Thursday 21 August 2014

19 Reasons Kenya Needs to Be Higher on Your Bucket List

19 Reasons Kenya Needs to Be Higher on Your Bucket List


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There are few places in the world that have the incredibly varying landscapes that Kenya has, which is what makes this small, yet breathtaking country such a magical place to visit. The range in temperatures, habitats and geography are the reason this country is home to so many different species of rare wildlife, many of which can be only be found in the grassy plains, rain forests and wooded savannas of Kenya. But it's not just the wildlife that captivates you when you're visiting; the incredibly rich culture, amazing food and humble and passionate people pull you in with an almost magnetic pull.
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The sad truth about Kenya, however, is that the beauty of this place remains unseen to so many groups of tourists due to the scary, and somewhat fabricated, reputation that has sprouted up due to social and economic problems recently faced by the country. For a country just recently (within the past 50 years) liberated, there are bound to be some growing pains with establishing a government and status quo that works. But isn't that the case with many countries? Sure, there are parts of Nairobi that are dangerous and some coastal villages are facing struggles between land and state, but why should that deter you from seeing the other 99 percent of the country that is not only safe, but welcoming and hospitable? Whether you're in the very touristy areas or off the beaten path, you'll be welcomed to Kenya with a warmth, openness and beauty that will have you truly speechless.
And how many countries leave you at a loss for words? When I came back from my trip to Kenya, that's exactly how I found myself. And I've decided that maybe words aren't what this incredible place needs to encourage people to visit, maybe it's just photos. As I sift through the thousands of images I took of the beautiful Masai people, the landscapes and the wildlife roaming free, the adage "a picture says 1000 words" has never rang so true.

Tuesday 19 August 2014

How to prepare for a photo safari

 Photographic safaris are outings that should be experienced by every photographer at least once in a lifetime. They provide the perfect opportunity to photograph wildlife and nature. Most offer private vehicles allowing photographers to focus on specific wildlife, spend the needed time with the wildlife to get the shot, and allow for a more flexible approach to the safari.
Most importantly, these safaris are hosted by an expert wildlife photographer to assist clients with getting the perfect shot and then processing the images.

Preparing for your first photo safari:
• Contact the operator of your chosen photographic safari company and confirm with them what their recommended equipment is. This can vary from area to area, especially with regards to lenses. Some reserves allow vehicles to follow animals off road and one can get away with shorter lenses e.g. 200mm, while others do not allow this and thus longer lenses are required e.g. 600mm.
• Spend time getting to know your camera and equipment. Wildlife photography is definitely not static and you should be able to change settings quickly according to fast moving subjects or shifting light.
• Practice by photographing pets or birds in your surrounding area in order to get a feel for photographing a moving subject.
• If you are a true amateur, don’t worry! This is exactly why an expert wildlife photographer joins you on safari. The host will assist you with the best camera settings and how to get the best out of your camera.

What you should take:
• A camera and lens within your price range (some operators offer equipment rental). Lens wise, it is good to have a wide angle lens for landscapes and a telephoto lens for the animals.
• An external flash with spare batteries. It is recommended to bring a wireless flash transmitter to avoid “red-eye”.
• A shutter release switch for star trails.
• Take enough memory cards (high speed). I have shot 8GB in RAW images in less than an hour on a safari before, so it is important to have enough backup memory. It is recommended to bring an external storage device to transfer images onto after each safari. The reason why I say ‘high speed card’ is due to the fact that often in wildlife photography one shoots on high speed continuous mode.
• Take spare batteries, as game drives can last for hours at a time.
• A good laptop powerful enough to process images on Photoshop/Lightroom. Some operators offer monitors to uplink to for editing purposes but if not, bring a laptop with dedicated graphics and an RGB LED screen.
• A memory card reader.
• A good lens cleaning kit is essential, as being out in the elements does lead to dust collection.
• Insure your equipment! Weather can be unpredictable and I have had a client lose a Canon 600mm lens in a freak wind storm that caused a log to fall on the lens. The lens was not insured.
• Bean bag or vehicle mount to hold your camera nice and still while shooting.
• Plastic packets or waterproof material! Thunderstorms are common in Africa through the summer months, so bring something just to cover up that lens or camera.
• Bring a lot of patience! Wildlife photography is often about waiting for the right moment, but under the guidance of you host and guide, this wait will be more than worth it.
• A willingness to learn and share. It is important on these safaris to be willing to learn, not just about photography but about the creatures you are photographing. The more you learn about animal behaviour, the better, as it will allow you to anticipate your next shot. Share with the others on safari as everyone has some idea or technique that may just help others.
• An ethical respect for nature is very important. Not only is it unethical to disturb animals to get a shot, but it can at times put you and the rest of the clients in danger.

 

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Southern Black Rhino: A Retrospective



During the 1980s and 1990s the country of Zimbabwe had a thriving population of black rhinos and they were managed well by the government and by private ranchers. Unfortunately, poaching came to their country and the conservation of many species was threatened—including black rhinos.
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Captive rhino managers in the United States and Australia combined resources and approached the government of Zimbabwe with the idea of bringing ten rhinos to the United States and ten rhinos to Australia as an assurance population against the extinction of the species in Zimbabwe. Fossil Rim was an instrumental player in the formation of the International Black Rhino Foundation (now called the International Rhino Foundation—and focusing on all rhino species), which had the mission of capturing, transporting and managing southern black rhinos ex situ (outside of their normal range,

New Zealand to strengthen ivory trade laws


New Zealand to strengthen ivory trade laws
“I’m thrilled that the New Zealand parliamentary committee has supported the petition. Every measure everywhere to stop the trade in ivory which is driving the massacre of elephants is important.”
-Helen Clark, United Nations / savingthewild.com
Press Release: SPCA
A petition mounted by an Auckland schoolteacher has won the support of a powerful Select Committee and has moved the New Zealand closer towards a fully enforceable ivory trading ban.
The New Zealand Select Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade announced on Friday that it supports the petition of Auckland schoolteacher Ms Virginia Woolf, which calls for a ban on all ivory trading within, to, and from New Zealand, and demands that all confiscated ivory held by the Crown be crushed.
“The Committee’s recommendation moves the New Zealand Government one step closer towards strengthening the laws and fixing the loopholes that currently enable some illicit ivory trading to occur in New Zealand,” says Bob Kerridge, Executive Director, SPCA Auckland.
http://www.savingthewild.com/2014/07/new-zealand-to-strengthen-ivory-trade-laws/