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Lessons Learned: My First Safari
February 17th, 2010
On Monday I posted images from the safari I did this January. It was an incredible trip, even if I’d never created a single frame I’d have come home excited. Being out on the Serengeti is an experience; being among the big cats, elephants, giraffe – just too cool.
It was my first safari and there was a learning curve, but I’ve often found the best images come at the steepest inclines of that learning curve because we’re pushed beyond the edges of what’s familiar and we begin to see things differently.
I packed way too much for this one, treating it like a usual travel assignment. I could have brought much, much less stuff. Our safari guide, not a photographer, had one small bag for his clothes. I had 2 carry-ons a peli-case and a large North Face duffle. Next time, half the clothes, and half the gear.
I shot primarily with a 300/2.8 IS lens, often with a 1.4x or 2x on it, and a second body with a 70-200/2.8 IS lens at the ready. This was a great combination. A single body with a single lens would have been a greater challenge.
I began shooting with my 300/2.8 on a Gitzo carbon fibre monopod, but it was unwieldly and got in the way. By half-way through the safari I’d swtiched fulltime to my Kinesis beanbag, I think they call it the Safari Sack. I love that beanbag and if there’s one thing I’d recommend for anyone doing a safari, it’s the Kinesis beanbag. It’s big and solid and far sturdier and softening than a monopod. Arrive with it empty, then put 10lbs or more of lentils in it. And put a piece of tape with your name on it so you don’t lose it.
I don’t know what other safari vehicles are like but ours allowed us to stand up and where the roof separated from the pop-top there was a strong metal lip all the way around the passenger area where we’d put our beanbags. Next time I’m bringing a Super-clamp and extra ballhead to secure my second body to this. Would make managing a second body really easy. As it is several of us just hooked the tripod mount on our longer lenses over this lip and it worked nicely.
Not shooting from a monopod also gives the advantage of getting low and shooting through the lower windows. When you stand up in a safari vehicle and shoot down on the critters you don’t get nearly the wild perspective you can when you get closer to eye level. I was up and down a lot trying to vary my perspective and often the best one was the lowest one. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating. In your photography if you want to change the viewers perspective on things, you must first change your own.
The Gura Gear Kiboko bag gets raves on this and I’ll do a whole other review on it later. As I’ve said before I’m a huge fan of Think Tank Photo and their gear goes with me everywhere. But for this trip I wanted the advantages of the Kiboko and it did not disappoint. Highly, highly recommended. I just got back from Senegal and the Kiboko fit perfectly, fully loaded, into little CRJ and Embraer 170 overhead bins. Well done, guys.
I knew going into this trip that I would have a hard time adapting my vision and my usual way of expressing that, to something so different. Buffaloes and birds, for crying out loud! And I’d resigned myself to trying to create a series of really close pictures of really beautiful animals, even if they weren’t, per se, really compelling images themselves. But animals in the their context are not so different than people in their context. You look for contrasts, moments of humour, and for gesture. Jay Maisel says “everything has gesture” and he’s absolutely right. Don’t settle for a close shot of an animal anymore than you’d settle for merely a close shot of a person. Wait for something, a look, a gesture. Or seek scenarios in which the animal is themselves a great foreground in front of a great background.
I learned wildlife photography is hard. Really hard. And my estimation of the best wildlife and conservation shooters went up immensely. Of course I feel the same way about great wedding photographers too. It’s not easy, and there are fields of mediocrity out there, but the best ones? They amaze me.
FInally, safari lifestyle is a thing all it’s own and if you’re looking to shoot some great lifestyle/adventure images there is plenty of occasion to do it. One of my highlights was a hot air balloon ride early one morning. Beautiful light, and a chance to shoot something I don’t normally. Safari is more than just lions. There are long full days to shoot in, and the landscapes are stunning. The lodges are beautiful, and if you’re looking for local color, you’ll find lots of it. Models for portraits? You’ll find those too.
I’m counting the days until the next one in January 2011. Who’s coming with me?
Interesting to learn about some of the ins of your safari experience and the gear that was of help.
Thanks for sharing.
In your photography if you want to change the viewers perspective on things, you must first change your own.<<
Great line, David.
I am coming with you! Those pictures were amazing. Thanks for the insight on your adventure.
