Comments on: 10 Tips to Photograph An African Safari http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:05:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: axel http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-72366 axel Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:19:05 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-72366 Your tip number 10 is really a wise remark, I enjoyed that ! To many times the photographer , including me, sees his whole holiday thru a small lens... on the other hand, that is part of the job isn´t it... Your tip number 10 is really a wise remark, I enjoyed that !
To many times the photographer , including me, sees his whole holiday thru a small lens…

on the other hand, that is part of the job isn´t it…

]]> By: Mike McWatts http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-64037 Mike McWatts Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:35:25 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-64037 As inventor/distributor of the Windbag Pro, I would be happy to receive enquiries about the product. It's a wonderful help to wildlife photography in that it can be left on the window whilst driving in the game parks. As inventor/distributor of the Windbag Pro, I would be happy to receive enquiries about the product. It’s a wonderful help to wildlife photography in that it can be left on the window whilst driving in the game parks.

]]> By: James Youngman http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-62970 James Youngman Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:40:18 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-62970 For safari, it's also essential to understand the format - some safaris include driving through the savannah to get up close to herds of animals. Others (and all safaris in South Africa as I understand it) confine vehicles to roads. This will affect among other things your choice of lens. I took a 400mm zoom (the Sigma 120-400) to SA and would have been dissatisfied with anything shorter. Low light is also a problem for safaris; you will take literally zero photographs between 11am and 4pm. There is nothing there. All the animals are hiding away in the shade. Dawn and dusk are the best times for photography, but also have the lowest light levels. (In many cases it is impossible to see the animals at dawn or dusk because of the opening hours of the park, unless you are actually staying on the park itself. This explains the premium frequently charged for accomodation inside safari parks. My photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/jay/SouthAfricaSafariMarch2009# Final tip: consider buying a "Wind-Bag" window-mounted beanbag. I bought mine at Orms camera store in Cape Town; they're hard to find outside SA, I think. Details: http://www.orms.co.za/product.php?a=view&product=1207&PHPSESSID=ad64b5257950b5427ee7a2363c15107e For safari, it’s also essential to understand the format – some safaris include driving through the savannah to get up close to herds of animals. Others (and all safaris in South Africa as I understand it) confine vehicles to roads. This will affect among other things your choice of lens. I took a 400mm zoom (the Sigma 120-400) to SA and would have been dissatisfied with anything shorter.

Low light is also a problem for safaris; you will take literally zero photographs between 11am and 4pm. There is nothing there. All the animals are hiding away in the shade. Dawn and dusk are the best times for photography, but also have the lowest light levels. (In many cases it is impossible to see the animals at dawn or dusk because of the opening hours of the park, unless you are actually staying on the park itself. This explains the premium frequently charged for accomodation inside safari parks.

My photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/jay/SouthAfricaSafariMarch2009#

Final tip: consider buying a “Wind-Bag” window-mounted beanbag. I bought mine at Orms camera store in Cape Town; they’re hard to find outside SA, I think. Details: http://www.orms.co.za/product.php?a=view&product=1207&PHPSESSID=ad64b5257950b5427ee7a2363c15107e

]]> By: OutDorPhoto http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36605 OutDorPhoto Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:48:20 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36605 Very interesting comments from everyone. Leon Wilken's comments are right on. With the Pany ultrazoom I mentioned, I got pictures of the elephant's eyelashes. Amazing zoom for a light, compact camera that has almost no shutter lag and can due 2-3 fps. And as others discussed, wide angle lens is very helpful, primarily for amazing landscape shots. It's nice that the little Pany can go to 28mm equivalent for that too. Treating clothes with permithin b/f you go is a good idea as well. It helps keep away the nighttime mosquitoes (malaira), black river bugs (river blindness), teste flies (sleeping sickness), daytime mosquitoes (dengue fever). I'd also bring my own permithin-treated sleeping net, since some of the nets I used weren't treated. Very interesting comments from everyone. Leon Wilken’s comments are right on.
With the Pany ultrazoom I mentioned, I got pictures of the elephant’s eyelashes. Amazing zoom for a light, compact camera that has almost no shutter lag and can due 2-3 fps.
And as others discussed, wide angle lens is very helpful, primarily for amazing landscape shots. It’s nice that the little Pany can go to 28mm equivalent for that too.
Treating clothes with permithin b/f you go is a good idea as well. It helps keep away the nighttime mosquitoes (malaira), black river bugs (river blindness), teste flies (sleeping sickness), daytime mosquitoes (dengue fever). I’d also bring my own permithin-treated sleeping net, since some of the nets I used weren’t treated.

