In this age of digital photography, every photographer must at some point decide on a workflow. This is extremely important for the wildlife photographer as they are usually a high volume shooters.
So after hours of mental agonising over the 'best' way to work you decide upon your workflow, you try it out after a local shoot and its all good.
Soon though its time for a big "away from home" trip.
Will you much loved workflow cope with life in the wild?
Our recent Masai Mara trip provided just that challenge.
You have thought out your trip (if not start here) and in the course of that you have purchased new "items".
For us the new items which affected worklow were a laptop and the recent inclusion of LightRoom into our Workflow.
Obviously the inclusion of LightRoom into the workflow brought many possible ways of doing things. Most of this had been put in place before the trip
but the challenges of 4 weeks on the road can change things.
The issues:
The solution:
Out in the vehicles:
WHY: It has a verify function, is very quick and its battery life is fantastic.
Once back in camp:
WHY: The Nexto has a Firewire 400 connector so its slightly faster than a USB2 card reader.
WHY: Renaming files now saves considerable time later.The date based folder makes it easier to find things when you get home.
WHY: If your trip is a decent length, hard drive space is at a premium, so get rid of the obvious rubbish.
WHY: You can never have too much backup for your precious digital files!!
On average we had 2 - 3 hrs between morning game drive and the evening drive, so doing the above for 2 photographers and having lunch meant no afternoon nap.
The theory was to spend the gap time converting to DNG, so that by the 8-9 hr flight home I could keyword. That didn't happen.
At no time was any editing planned, no laptop lcd, even calibrated is really up to the task.
While you are there to maximise your opportunity to take great shots you also have to take the time to let it all soak in.
Time in the wild is something to be cherished in our ever ordered and controlled world.
So you want to minimise the time spent behind the computer.
The thing to remember with workflow is that there is no one right solution.
What works for one photographer may not work for another.
So the best thing to do is find out what others do and utilise the bits you like.
Hopefully our workflow will give some of you some ideas or at least make you think about your workflow BEFORE you get into the field.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Digital Workflow for a Wildlife Photographer in the field
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wildebeest Migration Carnage
While in the Masai Mara recently to try and get some migration shots we noted the lack of decent crossings. There had just been some heavy rain and the Mara river was flowing fast. Hence not a lot of crossing action.
It would seem the situation hasn't got any better!
Check this out
Lowe Pro CompuRover in the field
So you have a photo safari coming up and you have decided you want to take your new laptop for decent reviewing. You know what that means; New Bag Time!!
Well that's my excuse anyway!
For the Kenya Trip we needed a bag to carry gear plus a 15" MacBook Pro.
So how did the CompuRover cope?
We did a lot of searching for camera bags that can also carry a 15" laptop, given we live in Australia it did limit the choices somewhat. After much discussion we decided on the CompuRover.
What did we put in it:
Overall weight: Don't ask!!
What worked:
Improvements required:
Fully loaded we got this bag into every aircraft overhead, except for the Dash 8 (where it fitted under the seat in front). So if you have some regional (or smaller) aircraft flights you may have some issues.
Overall it performed very well and was just as good as our original Rover.
If I was travelling alone with full kit, the load of non camera gear would have to be reduced to handle the bigger lenses.
If you want a hybrid bag then the CompuRover could be for you.
If you want a bag to carry all your kit (and wildlife photographers have a lot of kit!) then keep looking.
Technorati Tags: CompuRover, Camera Bags
Monday, October 08, 2007
The Mara with Andy Rouse
Arrghh! Trying to adjust back to "Normal" life after our recent trip to Kenya.
That said coping with post trip depression can be a topic for another post!
The focal point of the trip was a Photographic Safari with Andy Rouse, 10 days in the Masai Mara.
Should you do a similar trip?
What's it about?
Andy Rouse is a well known British Wildlife Photographer who has made a name for himself on the world stage. If you are unfamiliar with his work then do yourself a favour and check out his website or check out his books on Amazon.
Andy like a few wildlife photographers also runs workshops & tours. The trips are a chance for us to get some tips and more importantly see how a professional works.
If you have read any of Andy's books or articles you soon get the feeling he is a down to earth kind of guy. There is none of the artistic pretence or sense of importance that surrounds some other well know wildlife photographers. The first thing that surprised me with Andy himself was that what you read is what you get. When we got off the plane at the airstrip in the Mara, Andy was there to greet us and help with the bags. That level of hands on participation was there for the whole trip.
The other thing that stands out is that he is very passionate about wildlife. Not just photographing it but wildlife in general. The welfare of the subject is of the utmost importance. If you are only interested in ticking off species shots no matter what the cost then a trip with Andy is not for you. If the animal in question is getting stressed or anxious the shoot will move on to give the animal its space.
Just because the trip has a casual atmosphere and a good sense of fun do not think that you don't get the goods. When you are on tour with Andy you get the full benefit of his vast experience. I never got the feeling that we weren't being told of a technique or composition because it was a trade secret or part of his "style". During the evening slide show we were given insights into the "How" on many of his iconic shots. When you are in the vehicle with him, he shoots with you. Andy really enjoys the teaching/interaction side of these tours and it shows.
Obviously to get the absolute most out of the experience you should have a good idea how to use that expensive DSLR and big lens. Still our trip had a mix of experience levels and Andy's assistance was tailored to the individuals. If you needed help with the basics you got it. Personally I got more out of the compositional side and what it takes to get the shot. You have to make it happen. Just being in the Mara isn't enough. Think about the shots you want with animals and ask the drivers to help get you in the position. The importance of knowing the habits of your subjects. This will get you in the position to "get lucky" and get that behavioural shot.
