Focus Raw

Photo Tours with Full Focus on the Wild Moments

Founded by Brutus Östling. Small groups, guides who are photographers themselves, and plenty of time when the light is at its best.

  • Experienced guides
  • Full focus on photography
  • Handpicked destinations
  • Limited availability
Brutus Östling

Brutus Östling

Founder & photographic lead

Photo tours from Brutus Östling's world

Brutus Östling is one of Sweden's best-known wildlife photographers. He has published thirteen photo books, won the August Prize, and four of his books have been named WWF's nature book of the year in Sweden.

FocusRAW is built on the same photographic thinking as his books: patience, light, species knowledge, and small groups that give every photographer a better chance of returning with images that last.

13

Photo books

4

WWF book awards

2009

August Prize

Fokus

Founder

Behind the scenes

See how great wildlife images are actually made.

We go further so you can see more. Watch photographers in action in the field and learn the thinking, timing, and technique behind every image.

In the field with pros

Observe and learn from experienced photographers in real-world situations.

Understand the moment

See how light, behaviour, and conditions come together, and how to respond.

Better images, faster

Take home practical insights that elevate your photography long after the tour ends.

See behind the scenes

Result: the moment you're there to capture.

Quality over quantity

Planned for images you do not get on ordinary tours

We do not chase the biggest calendar. We build fewer, better photo tours around the right light, strong local partners, and real chances to return with images that last.

View all photo tours
01

We stay when others drive on

One good situation is worth more than another stop. We wait until the light or the animal does what we came for — or until we know it won't.

02

The day starts when the light does

Not when breakfast opens. Departures are planned around sunrise, weather and animal behaviour, not the hotel's schedule.

03

The vehicle is a shooting position

Low angles, clear sightlines both ways, and room to set down a long lens without asking anyone.

04

Whoever leads has your problem

Your guides photograph alongside you. They know exactly why you want ten more minutes.

After the tour

What our travellers say

What we want guests to remember is not just the place, but the feeling that they had time, support, and the right conditions when the image appeared.

I have traveled with Brutus and Fokus photo tours several times, from Lauvsnes and "The Eagle Kingdom" (multiple times) to Florida and most recently Hungary. I particularly appreciate Brutus's knowledge and commitment as well as his ability to improvise if something unexpected arises.
P
Per S.
Zimanga delivered an unbeatable experience – lying just two meters from a hunting cheetah family with perfect light in golden hour was magical. Best cheetah photography I've done so far!
M
Michael
With FocusRAW I feel confident that I'll come home with great pictures.
A
Arne B.
Jag har så här långt rest ett tiotal gånger med Fokus Fotoresor med Brutus Östling som ledare, och ser fram mot fler. Brutus och hans lokala partners och guider är kunniga, erfarna, engagerade och angelägna att deltagarna skall få utbyte av resan. Som alltid är fotografering av vilda fåglar och djur på deras villkor och det finns därför inga garantier att de poserar framför kameran som du vill. Detta till trots har jag aldrig haft någon fotodag då jag inte fått fina bilder.
T
Tord Andreasson
Everything worked excellently on the trip, from flights and transport to the fantastic service we received on location from Justin and his staff. Accommodation on par with any fine hotel in glamping version with a fantastic view over the Zambezi River. Luxury-class food out in the bush that you can only expect at a fine restaurant. The guide Alf was top-notch in his knowledge both regarding the animals and angles for getting good photos. A wonderful experience to go out with the jeep and then follow e.g. Boswell or Fred (elephants) on foot for long distances, to finally witness how they stand on their hind legs to reach the food high up in the trees. Surreal feeling to be as close as 20-50 meters from wild dogs and lions without having proximity to a jeep but at the same time feeling safe with the guide. The entire trip was an experience and memory for life. Thank you Fokus fotoresor!
R
Roger Andersson
A photography trip should be just like this, up at dawn and collapsing into bed late with long days of many beautiful moments. With both the big focus and the camera focus on care for nature and fauna. I greatly appreciated the breadth of the trip with the jaguar as a final highlight! Perfect group size, thank you for excellent guiding Brutus!
A
Anders Silvetärn
Good accommodation many vultures Just a bit too much driving but probably hard to avoid on this type of trip
G
Göran Lembrer
Very good trip with Frode as guide. The surprise was snow at the vultures. Lake Kerkini absolutely magical. Many fun situations. Very good trip.
A
Arne Berneklint
Höga förväntningar som infrias med råge. Enastående och helt unika möjligheter att uppleva och fotografera havsörn, efter havsörn, efter havsörn, efter havsörn och en och annan trut. Liten grupp och guidning i världsklass.
Å
Åza Lundwall
Ännu en resa med riktiga proffs som alltid säkerställer att optimera förutsättningar. Riktigt roligt med två så olika miljöer på en och samma resa; gamar från gömsle i bergen och stora häftiga pelikaner från båt. Välordnat, som alltid.
Å
Åza Lundwall
This was my first trip with Fokus Photo Tours and it truly exceeded my expectations. The trip was fantastically well-planned, and despite being fifteen participants, we got the most out of the experience thanks to mostly being just two people in each hide. I got the images I had wished for – and so much more besides!
D
Dick Roland Nilsson
Den här resan hade jag inte tänkt åka på, havsörn har vi här omkring så det räcker. Men jag blev övertalad och redan vid första turen och första kontakten med en örn som dök efter fisken var jag såld. Vi hade tur med vädret så att fota från båten var inget problem. Sen blev det många bilder i olika ljus, olika vinklar och olika individer. Närkontakten med dessa bjässar var en upplevelse jag inte vill vara utan. Utmanande fotografering, det går rätt fort när de kommer, men det var en stor del av nöjet, och Brutus bistod med många värdefulla tips och råd. Härlig upplevelse som kan rekommenderas!
M
Mats Björklund
From our travellers

