| Are you planning for asafari?Do you know what | | | | Lens Accessories |
| are the problems you will face while on your | | | | Tele-converters increase th lens magnification by |
| safari?Then if not hear we have A Travellers | | | | a factor of either 1.4x or 2x and some zoom |
| Quide To Safari Photography for you, | | | | lenses are designed specifically to work with |
| Preparing For A Departure. | | | | them.Extension tubes and close-up filter |
| When preparing you need to put to consideration | | | | attachments are another way of increasing |
| very many aspects but we will only touch on the | | | | magnification for macro photography.A UV or |
| photography Tips as we dont want you to be | | | | skylight filter on each lens offers extra |
| dissappointed after spending alot of money on | | | | protection from accidental damage to the front |
| asafari and you are unable to get the right | | | | lens element. a polarising filter is well worth taking, |
| results.It is always unwise to commence a holiday | | | | as it will help contral reflection and increase colour |
| with new untested equipment.With digital | | | | saturation. Many enhancements that filters |
| cameras,take some pictures on each of your | | | | achieve on film can be added later to digital |
| memory cards and check that they download | | | | images through computer programs such as |
| correctly onto your computer.For adigital | | | | photoshop. |
| multimedia storage device,check that your | | | | Digital Storage |
| memory cards copy successfully and that you | | | | Many of the digital cameras use some form of |
| can then transfer the files onto your home | | | | removable storage memory cardd,such as XD, |
| computer.It is adviceable at least to put one roll | | | | Smart Media (SD) or compact Flash (CF) .Storage |
| of film through a new camera and carry out a full | | | | capacity is measured in megabits (mb) or Gigabits |
| test on any newly purchased lenses.Before | | | | (GB) .The higher the "mb" or "GB" the more |
| deaparture ,make yourself familiar with all the | | | | images can be stored between downloads. Its a |
| commonly used camera and lens fuctions.Ensure | | | | good idea to use a digital storage device to |
| you understand all the functions of any digital | | | | dowenload your memory cards each night.These |
| storage systems you will be using.Researching | | | | are palm size hard drives that vary in capacity |
| might seem to be invaluable and having | | | | from 20 to 100+ gigabits. Some have small colour |
| established the flora and fauna you are likely to | | | | screens for viewing.Travelling with a laptop is |
| encounter,will aid you in selecting the most | | | | another alternative where images can be |
| appropriate equipment to satisfy your own | | | | viewed,stored,or even burnt onto CD or DVD |
| photographic needs.Also ensure and it is for your | | | | .Small battery power CD and DVD writers are |
| own good and advantage to insure all your | | | | also available and offer probably the most secure |
| equipments incase of damage,theft in all the | | | | form of backup. |
| countries you will be visiting.It is paramount you | | | | RAW or JPEGy |
| keep a checklist of the cameras and lens serial | | | | Most digital cameras offer the option to shoot in |
| numbers as this will be useful in an event you | | | | RAW or Jpeg and this is the format that records |
| need to lodge aclaim.Should equipment be stolen,it | | | | your image, the digital equivalent of film.Jpeg is a |
| is important you record a statement with the | | | | file format that stores digitsl photographs in a |
| local police of that country andd get a document | | | | very space efficient way.It uses compression |
| with rubber stamp as the insurance will only | | | | to reduce file sizes at the expense of fine image |
| process compensation when they have this | | | | details to do this.The level of the compression ( |
| document. | | | | and thus the loss of quality) can be varied. Raw |
| WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU. | | | | files contain all the data collected by the |
| Cameras | | | | sensor,not a sub-sample as is the case with |
| These days there is avariety of cameras to | | | | Jpeg files.Raw gives the most flexibility for post |
| choose from.For really successfully safari | | | | correction of the exposure and colour and is the |
| photographers a top brand Single Lens Reflex | | | | preffered shooting format of most professional |
| (SLR) camera,either digital or film,with an | | | | photographers. |
| interchargeable lens facility is ideal.Almost all of the | | | | Noise and ISO |
| top models have an auto facility which is a great | | | | As in film photography,the noise level increases |
