We just returned from nine weeks in Africa, which included
three Kenya Photo Safaris that proved to be very successful. The
main reason these trips were successful, I believe, is because
we stressed, drilled, implored, insisted that our participants
be patient, that they take the time to enjoy every aspect of the
photo safari and not be obsessed with finding the big cats. We
assured everyone that the cats would come (or rather that they
would indeed get their sought-after big cat photos) when it happened,
and no matter how much one might want something, the cats would
be seen when it happened.
That's not to say that we didn't spend all of our time on game
drives watching for cats, which we certainly did, but as we looked
for cats we also looked for anything and everything else that
would make a great photograph, whether that was a landscape, an
elephant, a reptile, or a bird. Too often, I think, people get
so caught up on finding one subject that they overlook or ignore
what would be a great shot if they only took the time to shoot
it.
Our 2007 Kenya Participants'
Portfolio, my Kenya Safari
Journal, and our Kenya 2007 Trip
Report all illustrate my point. We shot a wide variety of
subjects, making our safaris very complete and satisfying, and
we not only photographed the big cats and the other members of
the big five, but we also shot just about anything else that was
of interest as well.
On a related note, on all of these trips we found that the most satisfied shooters where those who felt competent with their techniques and camera handling abilities. Some folks wished that we could have conducted mini-workshops on exposure or lens choice or composition while on safari, but the time frame that is involved with shooting and being in the field (see the Safari Journal for a great idea of what I'm talking about) makes that impossible. Our schedule for safaris involves game drives starting at 6AM and ending between 11:30AM-1PM, followed by lunch, and another game drive that begins at 4PM and ends at 6:30PM, followed by a dinner at 7:45 that generally didn't end before 9PM. That doesn't leave much time for down-loading, editing, or relaxing -- let alone a mini-workshop!
Participants certainly make good shots, if not great shot, using their cameras on a programmed mode, but the best shots, and the photographers with the least stress and most confidence, are those who really know what they're doing. I always recommend that photographers gain their competency via one of our courses, especially the Digital Complete Nature Photo Course, so that they will make the most out of every photo opportunity.
Western
Digital portable external Hard Drives
CS3 Upgrade
Framing with a Telephoto Against a Desert Sunrise
Adobe
Photoshop LIGHTROOM
Workflow
and Workload - You Can Keep Ahead
Bring
along a Point N Shoot
Backing Up Your
Digital Files - you'll need more than you think
Action
Wildlife Photography Camera Settings
HELICON FOCUS
Filter maximizing depth of field digitally
Capture 1's
Most Useful Features
DIGITAL
Photographing scenes with extreme exposure values
Effective
Cloning in Adobe CS2
Watch Your Backgrounds
- The potential of composites or shooting in RAW format
DIGITAL
-Shoot for the Future
DIGITAL-Shoot
for the Future, Part II
The
Helicon Focus Filter Revisited
Frankly
access your skills before deciding upon a workshop
The Songs of Insects - a super book on katydids, cicadas,
and grasshoppers
A
Great Insect Field Guide
Action
Wildlife Photography Camera Settings
The
Pond-A Must-See shooting Location in southern Arizona
Don't
take in baby wild animals
Seize the Moment!
Take
a Workshop First
Luck, what is it?
At the Pulse
of Life by Fritz Polking
Carry-on
Luggage for small commuter flights
The Ultimate
Long Lens Case - McDonald Safari Bag
Positioning your Roll-on
Carry-On bag
New
Lens Covers for Long Lenses
The
Best All-Around Lens
Keep Your Head Up
Save Your Equipment from
Crashing!
The L-Bracket,
the ultimate camera bumper
Visual
Echos Tele-Flash for the 580EX Flash
Testing
your Flash's Aim
The Ultimate
Flash Bracket
Using
TTL flash with Hummingbirds
Specular
highlights and the flashing frog
Geared Focusing Rail
for Macro Work
Shooting
in Inclement Weather
Low
level tripod work
Sighting in a very, very
long lens
Padding
Your WimberleyTripod Head
Using The Wimberley
Gimbal head with a camera body
Wimberley
400 and 600mm IS plate
How
do we protect our gear from dust, and carry our gear when on safari
How do
you shoot the Moon?
If
you see it, it's too late -- a lesson in anticipation
Protecting
your long lens from SAND, the pleasures of beach photography
Maximum
Depth of Field and Hyperfocal Distance - they're not the same
thing!
A
great depth of field guide
Carry Your Gear!
Custom Function 4-1
for Nikon and Canon shooters
Sigma's 120-300 f2.8
APO zoom telephoto lens
A Car Tip
that could Save Your Life
A Great Website for Information
- the Singapore Nature Photography Society
Airline
Carry-On Luggage -Let your concerns be heard!
Ask Questions Before You
Go
Liquids
in your Levels - TSA Warnings!
Disconnect
-- travel precautions
Photograph America
Newsletter
Obey
the Rules
Wildlife
Portraiture
Drying out boots
with newspaper
Removing
Cactus Spines
The
Ti Chi Stalk
Photographing
Critically Endangered Sites
The Sibley
Bird Guides