Kelly Macnamara gets snap happy photographing wildife on safari in the Masai Mara

THERE’S a knack to photographing the Little Bee-eater. The picture you want is this: the bird is in mid-flight, its green shimmering wings flung wide and a just-caught bug clamped in its beak.

Precision timing, a steady hand and a little specialist knowledge are all essential.

Paul Goldstein has that specialist knowledge.

I joined one of the award-winning wildlife photographer’ safaris in Kenya’s Masai Mara, hopeful of returning with pictures worthy of a frame.

Within minutes of arriving at our luxurious camp, we were bouncing along in pursuit of a cheetah and her two cubs.

After barely half an hour in Paul’s company, it was already abundantly clear he takes no prisoners.

“Stop mincing!” he yelled, as I fumbled with my kit while the vehicle jolted across the dry savannah.

We found the cheetah family bathed in honeyed afternoon light, with the mother looking wistfully into the distance. The scene was beautiful, but my companions had other ideas.

“They’re hungry,” said our guide, Patrick, setting off a flash of excitement in Paul. “She’ll hunt!”, he cried, “Go, go, go!”

We swung away from the deceptively languid scene, adrenaline racing, our eyes scanning the countryside for potential prey.

In the distance, a juicy-looking Thomson’s gazelle grazed near a thicket.