Flash for safari: Preparing for a photo trip to Zambia which will include night shooting of wildlife. Any suggestions for flash equipment? In addition to the flash unit, understand we...

DMF

Preparing for a photo trip to Zambia which will include night shooting of wildlife. Any suggestions for flash equipment? In addition to the flash unit, understand we may want to consider a flash extender. Have experience with photo safaris, I have no experience using flash. Doug

Jerry Coupe Loc: Kent, WA

In preparing for my trip to Tanzania last year, Russ Burden strongly encouraged us to purchase MagMod attachments (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/magmod-flash-modifiers/ci/32730/N/3613274523/?c3api=0980%2C&m=Y&msclkid=0f57677c775f11d8abee392ea6a03cca). Particularly useful when birds and monkeys were up in the tree canopy the MagMod was very beneficial in projecting the flash light much further out. I just recalled too, that we saw one leopard high up in a tree at midday that would have been impossible to capture an image of without the magmod on the flash unit.

We did not do any night photography on our trip so I can't vouch for it at night, but even in day light it helped capture some of my images.

DMF

I will check out the attachments thanks. Doug

DMF

I will check out the attachments thanks. Doug

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

DMF wrote:

Preparing for a photo trip to Zambia which will include night shooting of wildlife. Any suggestions for flash equipment? In addition to the flash unit, understand we may want to consider a flash extender. Have experience with photo safaris, I have no experience using flash. Doug

You should already know the limitations of your current flash equipment. I certainly wouldn't want to be close enough to one of those beasts for standard flash to be of much use.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

DMF wrote:

Preparing for a photo trip to Zambia which will include night shooting of wildlife. Any suggestions for flash equipment? In addition to the flash unit, understand we may want to consider a flash extender. Have experience with photo safaris, I have no experience using flash. Doug

You should check with your trip provider for specifics. You can get an extender, a better beamer would do, you need to experiment with it before you go so you won't look foolish on your safari.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/585196-REG/Visual_Echoes_FX_6_FX6_Better_Beamer_Flash.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

CWGordon

You might want to check with guide for night trip. I do not know the answer, but a guide might not want you to use a flash. There may be rules or even regulations regarding the use of flash. Check first. Good luck, enjoy.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

It was many years ago but our night drives included a million+ candle power 12v spotlight. Flash was not used but I don't recall it being banned either. It can be really dark out there and I wonder how you would get AF to work with flash.

agillot

i use the better beamer for overcast pictures of birds , double or more the distance of flash .

dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

On the night drives, the ranger and tracker have powerful concentrated lights to spot the wildlife. There is no need for lights of your own. Often flashes are banned altogether because they startle the animals. Keep your kit weight down and have fun.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Get an extender. Shoot in Manual mode for your camera. Set your flash in manual mode and experiment with settings at night at various distances. With flash, there are two light sources, ambient and the flash. Set your shutter at 1/200 and forget it for night shots. The flash creates the proper exposure on the subject. Shoot wide open and with the highest ISO you can tolerate in order to get more range from your flash. Experiment with flash exposure compensation too.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

My retired ophthalmologist has been thirteen times to Africa in photo safaris. During his last visit the guide used a daylight color temperature LED to illuminate the animals. I am not aware about the technique used.
I saw nothing wrong with his images.

fromafar

definitely agree with CW Gordon and DBJazz. We have been on several safaris to Kenya, Zim/Zam, Tanzania, Botswana, etc. and without exception responsible guides always have had the animals welfare in mind. Yes, there are/maybe regulations governing night travel&photograpy of animals, depending upon the conservancy you may be in. The guides will very likely have lights, be they bright focus beam or infra-red, that will enable you to capture night photos of the animals. Again, check with your Safari provider/guides

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

DMF wrote:

Preparing for a photo trip to Zambia which will include night shooting of wildlife. Any suggestions for flash equipment? In addition to the flash unit, understand we may want to consider a flash extender. Have experience with photo safaris, I have no experience using flash. Doug

I assume that for your trip, you already know that you can use a flash. My recent trip to Africa included a night trip on which the driver/guide provided the light via powerful and movable lights on the front of the truck. However, it was a very disappointing experience. We saw lions and hyaena lit up by these strong lights but it didn't look good. Resting animals do not want flashes of light in their eyes. I wouldn't go on one of these night trips again.

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

We've done 3 different Safari trips. each of which included night drives. I never used a flash, as the guides provide plenty of light for photos.