]]> By: Marius http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36584 Marius Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:26:43 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36584 Hello, My Wildlife photos Kenya: http://www.wildlife.lt/galerija.php?country_id=20 Uganda: http://www.wildlife.lt/galerija.php?country_id=51 . Hello,
My Wildlife photos
Kenya: http://www.wildlife.lt/galerija.php?country_id=20
Uganda: http://www.wildlife.lt/galerija.php?country_id=51
.

]]> By: Leon Wilken http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36560 Leon Wilken Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:32:09 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36560 As a South African I can only complement Vernon Swanepoel on a great article and advice. My advice to tourists is to keep valuables - photographic equipment definitely, as carry on baggage - crime at the airports is an unfortunate reality. Always keep UV-filters on lenses. Add polarizing-filters to cut down the harsh light and haze for each lens, as necessary. Use a beanbag on the car-window or rooftop / roll-bar. Don't get out of your vehicle to get the "Ultimate Photo" - people have died because they underestimated all Wild Life, not only the carnivores. Take your anti-malaria medication as prescribed. Malaria mosquito is the "Big Six." As a South African I can only complement Vernon Swanepoel on a great article and advice.

My advice to tourists is to keep valuables – photographic equipment definitely, as carry on baggage – crime at the airports is an unfortunate reality.

Always keep UV-filters on lenses. Add polarizing-filters to cut down the harsh light and haze for each lens, as necessary.

Use a beanbag on the car-window or rooftop / roll-bar.

Don’t get out of your vehicle to get the “Ultimate Photo” – people have died because they underestimated all Wild Life, not only the carnivores.

Take your anti-malaria medication as prescribed. Malaria mosquito is the “Big Six.”

]]> By: Streve http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36543 Streve Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:35:34 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36543 Hey Relatively interesting article, although hard to take seriously when the picture is so poor! Surely the author had a better picture of an elephant than one ith the head totally covered in shadow? The first thing I was taught about taking pictures of animals is to try and get the eye to sparkle. Not always easy, but worth the effort when it works. Hey
Relatively interesting article, although hard to take seriously when the picture is so poor! Surely the author had a better picture of an elephant than one ith the head totally covered in shadow?
The first thing I was taught about taking pictures of animals is to try and get the eye to sparkle. Not always easy, but worth the effort when it works.

]]> By: Pigapicha http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36542 Pigapicha Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:22:33 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36542 Good tips! I would add that the dust here in Africa is very very fine and gets into everything, so the tip about not changing lenses too often is right on. Not a bad idea to bring a little kit with lens wipes. Also, be prepared for very high contrast light situations, think about the best settings for keeping the detail in highlights and shadows. Good tips! I would add that the dust here in Africa is very very fine and gets into everything, so the tip about not changing lenses too often is right on. Not a bad idea to bring a little kit with lens wipes. Also, be prepared for very high contrast light situations, think about the best settings for keeping the detail in highlights and shadows.

]]> By: ziad chatila http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36541 ziad chatila Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:18:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36541 re: Anna I have been to South Africa and went on a safari to Kruger park. If you need advice, feel free to look me up via the website. ***One more tip*** The weather. Very, very important. The animals can sense the rains coming a few days before. So if there is a major storm coming, than a lot of the animals will head deeper and hide. So plan for that. Otherwise, if you only see elephants and do not see the big cats, for example, you may be disappointed!! Also, don't forget the private parks, where often the conditions are semi-wild. There is a great opportunity to see wild animals but in controlled environments. re: Anna

I have been to South Africa and went on a safari to Kruger park. If you need advice, feel free to look me up via the website.

***One more tip***

The weather. Very, very important. The animals can sense the rains coming a few days before. So if there is a major storm coming, than a lot of the animals will head deeper and hide.

So plan for that. Otherwise, if you only see elephants and do not see the big cats, for example, you may be disappointed!!

Also, don’t forget the private parks, where often the conditions are semi-wild. There is a great opportunity to see wild animals but in controlled environments.

]]> By: James http://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/comment-page-1#comment-36503 James Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:03:00 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/#comment-36503 I have been on safari in Africa (and plan another one next year) and I have not once had a problem with lost language... ;-) I have been on safari in Africa (and plan another one next year) and I have not once had a problem with lost language… ;-)

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