You are right the constant flow of landscape and spontaneity of wildlife behavior is what safari is all about. Anxious to read more about your trip.
Me me me!
I went on safari to Tanzania in 2008 and absolutely loved it, would love to go back! Great post and I heartily agree with your comments.
When I was finished with the rice in my bean bag at the end of the trip we stopped by an orphanage to give it to the kids there – it was a really nice moment on the trip; it’s really touching how giving away a few dollars worth of rice can make people so grateful and happy.
We had a private vehicle which sounds similar to the one that you had. As you say you move around a lot and so I couldn’t imagine being squashed in with 10 other guys like some of the other trucks. If possible, I’d heartily recommend getting a private/small group vehicle.
I had half expected to read that you had some massive 600mm lens, but I found that you could get by quite happily with a 100-400mm, and often the animals are much closer than you would ever expect (they’re not scared of the vehicles), and when you’re out of the National Parks you can actually drive right up to the animals. (rightly or wrongly!).
Sorry for the ramble. In short, good post!
Challenging! Tell me about it.
Animals in the wild don’t really care about humans wanting to take their photograph; they run away, show you their back side(a lot of shots of those) but if you are patient and with a little luck you will have a couple of nice shots to share.
This was the best trip that my wife and I took. For people who are still wondering if a safari is right for them, imagine this: no bugs, lodging is amazing, people are smiling all the time and the wildlife as you saw in David’s or Yves picks is very cool. Here is a sample of shots that I took on that trip.
http://sifurick.smugmug.com/Web/KenyaWeb/
I am a beginner in photography but I learned a lot on that trip. My gear consisted of one 70-200mm f/2.8 & a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6.
Book yourself the trip of a lifetime.
Hmmm… winter in Yellowstone with Moose and Joe, or on the Serengeti with you. Decisions, decisions.
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With a bit of luck, may I have the opportunity to be in a Bruce Percy’s Workshop this September and with you in January 2011!
Oh man, what a dream!
Oh how fun that would be david!!!
Great article and so true, there’s a big learning curve. I’ve been to Africa 5 times and love going on safari. When I look back I noticed my photographs evolved from head shots to ones with gesture. It took me 3-4 years to figure that out. Todd Gustafson made a “Todd Pod” seen here
http://www.gustafsonphotosafari.net/?page_id=43
This fits nicely on top of some vehicles. However it works really well if you place your camera bag on the window seat and put the toddpod on top to get the low shots. I travel with a 500mm lens and sometimes have a hard time holding it securely on a bean bag.
Thank you for sharing what worked, what didn’t and what you’d do next time. I also enjoyed reading what your expectations were and what you learned – I’m sure you came out with a ton of fabulous pictures. I am bookmarking this post so somedeay, when I go on one of these photo trips to somewhere out of my comfort zone, your words of wisdom will guide me!
I would LOVE to go on a safari!! Thank you for sharing your insight and gear choices!
“And put a piece of tape with your name on it so you don’t lose it.” Ah, the secret to not losing things!
Your insight into what gear you used is valuable. I’m usually good at packing light when it comes to clothes, but take too much gear. Although I did mange a 3-week trip last year to Sweden & Germany with only a Lowepro Fastpack 350, a small sling bag, and a Scottevest. For everything.
After looking at your photos from the safari I started daydreaming. I know next year isn’t in the cards so I’m aiming for 2012.
Thanks for the fantastic tips. I’m off to Africa on a part safari, part diving trip later this year. And was tossing up on whether to take a monopod or not. Your comments have now prompted me to rethink & look at a bean bag instead. I did a safari through the Serengeti, Masai Mara & Ngorongogo Crater in 2006. And also had an amazing encounter with mountain gorillas in Uganda. It is highly addictive!
Heh – how much you charging
i’d love to go with you… we’ll see next year if the budget allows for it
I’d love to go – it sounds like a great time and an invaluable learning lesson. Let me start saving my pennies for next year
Thanks for the tips and insights.
Just checked out that Gura Gear Bag and I’m excited to try it out (thanks for mentioning it). Looks like it’s worth every penny (especially for how light it is).
We did last December our 2nd African Safari and we enjoy very much! We always go as whole family me my wife and our 3 kids (13,15 and 17). Lot of fun and good wildlife experience in Namibia, Botsuana and Kenya so far. Next destination will Uganda.