“What camera gear have you got?” is one of the first questions people ask each other at the start of a safari. Of course no two safaris are alike; the participants and the animals will be different every time. But just as in any given park there are certain species you can reliably expect to see; on every safari there[…]
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Why choose a Digital SLR (DSLR)? Simple: image quality and versatility.
So you’ve decided to invest in a new digital camera and have made your mind up that you want to step up to a digital SLR, but the huge range of models on offer and endless flow of technical jargon have left you more confused than when you started? Don’t worry. This feature from those clever folks at DP Review[…]
Read moreNeed a new Camera Bag? Check out our recommendations.
The subject came up recently on our forums and as we were responding we thought that this was something that might be of wider interest so we’ve posted it here too. If you are looking for a camera bag to lug your gear around there are some terrifc choices out there. Key factors when deciding will be: (a) how much[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Maximise the quality of your photos
I have a friend, a dear friend, who is constantly taking photographs. In fact she drives me nuts. No event is allowed to pass un-photographed; whether it’s a visit to the beach, a barbecue or just dinner, she always has her camera in our faces. To be fair, she has a good eye and some of her images are really[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking Photos on a Wildlife Safari 5 – Perspective
The majority of photographs taken in game parks are – naturally enough, taken from game vehicles. With larger mammals, like elephants, this is not a problem as you are at an ideal height to photograph them, but with smaller animals, and especially with cats that are lying around on the ground, you will frequently find yourself looking down on them.[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 4 – Use your surroundings
Don’t waste your time being jealous of the long telephoto lenses you see poking out of other vehicles, learn to make the best use of of the equipment you have, familiarity with your equipment will pay dividends time and time again. A close up is not always the best shot. While some close up shots work really well, even more[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 3 – Choosing the right time of day.
There’s a reason why most game drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon – and it’s nothing to do with photography. It is the heat. Africa gets pretty hot during the middle of the day so most predators are either active during the night or in the early hours of morning and just as the sun is[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 2 – An understanding of animal behaviour.
It is something that cannot be over stressed. If you know a bit about the animals you are trying to photograph you can significantly improve your chances of getting great photographs. It’s not just knowing where to look but also what to expect. Often their movements or attitude will give clues as to what they are going to do next.[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Taking photos on a wildlife safari 1 – Why don’t my photos look like THAT?
This series of blogs looks at the art of taking wildlife photos and some of the things you can do to ensure that your safari photographs are out of the ordinary. Expectations Running wildlife safaris throws up all sorts of challenges but one of the toughest to deal with is client expectations. With so much top quality wildlife photography[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – What is the difference between FX format and DX format?
One of the decisions that confronts photographers when buying a new camera is what format to choose.It can be very confusing as there does not seem to be any uniform sustem governing the way that formats are named, so it is tough to know exactly how to compare them. For those buying a DSLR the choice is a bit simpler[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Avoid the shakes – Keeping it steady on safari.
OK, the first thing to say is that there’s no rocket science here, this is pretty basic stuff. BUT, if you can get the basics right it makes the complicated stuff much easier. Of course the best way of keeping your camera steady is to use a tripod but there are some occasions when that is simply not practical. One[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Don’t be scared to crop your photos if it makes the image stronger
When is it right to crop? When composing a photograph most of us try to make sure that our main subject is well placed in the frame. Part of that is the decision whether you should take the picture as a horizontal or vertical image. If you’re using a zoom lens you’ll often have quite a lot of flexibility about[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Post Processing – Necessity or Indulgence?
I am regularly asked “why do you need to fiddle with your photos in Photoshop, mine come out of the camera just fine.” It’s true. Most people accept the photograph that their camera produces and, in many cases, that image is perfectly alright for a variety of uses. This is becoming even more the case as an increasing number of[…]
Read more#PHOTO TIP – Essential Tips for Wildlife Photography – the 5 ‘P’s
Practice, Preparation, Position, Patience, Pizazz Of course there are lot more than 5 great tips for improving your wildlife photography skills but if you can get a grip on these 5 you will be well on your way. Practice It really is that simple; practice. The more you use your camera and lenses the more familiar you will become with[…]
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