| asset to the wilddlife photographer.This systems | | | | with higher ISO settings and shows itself in the |
| can save a valuable seconds and consequently | | | | form of pixels of the wrong colour appearing at |
| secure pictures that may have been missed with | | | | random in dark areas. At ISO settings up to 400 |
| manual focus equipment.Due to the rigours and | | | | very little noise is noticeable, so keep the ISO |
| stresses that any safari places on equipment ,it is | | | | below 400 and save the higher ISO settings for |
| strongly adviceable you take at least two camera | | | | when there is no alternative. |
| bodies -there will be little or no chance of getting | | | | Film |
| any camera repairs undertaken outside major | | | | There is avariety raging from negatives for prints |
| cities.Obviously it is beneficial to have two identical | | | | or transparencies for projection,there is avast |
| camera bodies,but if this is not feasible you should | | | | array of films to choose from.The speed or |
| ensure that your "back up" camera accepts the | | | | sensitivity to light is gauged by an ISO rating.The |
| same range of lenses and accessories as your | | | | higher the ISO ,the more sensitive to light the film |
| principle camera body. | | | | will be.However,the results will look more grainy.As |
| Compact cameras have either a fixed or zoom | | | | light levels in East Africa are general very good,it |
| lens,are quick andd easy to operate and prove | | | | should be possible to take advantage of the finer |
| ideal for those visitors wanting just a photographic | | | | quality of the lower ISO films.The quality of film |
| record.When visiting coastal area it is possible to | | | | you require may be difficult to calculate.Try and |
| obtain underwater compacts.This is a relatively | | | | work out a daily requirement and then double it! |
| cheap way of getting started in underwater | | | | X-ray security checks at airports are standard |
| photography.Since most of these underwater | | | | procedure.However , those used for hand luggage |
| compacts are unpressurised they are only | | | | checks should not cause any problems for film or |
| operational to depths of just over ametre. | | | | digital. Hold luggage is aften checked with more |
| Most of the compact digital cameras are similar to | | | | powerful X-rays,so always take your film as hand |
| their film equipment in size and operation but have | | | | luggage. |
| the added advantage of instant replay,either | | | | Camera Bags |
| through a small built in monitor or computer | | | | For the protection of your camera equipment |
| link.Images are recorded on a memory card,so | | | | from damage,dust and rain is essential hence the |
| pictures can be quickly sorted,saved or deleted,to | | | | need to buy a good quality camera bag.There are |
| make space for more photography.An increasing | | | | many well-designed camera bags on the |
| number of digital videos records have a stills | | | | market nowdays,with several more recent |
| option, and these have the added advantage of | | | | designs taking the form of rucksacks- these are |
| being able to record hours of action. As most | | | | excellent particularly if you expect to have to |
| digital cameras are powered by rechargeable | | | | carry your equipment any great distance.In |
| batteries dont forget to pack chargers,leads,and | | | | selecting a suitable bag,resist the temptation to |
| plug adaptors and also a spare rechargeable | | | | purchase one that is too big- you will only feel |
| battery and memory card are paramount. | | | | obliged to fill it! with ever-tightening controls and |
| Lenses | | | | restrictions being imposed by airlines on the size |
| If your choice is the SLR option you will need to | | | | and weight of the cabin baggage, the smaller |
| think about what interchangeable lenses to take | | | | the better.Waist - mounted camera and the lens |
| with you.The wide variety of photographic | | | | pouches can help to spread the load.Stuff |
| opportunities that are presented to the nature | | | | bags,sold in most camping shops in varying |
| photographer whilst on safari demand an equally | | | | sizes, offer an additional form of protection from |
| wide range of lenses.These can be found with | | | | dust and rain. |
| the manufacturer of your camera system in an | | | | Camera Supports |
| excellent range of lenses to choose from.In | | | | The commonest cause of picture failure is |
| supplement,independent lens manufacturer will be | | | | undoubtedly lack of defination as aresult of |
| able to offer competitive prices and maybe | | | | camera shake.Ovecoming thi problem will increase |
| different focal lengths.Amedium zoom lens of | | | | your success rate enormously with the help of |