As they say the proof is in the results. 10 days, 10+ hrs a day in the field meant 8000 or so shots so I have some work to do. The results will show up here on the blog and of course on the website so pop by every so often and check them out.
If you love wildlife photography and you are serious about getting the best shots you can but want to have a fun time while you are doing it then you cannot go past a photographic safari with Andy Rouse.
If you have any questions about the trip or would like to know more than do not hesitate to post a question.
Since this reads as an advert for Andy's tours, I had better state that this trip was fully self funded and will gladly be paying for more trips in the future.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Wheres Cain??
Anyone checking by would have noticed a distinct lack of posting of late.
Well there is a good reason!
We have been in Kenya and more particularly the wildlife photographer heaven that is the Masai Mara for the past 4 weeks.
11 000 shots (over 100 gig) later its time for some serious culling.
The trip produced plenty of ideas for blog entries and of course images. So check back regularly as the new content is coming.
But for now the focus is cleaning and sleeping....
Friday, August 24, 2007
LightRoom 1.1 Captions
The Scenario You have just come back from a 4 week safari and you have thousands of images. After culling and renaming you still have a few thousand. Now you have the horror of captioning!!!
For a handy helper....
LightRoom 1.1 to the rescue! Well lets not get too carried away but the other night I found a handy little feature which saved me considerable time.
On the Mac version of Lightroom you can click the Caption label and it displays a list of recently used captions!! Very cool indeed.
Ok old news to some of you maybe but its still cool.
Its helpful if you don't like lots of variation in your captions, which is ok if you have a "few" shots of zebras at Etosha. I am mean how many ways can you say the same thing.
Either way it saved me a heap of time.
Not sure if it works on the PC version, my quick play last night on PC suggested it didn't but I don't use that version much.
If it does let me know
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Airshow Photography: More than a dot in the sky
What the!!!
Whats this, this isn't Nature or Wildlife related.
Good observation.
There is only one thing that compares to nature and travel photography, and for me thats taking pictures of planes. Aviation photography
Even with big fast zoom lenses, you can still end up with lots of pictures of dots in the sky.
So today I am listing some techniques to avoid this.
Of course with the big fast glass you can get some fantastic shots of:
But you can still have trouble with aircraft in flight. This is particularly true of formation and aerobatic displays.
Nothing is more dull that a nice formation of dots, or worse a a slightly larger dot flying inverted.
The Solution
To alleviate this aerobatic aircraft are often fitted with smoke generators. This not only looks pretty but it leaves a lasting impression of the aircaft's flight path.
So How does this help me
You will only hear this once from me so take note:
Even with your big zoom, pull back. Try to get some of the smoke path in the shot.
If you don't have the glass then you can't pull back so you have to work your composition to include the smoke trail.
This gives the viewer an idea of what is going on. A sense of motion.
Even those lovely frame filling shots of an inverted plane are dull, they give the viewer no sense of the amazing aerobatic sequence.
By making room for the smoke trail the viewers eye can follow the path of the aircraft, thus giving life to your photo.
Next time you are at an airshow give it a try, you will get a lot of duds but some will work nicely.
The above shot is of Pip Borrman and his Edge 540 at the Barossa Airshow near Adelaide, Australia.
To see more of this style of shot check out the aviation section of the WildFocus Images website. Aerobatics, Airshows
Monday, August 20, 2007
Adventures in packing: LowePro Slingshot 200AW
The Problem: Camera gear to haul, quick access required
The Answer: The LowePro Slingshot 200 AW
Well it might be the answer for you, it just depends on your requirements.
Last time I looked indepth at one of my camera bags it was the TopLoader 75 AW. My current personal favourite but it can be easily overloaded and your shoulder will suffer.
This suffering lead me to look enviously at the LowePro Slingshot series.
A much better padded shoulder strap, carried securely across the body and swing it around to the front to gain access to your camera. At the time I purchased this bag the Slingshot 300 was not available so the 200 was the biggest I could get.
So having bought and used the bag whats not to like.
The original concept of this bag was for quick access to a small amount of gear and for this it works a treat.
For the wildlife shooter its usefulness is limited by the size of your lens.
The comfortable load for me with this bag is:
50 F1.8
550ex Flash
3-4 Compact Flash cards
lens cloth
hot shoe bubble level
remote
If you really want to push this bag you can try out the pictured setup above:
70-200 F2.8 IS
17-40 F4 L
Extender
lens cloth
hot shoe bubble level
remote
If travelling light for the day then this bag is good and I find the sling concept really useful. There is also a loop on the side where you can hang the LowePro water bottle holder or maybe a lens case (for that big zoom).
I am now looking longingly at the Slingshot 300 AW as it is that bit larger and will take a zoom on camera.
Do you already have a Slingshot 200?? If tell us what you normally carry with it.
Next up on the bag list is the Nature Trekker, this is my cargo hauler bag.
Until then keep shooting.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Camera Bags in the Field
What can camera bag xyz really hold?
Have you ever asked this question?
I know I have and have spent many hours researching camera bag xyz on the net.
Well this is the first in a series of articles in which I take an in depth look at whats in my camera bag xyz.
