Photographic Tips and Advice

Southern Africa has been popular with many of the world's top wildlife photographers over the past 30 years. In our opinion, few places in Africa can offer a photographer up close and personal encounters with Africa's wildlife like those found in Southern Africa's game reserves.

This, combined with a great weather and numerous scenic vistas will ensure the very best opportunities and placement to achieve these once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Quick Guide to Photographic Equipment

As I mainly have experience in using Canon Cameras and Lenses, I will base my recommendations and comments on this particular brand. I do not endorse one brand over another, and am not in any way compensated to do so. However, I do believe most of the leading brands offer high quality units and you will not be disappointed with your final choices.

Know your Camera

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Because you are using a top range camera and lens does not mean you are going to get top range photographs. 

I am sure we can all recall the times we were learning to drive a motor vehicle. The majority of us probably first learnt to drive around the quiet neighbourhood streets, before feeling confident to venture onto the freeway and busier streets. 

Operating a camera is the same. It takes time to understand and get the feel of the camera. Learn and practise how to handle it, how it will respond and behave, and eventually it will become second nature to set the corrrect aperature, iso settings, balances and so on. 

I think this is a fundamental must, but I know more than a few people who only use their cameras when the go out on holiday, and expect to get great shots and results.

It just does not work that way.

Yes, with pure luck we will snap off a perfect photo, but the better your skills in using your camera and lens are, the less bad photos you will end taking.

Know the limitations of your camera, and avoid being disappointed when that through the eye brilliant shot does not translate the same in Digital form!

Camera Bodies

Any good camera will do. One gets so close to the wildlife that even a good compact camera will achieve fantastic shots. 

However, if you want flexibility and the opportunity of capturing that really fantastic shot then any good quality digital SLR (single lens reflex, as opposes to a compact camera with automatic controls) camera body will be needed. 

There are many models and makes to look at, but it's important that the camera shoots at least five frames per second so that you do not miss the action. With a compact camera there is a slight delay between pushing the trigger and the shot being captured; whereas a SLR is instant. 

Some of the new SLR cameras offer excellent low-light (high ISO) capabilities giving you more opportunities when the light begins to fade.

Next generation Compact cameras with super zoom range, and inter-changable lenses are already with us. With better image results ever more available, this is the new direction we believe cameras and market trends are heading, leaving the bulkier, heavier DSLRs in the hands of a smaller percentage of enthusiasts and professionals. 

Lens Selection

In most Game Reserves you will get relatively close to wildlife in a lot of instances, so is not necessary to have huge lenses. 

A good zoom lens is still your best option and will offer best flexibility. However what you ultimately use will be probably be constrained by your budget that you have set! 

Always buy the best lens you can get... as I believe that a larger percent of a "great" photograph is the result of your lens quality.

Zoom lenses

Fast lenses with an F stop of F4 through to F2.8 are best.
All purpose lenses in this range are the 70-200mm f2.8, 70-200 f4

 With both these lenses you will have plenty on lens at all times and enough speed to keep your image nice and sharp.

Shop around as these lenses vary in price from country to country, and there are some good "used" bargains available on-line.

Multi-Purpose Zoom lens

Most SLR bodies come with a standard lens, normally a lens with a 24-70mm range which are ideal to take landscape shots and general travel/ people shots.

A good quality 70-300mm Zoom lens is also handy and should be a stock item in your bag, as it is very flexible in range, size and weight, especially if you are limited by weight restrictions when traveling.

Remember a 100-400mm Zoom lens can be in excess of 2 kg weight, plus bulky or awkward to manoeuvre if you are in an enclosed vehicle. 

Prime or fixed lenses

These are lenses that have a fixed length starting from 200mm and going up to 600mm. These are excellent lenses but very expensive and not always necessary. 

These lenses are wonderful in low light conditions, are very fast and offer great abrasion/shallow depths of fields giving your portrait shot that sharp look with a blurred background.

However, they are very heavy and need to be held on a tripod or support of some kind to get crisp clear photographs.

There are certain Camera specialist shops that will let you rent various lenses and cameras, once you arrice in South Africa.

Converters

Put a 1.4 or 2 x converter if you can, into your bag. It's always worth having and gives your lens that little more if you realty need it or if you want to take photos of birds.

Camera Support Systems

In order to get that sharp image, you need to make sure that you are shooting as fast as you can in the light offered, and by that I mean Shutter Speed ... and most importantly you need to make sure your camera and lens are as stable as you can make them.

I would recommend a Monopod, to be attached at all times in "compact" mode, as it helps keep camera steady and often provides extra support resting even on your leg while sitting.

My absolute recommendation is if possible always use a "bean bag" to to rest your lens or camera on. It will improve your shots by up to 50% in respect to clean, crisper lines and reduced blurring on "fast action" shots. 

Recommended Places to Visit:

Kruger National Park

Umfolozi/ Hluhluwe Game reserves

False Bay Park

Ithala Game Reserve

Hlane Game Reserve - Swaziland

Tembe Elephant Reserve

Addo Elephant National Park