| between 70 and 300mm and a short zoom lens | | | | camera instructions manuals which give details of |
| of around 28 to 135mm will cover most | | | | "How to hold your camera" and it is well worth |
| photographic opportunities.For the more wary | | | | developing a good technique in this area,with |
| mammals and the vast majority of the bird | | | | elbows locked tightly into the body. |
| species ,longer telephoto lenses are required.These | | | | Whenever possible we would recommend the use |
| lenses are usually 400mm,500mm or 600mm and | | | | of a tripod. There are many lights, yet sturdy |
| although often heavy and rather large,are | | | | models on the market which will fit confortably |
| essential for the more serious nature | | | | into the average suitcase or roll bag.Monopods are |
| photographer and some camera manufactureres | | | | also a good means of steadying the camera, but |
| even offer image stabilizer lenses.These use a | | | | they do require a little practise. On most |
| vibration gyro which detects shaking and then | | | | photographic safaris to East Africa the vast |
| counter balances the movement with amagnate | | | | majority of filming will be undertaken from a |
| and coil driven optical compensation system.These | | | | vechicle during game drives, in most cases this |
| particular lenses are useful for handholding | | | | precludes the use of a tripod or monopod.The |
| situations such as from boat or vechicle.This | | | | best alternative for photographing from a vechicle |
| technology really comes into its own when using | | | | is to employ the use of a beabag, a very simple, |
| longer telephoto lenses where camera shake is | | | | but extremely effective method of camera |
| greatly magnified,it makes using 500mm and | | | | support.Although beanbags are commercially |
| 600mm lenses with teleconvertors a far more | | | | available they are not difficult to make and all you |
| successful option.Many of the new lenses will | | | | need is a section of cloth or canvas sewn to |
| have auto-focus and this will offer three | | | | form a zippered bag of around 300mm by |
| options.Firstly,by switching ift off,you can manually | | | | 150mm.This can be packed in your luggage ,on |
| focus,secondly,using single shot auto-focus the | | | | arrival at your chosen destination,be filled with |
| camera will lock on to whatever you are | | | | rice,beans or peas and then place it on the roof |
| pointingat,but will need activating again should the | | | | of the safari vechicle it quickly moulds around |
| subject move.Thirdly,servo-focus can be selected | | | | your camera and lens, forming a very efficient |
| where the auto-focus will be constantly updating | | | | support. |
| the focus point:this is ideal for moving subjects. | | | | Rifle stock and pistol grip supports allow freedom |
| Macro Lenses | | | | of movement when attempting to photograph |
| The inclussion of a macro lens in your equipment | | | | moving subjects such as animals running or birds |
| bag is essential if your photographic interests are | | | | in flight.if you have no option other than to hand |
| in recording close-ups of insects and flowers.The | | | | hold your camera while shooting ,you should |
| most useful macro lenses have a focal length of | | | | always ensure that your shutter speed is as |
| between 90mm and 180mm : these allow a | | | | great or greater than the focal lenghth of the lens |
| reasonable working distance from most | | | | in use, so for 500mm-1 |
| subjects.With experience macro lenses of around | | | | 60th:100mm-1?125th:200mm-1/250th:500mm-1 |
| 50 mm have too short a working distance, | | | | 500th and so forth. |
| which can disturb some subjects.This short | | | | Once you have all as mentioned below you are |
| working distance can also often cause lighting | | | | set for your safari and ready for any |
| difficulties ,particularly when using flash.The macro | | | | evcentualities and are assured though we do have |
| facility offered by some zoom lenses can be | | | | technical problems but you already know and |
| useful, but it is rather restricted and in no way | | | | have the backup. |
| matches the quality of a true macro lens. | | | | Scenic Safari,sightseeing & aerial photography |
| Cheaper alternatives to amacro lens include the | | | | will only be enjoyable andd memorable when you |
| use of extension tubes,placed between any lens | | | | get quality pictures orelse it is all awaste and |
| andd the camera body,thereby reducing the | | | | hence the importance of giving you tips on what |
| minimum focusing distance,the use of reversing | | | | to do when perparing for a safari to avoid last |
| rings and the use of close-up lenses attached to | | | | minute dissappointments. |
| the front of an existing lens. | | | | |