First up my trusty Lowe Pro TopLoader 75 AW
In a previous article: Camera Bags, How big is too big
I looked at bigger picture of what bag for what activity. Today I am going to delve deeper into my well travelled TopLoader.
WHERE: In the field is this bags main purpose, be it the wilds of Africa or the streets of Rome. I would not use it for point to point travel it is designed for carrying your camera gear at your destination.
Before we delve into the contents I must mention I also have a couple of lens cases attached on the sides. The top loader has loops on each side to accommodate the LowePro lens cases with velcro loops. These add a great deal of versatility to the TopLoader.
The whole point of this type of camera bag is to have your camera ready for action, by that I mean with a lens attached. So when the shot presents itself you can have the camera out quickly.
So whats in the bag:
20D or 30D with grip
Filter pouch
2-3 spare BP-511 batteries
lens cloth
3-4 Compact Flash Cards
So this is what is physically in the TopLoader. The Filter pouch and batteries live in the external pocket on the front. While the lens cloth and flash cards are in the zippered pocket on the inside of the opening flap. Of course the hood is not attached to the lens but sitting in the bottom of the bag.
So whats in the Lens Cases:
17-40 f4 L
50 f1.8
The flash lives in the right side case and the 2 lens the left.
If the 17-40 or 50 are on the camera the 100-400 goes into the lens case, while the not in use small lens goes in the main bag.
With the arrival of the 70-200 f2.8 IS L the other day I did take the kit out with the Flash on one side and the 70-200 on the other. With the Better Beamer folded flat behind the filter pouch. Needless to say with 2 big L zooms the bag was a tad heavy for the single shoulder strap and you wouldn't want to carry this around all day.
TIP: Always carry your Top Loader draped across your body, not hanging on one shoulder. Hanging on one shoulder will do you a serious injury and it is way more likely to fall off and is also an easy target for bag snatching thieves.
TIP: When in large crowded cities I often use a waist belt with this camera bag. This holds the bag closer to your body and makes it all the more harder for would be thieves to get it off you. They can slash the shoulder strap but the waist belt is still in place.
Another Security tip if you are using the lens cases on the side is to have the zipper pulls close to your body when the zip is closed. Again this makes them a bit harder to open without you knowing about it.
I am rather fond of my TopLoader and have dragged in through Rome, All across North Africa and on more than one safari. I give it the big thumbs up!
Do you have a TopLoader? then share your load with the readers. The more variations we have the more useful a resource this becomes.
Next I will look at the Lowe Pro SlingShot 200 AW: Adventures in Packing: LowePro Slingshot 200AW
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The joy of a modern DSLR
Sometimes we get some caught up in the pixel peeping and general online complaining about the latest issues with our favourite DSLR brands and we forget to smell the roses.
I got my first toy for the upcoming trip to Kenya the other day, the ever popular Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS L. In having my initial play with it, I came to smell to the roses.
What drugs am I on?? What am I on about??
As per usual my first play with a new lens is inside and at night. Why is this?
Well as noted in Shopping for Camera Gear I am not shy about purchasing online. Hence this lens was purchased online and it arrived while I was out and by the time I got a chance to play it was dark.
This is a f2.8 IS lens so I figured I should be able to play inside with it anyway.
So it was time to annoy the pets under the overtly warm glare of the 100watt globe with no flash, hardly prime conditions.
This is what I got:
Yes its underexposed etc but it is reasonably sharp so I was happy. So why the wonder of modern DSLR. I was looking at this picture in LightRoom and it dawned on me, this was taken at ISO 1250.
Yes there is noise but I was expecting newspaper print noise levels, this shot has less noise than some ISO 200 images from my 10D a few years back.
With a bit of white balance, exposure tweaking and a pass with Noise Ninja I ended up with this:
So lets review the shoot, 100 watt globe, hand held at 200mm at F2.8 with No flash at ISO 1250. I am amazed at the output, we have come along way! We can get results under amazing conditions with these latest DSLRs.
So next time you are feeling a little peeved with you DLSR and your results. Go drag out an old DSLR or maybe even a film body (if you still have one) and take some shots and compare.
Sadly all these great advances don't help us with the 'art' of photography but it sure can help us experiment with it.
I will post my thoughts on the Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS L after the Kenya trip, where it will get a decent workout. I also picked up a 1.4 extender to give it a bit more range if required.
Anyway as always enjoy your photography, experiment and be amazed.
Friday, August 10, 2007
New Galleries uploaded: WildFocus Images
After much effort the first Namibia galleries are up on the site.
First up we have Dune 45. Its a long climb in the icy pre dawn light but its worth the effort
Next is the Cape Cross Seal Colony. This place is amazing , literally 1000's of seals, who love their photo taken.
These are the tip of the iceberg, I have started processing the Etosha shots and hope to have them done before we head off to Kenya.
To check them out go visit the Namibian Galleries: WildFocus Images
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Camera Bags, How big is too big
The Hunchback photographer, the future of digital photographers
The digital photographer has been liberated from the physical burden of film and it is good. The problem is it has been replaced by a bewildering array of electronic accessories. All of which need somewhere to live when on the road or on safari in Africa.
The most common repository of these bits and bobs is the camera bag.
They come in an array of brands, shapes and sizes but which is really going to be usable in the field and which is going to make you like a turtle.
Since we are heading to Africa for the ultimate photo safari lets talk about travel and your camera bag.