Traveller highlights

After the trip, our guests send in their favourite photos. Every image was taken on a trip with us and is credited to the photographer's Instagram account.

Photos from travellers' own cameras
Click an image to open it larger
Brutus forest hide

Raptor photography from Brutus' forest hide

One of southern Sweden's strongest hides for raptor photography. Built for proximity, low angles, snow, rain and action - with very good chances of returning home with images of international quality.

Goshawk, kite, buzzard & pine marten
Max 3 participants
Ljungadal, Skane
Brutus Östling
Free guide

10 photo tips for nature photographers

by Brutus Östling

Free guide

Brutus' 10 best photo tips for nature photographers

Download the free guide with Brutus' best tips from 30+ years behind the lens. Straight to your inbox.

  • Camera settings for wildlife
  • Field lighting techniques
  • Composition in nature

Free — delivered straight to your inbox

Photo tours for wildlife photographers — world-class wildlife, landscapes and experiences

FocusRAW organises photography tours for passionate wildlife photographers who want to experience and photograph the world's most spectacular wildlife and natural environments. With small groups, experienced photo guides and carefully selected destinations, we create unique opportunities to photograph wild animals up close — from the savannas of Africa and the floodplains of Zimbabwe to the dramatic coastal landscapes of Norway.

We offer wildlife photo tours to destinations such as Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, Zimanga in South Africa, the Eagle Kingdom in Norway and the Pyrenees in Spain — all renowned for their extraordinary opportunities for wildlife and landscape photography. Explore all photo tours →

Whether you dream of a safari with camera in hand, want to deepen your landscape photography or seek a nature experience together with like-minded photographers — our tours are designed to deliver maximum photographic value. Every trip is led by experienced wildlife photographers with extensive field experience. Meet our guides →

Join a professional photo tour with FocusRAW — for wildlife photographers who want more than just travel.

Popular destinations

Photo tours to Africa · World-class eagle photography in Norway · Vulture photography in the Pyrenees · Hide photography in Hungary and Sweden · Photo tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa

Our specialities

Photo tours for wildlife photographers · Wildlife & landscape photography · Field workshops · Small groups · Experienced photo guides · Hide photography