| With Africa's beautiful landscapes and exotic | | | | your eyes peeled if you want to get amazing |
| wildlife, a safari is every photographer's dream | | | | shots. |
| come true. Whether you're a professional with | | | | . A simple tip for a great close - up is to focus on |
| years of experience or an amateur trying your | | | | the animal's eyes to get the most balanced shot |
| hand at expressing art through the lens, Africa is | | | | of the face. |
| a paradise where you can find a variety of | | | | . You have to consider the type of film you'll be |
| interesting subjects. Below are a few tips to help | | | | using. Low contrast film is best when the weather |
| you make the most out of your artistic endeavor. | | | | is sunny and high contrast film when the sky is a |
| . Look for a safari that can take you through the | | | | bit overcast. |
| best spots rich in game. There are agencies that | | | | . Experiment with different approaches and angles. |
| offer safaris tailored especially for wild life | | | | This will help you achieve compositions that look |
| photographers. | | | | alive. |
| . A trip to the zoo before leaving may help you | | | | . Lens with a 300mm in focal length are the best |
| prep up for taking pictures in the wild. | | | | to work with in this kind of setting. Other animals |
| . If you plan to buy a new camera for your trip, | | | | such as birds however, are best photographed |
| make sure you can already operate it with ease | | | | with 500mm lens. A shutter speed of 1/125 is |
| before leaving. | | | | recommended when shooting a subject in motion. |
| . Be ready for emergencies. Bring plenty of spare | | | | 1/500 or more is ideal when shooting birds in flight. |
| batteries. And if you have a spare camera, take it | | | | When shooting people or scenery, a standard |
| with you as well. | | | | 50mm lens will do. |
| . If possible, don't bother bringing tripods. They will | | | | . It's pretty expensive and difficult to buy film |
| only add bulk to your luggage and are quite | | | | once in Africa, so stock up on as much film as |
| cumbersome to carry around. | | | | you can. Most photographers shooting in daylight |
| . If there is a specific animal group that you wish | | | | while out in open territory prefer Kodachrome 64 |
| to focus on, study up on their behavior and find | | | | or Fujichrome 100. Don't forget to bring a flash |
| out where they can usually be found. This will help | | | | unit, which could be very useful for low light |
| you track them easily and predict their actions, | | | | conditions. Keep your equipment in a bag that can |
| allowing you to take some really great photos. | | | | protect it from heat, moisture and most especially |
| . Don't get too carried away with your artistic | | | | airport x - rays. |
| ideas. Your safety should be first on your list. | | | | . Wide-angle shots with sky and clouds and |
| Always keep yourself at a safe distance when | | | | pictures taken over water will have great results |
| taking pictures, especially when shooting wild | | | | when used with polarizing filters. |
| animals. Getting too close will probably let them | | | | . Have your equipment insured. A lot of |
| think you are a threat - which will most likely | | | | unexpected things can happen on a safari trip. It's |
| cause them to act in a very hostile manner. | | | | better to be prepared than to blame yourself |
| . At some point during your trip, you might have | | | | later should you encounter any major problems. |
| to meet people from local tribes whose culture is | | | | As fun and absorbing as it is to take pictures of |
| very different. They might feel uncomfortable | | | | wildlife, remember that safari activities are |
| about you taking pictures. Always be polite and | | | | potentially risky, especially if you'll be working |
| friendly. Ask first if you plan to take someone's | | | | closely with wild animals. It's never a good idea to |
| picture. | | | | compromise your safety just to get that perfect |
| . Be alert with your camera. Animals move quickly | | | | shot. The right attitude to wildlife photography is a |
| in the wild and they tend to turn their backs when | | | | sense of adventurousness balanced with common |
| cameras are pointed at them. You have to keep | | | | sense. |