DON'T:
- Skimp and wrap your gear in your clothes and load them all into your suitcase. Unless you have good insurance.
- Get the largest bag you can and put everything in it.
- Not get a camera bag and try to carry all your gear onto the plane.
Now we have covered what not to do, lets look at what you might need the bag for while travelling.
Point to Point Travel: You have to get your precious camera gear from home to destination. The camera backpacks made by several manufacturers are a good option for this. Again only take the gear you will need, otherwise this backpack will weigh a ton. This is bad if they decide to weigh your carry on luggage and its bad for your health. I have found backpacks to be the easiest style of camera bag for this purpose. For his role i use a LowePro NatureTrekker. This fits in the overhead of the 737s and above quite nicely. It can be a bit squishy on regional airlines though.
In the Field: Obviously once you arrive you need a way to carry the camera gear comfortably whilst keeping it protected and secure. Your requirements will vary dependent on your destination. On a lodge based safari you camera bits travel from chalet to jeep and thats about it. So here the much maligned camera vest is a good option. Once on the game drive your camera will be around your neck at all times. Africa can get dusty so it would be wise to take some sort of bag to keep it in during the quiet moments.
If you are doing the cultural tour thing then you need a proper camera bag to hold the camera and bare essentials. I use a LowePro TopLoader for these roles. I can stuff it with clothes in my booked luggage to get it to the destination then out it comes. I also have a couple of lens cases on the side of the toploader. It can get weighty with 100-400 and flash and 17-40 given it only has the one shoulder strap but the convenience of just reaching in and taking camera out ready to shoot is priceless.
I also use a LowePro Slingshot 200 but its a tad small for the big L glass so I am contemplating the Slingshot 300. Given the next trip is Kenya I will most likely make do for the mean time.
NOTE: I am not sponsored by LowePro or anything like that I just find they usually have a bag that meets my requirements. Also we don't get much variety here in Australia. That said I am looking intently at some of the Kata range. Andy Rouse has some of these so I will check his out while we are in the Masai Mara,
No matter what happens you will end up with a room full of camera bags and will buy a new one for every trip. Every trip has its own requirements and the existing bags never seem to quite fit.
Everyone has a differing opinion on camera bags so let me know what you use.
Read More......
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Shopping for Camera Gear
Its time to buy!!
I am not sure if its just me but I know I do enjoy the anticipation of buying some new piece of kit. Usually its because we are heading back to Africa and have a requirement.
Today I will look at the processes behind the decision. Not so much as to what lens should I get though I will touch on that but more on the research that goes into the purchase.
So if you are in the market for some new photo gear then this is for you.
Where to start
From talking to others the hardest part seems to be deciding exactly what lens to get. I have a list I have built up over time so its more so a matter of working my way through the list, justifying it by the requirements of the upcoming trip.
I am focusing on lens purchases for this article but the process can apply to purchasing anything really.
What do I want to do with the new lens?
You should have a good idea of what you want to shoot with your new lens. There is no point going into your local camera shop and asking them, only you know what you like to shoot. It sounds bleedingly obvious but I have had this discussion many times.
- Look at what lenses you have,can they do the job?
- Are they up to the task optically?, there is a reason Pros use L series glass.
- Do you need a faster lens for low light?
- Do you have enough reach with your current zooms?
- Are you doing landscapes this trip and need a wide angle?
Once you have an idea of what you want to do with the lens and what you want from it, start by having a look at a Canon website and see what lenses they have that match your requirements.
Research the lens.
Once you have found the lens or lenses that look suitable the real work begins. Now its time to hit the internet big time. Its a wonderful tool so use it. People love to talk about their experiences with their toys so you will find no end of reviews and comments.
I usually start at Fred Miranda, the review section is excellent. Just about every lens you can think of has a review. This aren't in depth technical reviews but actual user reviews. The actual comments on an individual basis don't matter much because you don't know their standards and everyone is different but it will show you trends. For instance I recently purchased a 70-200 f2.8 IS L, a quick look in the reviews suggests this is a good lens but is heavy.
Hang out at your favourite photography related forums. There is always a section on gear and lenses, where yet more people are posting their experience with said piece of gear. The Gear section of Digital Grin is a good example. This isbut one of many many excellent photography sites. The discussion forums on DPReview are also a great resource. The key to the value of these sites is the volume of traffic, more readers = a wider cross section of opinions.
When I have a gut feel for the lens I start looking for technical reviews by authors/photographers I like. A very good source for all things photographic is Luminous Landscape. Michael Reichmanns site is chock full of informative and interesting articles and reviews. I am also a big fan of Andy Rouse so I usually check out what he has to say. His reviews are scattered about on his Blog and on the Warehouse Express. You need to read alot of your chosen sources reviews to gain your own insight into whether their opinions usually mirror your own,
By the time you wade through the copious amount of information on the internet you should have a fairly clear picture of the lens in question.
Research the price
This part is a hairy topic as everyone has their own polarised opinions on this. I will say that if you are comfortable with purchasing items over the internet then there are some significant savings to be made.
We started out on the Canon website, this gives their idea of the retail price which is usually rather inflated. It gives you a very rough idea of whether the price is in your range.
From there its time to search your online retailers.
Do I recommend buying a lens online??
Maybe!! If research suggests that the lens in question is usually free of manufacturing defects then I will consider it. Its not that you cannot return your lens if bought online but its considerably more difficult than going back to your local camera shop.
