Going to Botswana And Zambia for Photo Safari- Need Help
Aug 17, 2021 20:18:50 #
Hello Everyone. Been AWOL during Covid. Probably no one noticed. Anyways, I'd like to get back in the swing of the forum.
Going on a Photo Safari to Botswana and Zambia. I have never shot any wildlife images to speak of so I could use some tips.
I am renting a D850 Nikon and a 200-500mm Nikon lens. Supposed to have pretty good VR system. Will likely be using beanbag support while in the Jeep. As a backup I'm taking my D810 and my 24-70 2.8E. Any suggestions as to the ISO and default fStop? Any other tips would be welcome, since experience teaches a hard school, but fools learn in no other [B. Franklin] Due to weight restrictions, may not take tripod, but maybe my monopod.
Also any tips in general about safari life? We will be going in early November for 2 weeks. Visiting three separate areas. I can provide the names of the areas if that will help you help me.
Thanking in advance as always.
One night will be on some sort of elevated platform to hear the African sounds at night.
Greymule (Rick)
Going on a Photo Safari to Botswana and Zambia. I have never shot any wildlife images to speak of so I could use some tips.
I am renting a D850 Nikon and a 200-500mm Nikon lens. Supposed to have pretty good VR system. Will likely be using beanbag support while in the Jeep. As a backup I'm taking my D810 and my 24-70 2.8E. Any suggestions as to the ISO and default fStop? Any other tips would be welcome, since experience teaches a hard school, but fools learn in no other [B. Franklin] Due to weight restrictions, may not take tripod, but maybe my monopod.
Also any tips in general about safari life? We will be going in early November for 2 weeks. Visiting three separate areas. I can provide the names of the areas if that will help you help me.
Thanking in advance as always.
One night will be on some sort of elevated platform to hear the African sounds at night.
Greymule (Rick)
Aug 17, 2021 20:21:15 #
Haven't, won't, but here is a credible source. https://www.bythom.com/photographic-travel/africa/index.html
Aug 17, 2021 20:36:58 #
you have been away, and I'm sure many noticed. Don't have safari experience but have done quite a lot of reading here, folks going. You sound equipped. Do have a safe and fun trip.
Aug 17, 2021 20:46:27 #
Aug 17, 2021 20:56:43 #
Sounds like you're well prepared & not over-prepared like some. One thing you might want to plan for that elevated platform/African sounds at night would be to ramp up the ISO and shoot video. (Practice in the back yard before you go.) Still photos don't do night sounds justice. Even if it is too dark to get much in the way of video images, the sounds you capture might later be added to a time-exposure still photo you could project, with the night sounds track playing in the background. Sounds like an awesome trip, be sure and show us your results when you get back!
Aug 17, 2021 22:06:06 #
If you want to personally enjoy the moment of the trip you should seriously consider traveling lighter....... and maybe consider a Crop frame body with commensurately smaller lenses and a Sony RX10 IV as back up......
If you plan on submitting your images to NatGeo and do not mind WORKing, - keep the D 800's .....8-)
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If you plan on submitting your images to NatGeo and do not mind WORKing, - keep the D 800's .....8-)
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Aug 17, 2021 23:45:16 #
You have been missed Rick - I was just thinking the other day that I haven't seen you commenting and posting for ages. You are going to be in for a great treat, there are so many interesting land and water based places with their animals to see and capture. We were there 9 years ago in 2012. I was shooting at that time with my D90 and an 18-200mm Zoom lens and enjoyed it, but my pictures are quite a bit dated. I do have 2 albums on my website from that trip, one from up at the falls and the second one from our drive from Jo'burg down to Capetown. Are you going to step into Zimbabwe as well, i.e. are the Victoria Falls included - great photo opportunities there as well. I would be quite interested to hear which places you are going to have included. In any case, I am sure you are going to have a great time.
Aug 18, 2021 01:51:34 #
Aug 18, 2021 05:32:29 #
I took a tripod/monopod. Never used it. Took up space and weight. Best thing I took was a mn $18 super clamp and a gimbal head. Clamped it to the rails on the top of the vehicle. Could easily switch sides of vehicle. Take your D850 and the longest lens you can. Take another body for a 24-70mm. You don’t want to be changing lenses in that dusty environment. Also, get in touch with your tour operator and find out what kind of vehicle you will be in how it is equipped. That’s important and they will tell you. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/887347-REG/impact_cc_106t_super_clamp_with_t_handle.html/?ap=y&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpIX2n6C68gIVQQd9Ch2GSQftEAQYASABEgISnvD_BwE&lsft=BI%3A514&smp=y
Aug 18, 2021 05:50:08 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
greymule wrote:
Hello Everyone. Been AWOL during Covid. Probably n... (show quote)
Your primary camera will be the 200-500 as your guide generally, usually gets you close to the subjects. I would strongly suggest a fast shutter speed, because one second an animal will be laying on the ground and the next something else close by is moving fast. I would suggest a minimum of 1/1600 sec.
I have found that my sweet spot on the 200-500 to be f6.3, I also like GROUP AUTO FOCUS and keep my subject in the middle of the four dots you see in the middle of the viewfinder.
I also like continuous auto focus and I like to shoot in aperture priority.
