situations. Many survive on less than $2.00 a day, often prioritizing the elephants’ well-being by collecting food for them even before feeding their own families.
While there is a growing movement to end elephant riding, I believe the distinction is important—when it’s just the mahout riding them for their care and exercise (not for carrying tourists). Caretakers like these mahouts deserve compassion and support, as they are doing their best to ensure the elephants’ well-being in very difficult circumstances. Because of this, my goal was to capture the essence of that bond, allowing others to witness the profound connection between them.
Photographing elephants in this setting required careful consideration of composition, exposure and timing. With the sun positioned low, the backlight emphasized the silhouettes while adding warmth to the scene. We had a thin layer of fog that morning and we added the bonfire to add more light to the scenery. We made sure that the elephants had plenty to eat during the shoots and they really did look happy just being close to their mahouts.
The Gear
For this shot, I used my brand-new Sony Alpha 1 II camera paired with the Sony 24-105mm f/4 G lens. Shooting at f/4 gave me the flexibility to work in low light while preserving fine details. This lens proved incredibly versatile, enabling quick focal length adjustments while delivering outstanding sharpness and contrast. It was also my first time traveling with this camera since it was released. The in-camera image stabilization, articulating LCD screen, and remarkable low-light performance made it the perfect choice for capturing this scene.
I also used my trusty Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM II to capture intimate shots of their interactions during the shoot. This lens is remarkable for its sharpness and performs incredibly well for low light conditions.
The Shot
I set my shutter speed to 1/2-second to allow more light in. I had to use a tripod for stability because I didn’t go any lower to maintain sharpness in case of movement from the elephants. The wide aperture of f/4 gave me the flexibility to shoot in low light without sacrificing detail, while an ISO 160 provided a balance between exposure and minimal noise.
I wanted to frame the elephants beneath the tree in a way that felt balanced yet natural. The leading lines created by the branches helped direct attention towards the subjects, while the negative space in the sky added openness to the image.
The backlighting effect was crucial. By positioning myself so the sun was just out of frame, I was able to create strong silhouettes while retaining subtle details in the shadows. The warm light filtering through the mist added texture and dimension.
The Edit
Using Adobe Lightroom, I made a few key adjustments to enhance the mood of the image:
–Increased contrast to deepen the silhouettes.
–Boosted warmth in the highlights to enhance the golden hour glow.
–Adjusted clarity in the mist to maintain its softness.
–Applied selective dodging and burning to subtly highlight the elephants’ forms.
I also applied Lens Profile corrections and used 50% Denoise to clean up the image. A few linear masks helped adjust the brightness without overexposing the sky. The Tone Curve remains one of my favorite tools, allowing for precise refinements in light and shadow.
While I love vibrant photos, the sky in this image was so colorful that I slightly desaturated it. Using the Color Grading wheels, I made subtle adjustments to the orange and yellow tones. By keeping the edits minimal, I ensured the natural beauty of the scene remained intact.
This image perfectly captures why I love photography. It's about capturing fleeting moments that tell timeless stories. The Sony A1 II was the perfect camera for the job, delivering incredible detail and allowing me to adapt effortlessly to shifting light and movement.
Would I change anything? Maybe… Perhaps I would have tried to use a faster lens like the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II to allow more light in. In the end, it’s the emotion that defines the image. This scene will always be one of my favorites. It is a powerful yet intimate portrait of elephants and the sacred bond they share with their caretakers.
See more of Criz Quinn's work on Instagram @crizquinn.