Before you buy online, research the retailer as much as you can, read their return policies, their shipping charges and delivery time frames. Make sure you know whether the item is a "grey import" as it is often the reason for the price difference. Not that there is anything wrong with Grey imports, you just have to be aware of the fact and what it means to your warranty.
Once you have found a good price on the internet then go to your local camera shop and see what they have to offer. Do not expect them to match the internet price. You are paying the extra for being able to try the lens in the shop (every lens is different), the ease of return should it prove to have an issue.
Once you have checked all the available prices then you can weigh up the pros and cons and then jump in. The key here is research, do your homework thoroughly before any purchase.
Read More......
Friday, August 03, 2007
Last check of the camera bag
Lets finish packing the camera bag
We have the camera, we have the lenses, we even have all the required accessories to make a successful digital photo safari in Africa.
If you are missing any of these then you may want to read the following posts:
What do I take on a Photo Safari in Africa
Have camera will travel but what else do I need?
So whats left??
Any guesses? What have we forgotten?
Now its time for the little things, the bits you may not use but you can be sure you will if you do not pack them.
Lets jump right in.
Lens cleaning cloth/tissue: We have brought the sensor cleaning gear but the front of the lens will need attention to. Of course if you prefer a lens pen is also an option. Also good for cleaning the body and viewfinder. I usually clean the body and used lenses each night. This check also includes a sensor check for dust.
Lens cleaning solution: Sometimes you manage to get stubborn grime on the glass, and the trusty old breathe on the glass doesn't do the trick. Of course pack this along with any sharp implements in your booked luggage.
Blower: These days my blower gets used more for charging up my Visible Dust brush but its still handy to have with you. If you were bad and didn't get a sensor cleaning solution you are going to need the blower to try and dislodge the dust.
TIP: Preaching to the choir maybe but always hold the camera with the lens opening facing down when playing with the blower in the chamber. No point dislodging the dust to have gravity plop it back down on the sensor.
Flash: If you have a decent flash for your camera take it. Fill flash is what sets apart amateur wildlife shots from the pros (other than composition, timing and light). Well executed fill flash will give you the catch lights in the eyes and diminish the shadows on your target critter. Obviously in the Africa situation you may not be in range with your flash so look at getting a Better Beamer. Basically a light weight fresnel lens for your flash, which extends its viable range considerably. I finally got around to getting one (they are hard to get in Australia) so I will be trying it out on the Kenya trip.
Filters: I will avoid the quasi religious war over UV filters and their use with digital cameras. I still have mine on all lenses but its more out of habit from the film days than anything else. From the protection angle, on safari the hood is always on the lens which protects the glass from most things.
What other filters do I take:
- Polariser: If you are out in the harsh daylight, you will need this. Try a Moose Peterson Warming Polariser to help remove the coldness that a polariser brings.
- 81b: Yes you can add this afterwards in Photoshop but I prefer to do it on camera. This filter gently warms the scene, thus extending that magic light in the morning a little longer.
Remote: Why bother I hear you ask. Well its only small and you may get a chance to do some landcape work braced on something at the end of the day.
Hot shoe Bubble Level: Same deal as the remote, its tiny and weighs next to nothing, so why not. Yes you can also fix croooked horizons in Photoshop or Lightroom but its yet more to fix. Get it right in camera and save yourself some time.
Small NoteBook: Your mileage will vary on this one but given myself and partner shoot its handy to keep track of who shot what. Every card downloaded goes into a unique folder, after a month in the field it gets hard to remember whose is whose. Its also handy to record what animals you saw each day and in what order. Makes file captioning easy if you do it back home. Hopefully on the upcoming Kenya trip the laptop will make this all alot easier. On the pluis side a small notepad and pencil is way lighter and smaller than a laptop.
Camera manual: You are bound to have a thin zippered area on you camera bag that is pretty useless for most camera gear. Thankfully Canon manuals are small and you can generally shove it in. Yes you should know how to use your camera before you go but the downtime between game drives gives you plenty of time to read up and try new things.
Camera Support: The need for this depends on the type of vehicle you are doing your game drives in. In Southern Africa where open landrovers are the norm you will have space to use a monopod. You could also get away with a clamp device as there is usually a decent steel tubing in front of you supporting the seat. In areas where you cannot use open landrovers you generally have either poptops or open windows for these a bean bag is essential.
TIP: Fill your beanbag when you get to your destination, rice or split peas or even beans do the job well. These are cheap and can be given away at the end of the trip.
So thats about it, by now you camera bag is full and weighs far more than is allowable for hand luggage. The secret here is to make the bag look light. Of course it has to fit in the overhead but if you are struggling with it, they are going to weigh it.
This leads to the next topic, which in hindsight might have been more appropriate before this. The camera bag itself.
Have an must have item that I have neglected then let me know.
Read More......Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Have camera will travel but what else do I need?
So you have the camera, you have the lenses but you still need more!
Yes you do, welcome to the wonderful word of digital photography. Yes travelling with film internationally was a pain but I think digital photography has introduced its own pain. The sheer volume of gadgets you require to be working productively in the field.
So what are the gadgets and gizmos required to make your photo safari in Africa (or anywhere for that matter) a success.
