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.