Given the number of items the list approach is the way to go so here goes:
- Senor Cleaning gear: Unless you have a late model Canon with the self cleaning sensor (and maybe even then) you should have some sort of sensor cleaning kit with you. They come in 2 major flavours; the dry static brush or the swab and cleaning solution. Both types have their uses. I prefer the brush, my visible dust brush does a great job. The latest toy the Artic butterfly which is a nifty battery powered unit which spins up the brush head to charge it is great for travelling. Again there are reported manufacturing issues with it so be warned. I still use the original brush and a blower to charge it up. This has worked fine. I have never used a swab so I cannot comment but there are plenty of people who swear by this method. Either way you go they are overpriced but a necessity of digital photography with DSLRs.
- Spare Batteries: Do not overlook this one, its hugely important. Yes with each iteration of camera we are getting more and more from a fully charged battery BUT they still run out eventually. Next to a full flash card a dead battery is the next most painful event that happens in the field. You can get cheap afet market ones, which frankly I have had no trouble with. Yes they don't last as long but given they are around 1/10 th the price of a genuine one you can make up for it in volume.
- Portable Hard Drive: By this I mean a unit for you to download your memory cards to while out in the field. These come in 2 main types as well, with or without a lovely colour lcd. I personally prefer not to have the colour LCD. Yes its gives you a marginally bigger LCD to review your photos on but its still way too small for proper evaluation. The LCD units do chew through the power though. You can also get some very fast downloading non LCD units ala the Nexto ND2525. I will be purchasing one of these for the upcoming Kenya trip to replace my current downloader. Once I have it I will run some tests and write a review, mind you there are already some excellent articles ont he web fully testing this unit. Also the LCD untis are considerably more expensive, but still cheaper than a laptop.
- Memory Cards: Portable hard drive or not you are going to need extra memory cards. How many will you need?? Well thats a tough one. It depends on how trigger happy you are. At a minimum you need 2. So yo can be shooting while the other is downloading. There are those who prefer multiple BIG volume cards rather than the portable hard drive. The portable drive needs charging, memory cards do not. Memory cards are way smaller and lgihter. Most people though have a rational fear of card failure, 16Gig is alot of images to lose. To be fair though a hard drive failure is probably more likely than a failure of a high end name brand memory card. My partner and myself will be taking 4 4Gig Sandisk Extreme III CF cards plus our 4 older 1gig Sandisk Ultra IIs, plus a 160gig hard drive. We are trigger happy though and from a few previous trips have a pretty good idea how much we shoot. For the first time, make an estimate then double it. Memory cards are cheap compared to the rest of the trip, so don't skimp.
- Laptop: A contentious inclusion maybe but if you don't mind the extra weight and charging issues its a valuable addition. This trip will be our first with a laptop (a recently acquired 15" Apple MacBookPro). If you take a laptop you can safely say you won't need a LCD hard drive. The laptop adds hassle to the trip from the power perspective and the fun at the airport security but it does mean you can properly review and first cull each night at the lodge (thus saving hard drive space). You can also get a head start on file renaming and keywording before you get home. Nothing worse than getting home to face 6000 odd images to cull and keyword.
- Battery Chargers: With all the power hungry devices you are going to need chargers. Multi voltage chargers to cope with varied international power supplies. Thankfully most devices these days come with multi voltage chargers. Still they add considerable bulk to your luggage, at least they can go in booked luggage. Just remember to make sure you have all the ones you need before you leave!!
TIP: label the cords for you various chargers. Most charging units have removable cords so remembering which goes with which charger can be fun after a long day on safari.
Don't forget the AA rechargable batteries and charger. Your flash needs batteries, as does the compact digital. - Power Adapters: Given all your toys need charging, you had better make sure you have packed the power adapters for the country you are visiting. The many countries in Africa manage to use an array of different systems. Southern Africa you can usually get away with British adapters, except Namibia. North Africa tends toward the 2 round pin European system. So make sure you check out what you will need and take at least 2.
TIP: A power board is another good option here. Most mid range hotels only have one socket available, which equates to alot of time wasted.
If out in the bush a power inverter is not a bad idea so you can charge up safely in the field. They aren't too expensive but can be a little heavy,
This covers the most common gadgets but there are plenty more, external hard drives to backup your images (a worthy inclusion in the main list but I use the laptop HD as the backup for the portable unit), a portable dye sub printer (nothing breaks the ice quicker with the locals than a printed photo), maybe a video camera.
For an extreme tech outing check out this great article on Luminous Landscape by Nathan Myhrvoid: Digital Safari Equipment Tips
Anyway another long post, hopefully someone gets some use from it. If you like it, hate it or have more goodies to add please leave a comment.
Next time we will finish filling up the camera bag for our epic African photo safari.
Last check of the camera bag
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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
What else will I need for my photographic safari
The Camera itself
Welcome to the 2nd installment of the "How much am I going to cram in my bag" series. Last time we looked at lenses today we will continue in the mainstream camera gear theme.
Continuing with the obvious we will need a camera body or 2 to control the lenses we have selected to accompany us. The question is which bodies and how many? Should I take that compact with me.
Lets investigate further.
For the sake of clarity I will state right now that we at WildFocus Images shoot with Canon gear. The religious war over Canon or Nikon can wait for another day but I mention this because I will be referring to Canon equipment.
The majority of you will already have a DSLR of brand, if you don't make sure you do. While you can do a decent photo safari with a compact digital you are really selling your experience short. I think that we are all aware just how good the Pro series of bodies are from the top manufacturers and that these are the best equipped tools for the job. The !DMkIII is the perfect camera for an African safari.
Quickly lest look at why the 1DMkIII is the camera of choice. In a nutshell speed! Its blindly fast, not just in fps but in the area of most importance to us, auto focus. NOTE: at this point there is a lot of discussion on the web about some potential serious issues with the focusing of this model. At this point in time its still a new model and could have some teething problems, is this acceptable for a Pro body probably not but the features of this camera are worth the pain.
Anyway not everyone can afford or more importantly justify the expense of the 1D series so the next model down becomes the more likely choice. Any of the x0D series will be fine. By this I am talking either the 20D or 30D and probably later this year or early next the 40D. The 10D is fine but the better noise reduction on the later models is worth the upgrade. This range is robust enough for most people and has enough speed to do the job.
If you can afford it take a backup body. This provides you with some protection from failure but more importantly allows you to have 2 lenses ready to go. So what does this give us:
- A lack of dust! Every time you change the lens you will get dust on the sensor. Africa is dusty. So the less you have to do it the better, even if you do have sensor cleaning gear (which you should).
- The right lens on a body when you want it. No time lost swapping lenses.
- Two bodies means 2 flash cards on the go.
Do not despair if all you have is a xx0D series (300D, 350D, 400D) as they are still fine, you are most likely aware of the short comings of your camera and can therefore work around them where possible.
This leads to an important point: Know you camera before you go, DO NOT buy a new body a week before you go and expect decent shots while away. It takes time to learn the pros and cons of your new camera.
Do I take the compact?
If you have one, why not. While it may not give you the control of your DLSR they are good for quick grab shots.
- Good to hand to other tourists to get a shot of you in Africa.
- If you do not have a wide angle lens they offer a wider point of view.
- Better ones have a video mode of some sort. Which forces you to take short bursts not mind numbing 30 min epics.
Ok ,in yet another long winded epic we have lightly covered the camera to take. Next I will look at camera related gear.
Until then keep planning that trip and then make it happen!
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Monday, July 30, 2007
What do I take on a Photo Safari in Africa
The simple answer: Anything you want!
Everybody gets hung up over this one, what can I take, what should I take. I don't mean to trivialise the question but as with most of life there are many layers to this. Some fairly obvious others not so.
The most obvious is the camera gear. After all you are going on a photo safari to take pictures of wildlife and for the majority of us these days that also means digital photography.
So lets delve into the obvious first off.
You are a competent wildlife shooter so you should have a pretty good idea on the equipment you require for the results you want. For those not so sure what I am getting at, we are talking big zooms. Even though most animals you will come across in Africa are confined in some way these days, the place isn't a petting zoo. In general they don't come up alongside and have a chat. So to get a decent size animal in the frame you are going to want a at least a 300mm lens.
The lens choice changes slightly dependent on your type of safari. In South Africa on the private concessions you could get away with a 70-200. To be on the safe side though I would want something with a tad more reach. I don't have a lovely 500mm so I get by with the Canon 100-400 IS, with on a apc sensor DSLR gives a nice reach. For East Africa I would say that this range is probably the minimum. We are taking the 70-200 f2.8 IS to Kenya shortly but we are also taking the 1.4x and 2x extenders to make sure we have the reach.
Other than the big zoom you should also take a wide angle or something appropriate for landscapes. Africa has alot of big open space and some very dramatic landscapes. By having one of these handy with you, you will have something to do even if there is no wildlife action. Or it maybe a case of not very thrilling action, you can only watch a herd of impala for so long. Try to get some shots of the animals in their habitat.
Don't get me wrong I know the seduction of the big lens, I mean you have spent some decent cash on this monster lens, lugged it halfway around the world so you want some frame filling shots. By all means do it, fill the frame, do the interesting crops (that only you will appreciate) but do pull back at some point. Get the tips of the ears in, make sure the animal has feet, make sure it still has a tail. I could show you a multitude of these shots from our first safari. In fact i could show you too many from the last safari as well. No matter how much you may love them very few other people will so pull back get the whole animal in. Then when you are comfortable with that pull back a bit further and show some environment. Trust me on this, you will appreciate those shots when you get home.
Anyway the point here is you can and will use a variety of ranges when on safari, so make sure you have room in the bag for some of the others. Besides its digital if you don't like them you can delete them when you get home!
I have rambled a tad so the other obvious bits will have to be for another day, so stay tuned,
Next: What camera to takeRead More......
Friday, July 27, 2007
Does style of trip affect my photo opportunities?
You bet it does!!
The style of trip you choose for your shoot in Africa has a direct relation to your chances of getting the shots you want.
Is the lodge close to the action, if not then more shooting time is spent getting to and from the action. Does the park allow night drives, if not your guide will have to have you out of the park before dark, severely limiting your time with that sweet sunset light. Or you camp activities mean you will be busy while the action is happening.
All of these things will affect the quality of your final images. In todays post I will look into the most common style of trips and the various pros and cons of each with relation to wildlife photography.
So heres the types of trips I have been on and their affect on digital photography. Overland: As I mentioned the other day this is one of the cheapest ways to get around (a plus) but it has a few downsides for photographers. PRO CON Lodge Based: Hmm now we are talking, this is the way to get decent images in Africa but it comes at a price. PRO CON Lodge Based Fly In: Pretty much as for Lodge based but with a couple of extra pluses. PRO CON Walking Safari: There is no better way to get a feel for Africa, you haven't "experienced" Africa until you have done a walking safari. So get out of the jeep and get down amongst it. PRO CON I think my preference is pretty clear, if you can afford it do a lodge based safari, you are pretty much guaranteed of getting some worthy shots. Whether self drive is better (if it is available) is an issue I haven't tried yet. It would give more time and every photographer likes to be in control of their time shooting. Sorry about the long article (well done if you have read this far!!) but there is alot to consider on this topic. Next time we start looking at what photographic goodies you should take with you on your adventure to Africa.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
What style of Africa trip will suit my photographic goals
The How
The how means how will you experience Africa, how will you get the shots you desire.
The how can be influenced by a number of factors.
- Location
- Time
- Budget
- Comfort Level /Style of travel/ Security
Lets delve into these in more detail.
Location: So how can your choice of trip location affect you. Some countries restrict the types of travel available within them, ie Libya means no independent travel, tour groups only. Thankfully none of these restrictions really apply in the prime wildlife areas. That said some of the prime areas charge alot, which may blow your budget or mean less time onsite. All of which can drastically alter your chances of getting the shot. So check out your choice of country and its options fully before booking.
Time: No doubt you are fully aware that for wildlife photography the more time you can spend with the critters the better your chances of getting the shot. Obviously when the critter is in your backyard this is not an issue but in Africa you could be spending $500-1000 a day. As a photographer you cannot go by the standard tourist brochures "Allow 2-3 days on safari to make the most of it". Yeah right for us this is the bare minimum. You have paid alot in airfares and greenhouses gases to get to Africa so make the most of it; maximise your time on the ground with camera in hand!
Budget : This controls how long you can spend with the critters. Most Africa countries have a wide array of options available for the traveller. Some of which are not really suitable for serious photography. ie Overlanding is a great cheap way to get around but you can be guaranteed that the best action will happen at the waterhole while you are on kitchen duty!! (I speak from experience on this!). Self Drive is great in alot of Southern Africa but finding the game is not always easy. Still this is a good mid range option if you have time. Lodge based offers the best option for photographers on a time limit. You get a guide who knows where to find the animals. Don't be fooled into thinking the $1000 a lodge has the best wildlife. There maybe other cheaper options in the very near vicinity.
Comfort level: No where near as important as the others but you have to think about it. The $1000 a day place will be offering good wildlife but its main draw card is the luxury and pampering. I cannot speak for you but I am there to spend time in the wild taking photos not to get a massage. The flip side of this is that the back packers is no place for your uber expensive zoom lenses!! I prefer a mid range lodge in a good area. Another facet to this point is security, how comfortable are you travelling in 3rd world countries. There is no pint going to Africa if you are going to be to worried by street crime to go outside the hotel.
As you can see these are all linked together, one affects the other. So have a think about these points and next time I will have a closer look at the styles of trips available and their pros and cons.
As always fell free to comment.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Nature Photogrpahy Mecca: Africa
So you have decided to go to Africa
A very good choice but now the question becomes where in Africa to go. Lets face it the place is huge.
You cannot always even go by the preferred habitat of your favourite animal, ie Elephants pop up all over the place.
So now the fun starts; where in Africa to go
Unless you have a decent zoom you are going to be getting some of the surrounding ecosystem in the shot. In fact is a good idea to do some animal in its environment shots. Hence the location can be important. Southern Africa in the dry season (prime animal viewing time) is rather full of brown and yellow, so if you want something green you had better look hard.
Every country has is definitive backdrop, the amazing orange tones of the Namibian sand dunes, the huge open grasslands of the Serengeti in Tanzania, the lush green jungles of Rwanda.
Having spent most of our Africa time down south I will go through the highlights of the places we have been. At a later date i will do a more thorough review of the areas visited.
South Africa: Good animal densities in the major parks. Mainly bush setting, light scrub. Having spent some time in the private reserves around Kruger I can highly recommend the area for animal action. Mala Mala was particularly good for leopard but as always with leopards you mileage will vary.
Namibia: Other than in Etosha the animal densities are low but you will be rewarded with some interesting backdrops. If you can get it a Gemsbok on the orange sand looks great. Namibia is mainly desert, varying from sandy to stony. Etosha has wide open areas, lots of herbivores (read lots of zebra and giraffe). Elephants and lions are more scattered
Zimbabwe: Again lots of bush land, but it varies dependent on exact location. The Mana Pools area is good and can provide some ver close encounters with Elephants. Sadly the more remote park have been badly hit by subsistence poaching and commercial poaching so the few animals that remain are a tad spooked. Still don't just write the place off, it still has plenty to offer.
Botswana: Varies dramatically form the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta to the sandy grass plains of Chobe. Sadly we haven't got the private concessions yet but the are suppose to be quite special. Linyanti has a good reputation for Hunting Dogs. Chobe National park has good diversity of animals and huge herds of Elephants. These elephants like to take a drink from the Chobe river at sunset making for some spectacular images. Chobe also produces some amazing sunsets.
Shorty we are off to the Masai Mara in Kenya so I will add much detail to the site about that location hopefully while we are there but if not when we get back. In fact this trip and its preparation is forming the basis of a few upcoming articles so stay tuned.
Another time we will look at other parts of Africa from a non wildlife perspective, ie the cultural highlights of North Africa and Roman Africa.
As always share your thoughts and experiences with us. Aside from photography we are also dedicated travellers, so tell us about your adventures. As any keen traveller knows the only people who truly appreciate your tales are other travellers, the people back home just don't get it.
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