DO NOT CHANGE LENSES IN THE FIELD. Keep your D810 with lens, in a bag ready to shoot, you never know.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
PS, take this along and use it often,
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/541904-REG/Giottos_AA1903_Rocket_Air_Blower.html
and these
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1100350-REG/zeiss_2127721_60_count_box_lens.html?sts=pi&pim=Y
Aug 18, 2021 06:55:33 #
Canonuser
Loc: UK and South Africa
Everything said about Southern Africa is mainly true. I have a house down there and have travelled extensively to all of these countries.
However with the Beta variant of Covid, resistant to some vaccines and prevalent in these counties, a poorer vaccination regime and a new wave hitting the area, I would not at the moment dream of visiting. Trying to get accurate data about rates of infection and death is impossible as they are being played down so tourists are not scared off and all my contacts there are saying it is far worse than publicised.
They are all beautiful countries, but even having a house down there and usually spending at least six months of the year down there, when my friends there are telling me to keep away, I’m going to take notice of what they say.
Travel insurance of course is another issue and I find comprehensive insurance for anything it’s decided involves Covid will not be covered.
However with the Beta variant of Covid, resistant to some vaccines and prevalent in these counties, a poorer vaccination regime and a new wave hitting the area, I would not at the moment dream of visiting. Trying to get accurate data about rates of infection and death is impossible as they are being played down so tourists are not scared off and all my contacts there are saying it is far worse than publicised.
They are all beautiful countries, but even having a house down there and usually spending at least six months of the year down there, when my friends there are telling me to keep away, I’m going to take notice of what they say.
Travel insurance of course is another issue and I find comprehensive insurance for anything it’s decided involves Covid will not be covered.
Aug 18, 2021 07:33:43 #
Possibly helpful -
Gear
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-473761-1.html
https://fstoppers.com/animal/essential-camera-features-and-settings-safari-photography-176678
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/8065882473/gearing-up-for-an-african-safari
http://www.bythom.com/photographic-travel/africa/how-to-think-about-equipmen.html
http://www.elliottneep.com/#!/p/gear-guide-safari
https://luminous-landscape.com/digital-safari-equipment-tips/
Photography
https://www.safaribookings.com/blog/15-african-safari-photography-tips
https://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/activities/photography-tips-africa-safari/
https://www.porini.com/blog/essential-photography-tips-african-safari/
https://www.gadventures.com/blog/tips-photos-african-safari/
https://www.tripsavvy.com/taking-great-photos-on-safari-1454103
Gear
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-473761-1.html
https://fstoppers.com/animal/essential-camera-features-and-settings-safari-photography-176678
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/8065882473/gearing-up-for-an-african-safari
http://www.bythom.com/photographic-travel/africa/how-to-think-about-equipmen.html
http://www.elliottneep.com/#!/p/gear-guide-safari
https://luminous-landscape.com/digital-safari-equipment-tips/
Photography
https://www.safaribookings.com/blog/15-african-safari-photography-tips
https://digital-photography-school.com/10-tips-to-photograph-an-african-photographic-safari/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/activities/photography-tips-africa-safari/
https://www.porini.com/blog/essential-photography-tips-african-safari/
https://www.gadventures.com/blog/tips-photos-african-safari/
https://www.tripsavvy.com/taking-great-photos-on-safari-1454103
Aug 18, 2021 07:52:07 #
Having lived there for many years and been there a few years ago, just a few random thoughts….wear khaki or light neutral color shirts with pockets - great for lens caps etc. and cooler. Also be sure you shoot in RAW(NEF), I didn’t realize I was shooting JPEG until 3/4 through the trip, which as you know limits later editing capabilities. Take extra fully charged batteries and a US/South Africa adapter plug for recharging (available on Amazon).
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Aug 18, 2021 08:39:40 #
Have been to Africa twice. Forget the tripod and/or monopod (too cumbersome to use in a safari vehicle). A good bean bag will suffice. Taking a backup camera is a good idea (saves changing lenses in dusty conditions and gives options if problems develop in the field). Make sure and have extra batteries charged and ready.
Aug 18, 2021 08:43:25 #
We are leving for Botswana next week. Have made 2 previous trips to southern Africa for 2 and 3 months.
Your gear selection is just right - fast camera with a long lens and slower camera with a wide lens. You will not want to do any lens changing in the field due to dust. Bring plenty of batteries (3/camera body) and memory cards. Figure a very high volume of once-in-a-lifetime images so you will want a laptop for nightly downloads and a portable external drive for your third back-up. Figure you will shoot a lot of burst mode and likely will capture 500-1000 images every day (if you are a careful shooter!) Make sure you have your chargers and a reliable power source for everything to charge overnight. Some places have limited outlets so a multiple outlet charger helps. Have the proper electrical adapter for your charging box. Have your smart phone for close-up videos. Bring your lens and sensor cleaning gear - it will be dusty.
Have fun - Africa is an amazing experience.
Your gear selection is just right - fast camera with a long lens and slower camera with a wide lens. You will not want to do any lens changing in the field due to dust. Bring plenty of batteries (3/camera body) and memory cards. Figure a very high volume of once-in-a-lifetime images so you will want a laptop for nightly downloads and a portable external drive for your third back-up. Figure you will shoot a lot of burst mode and likely will capture 500-1000 images every day (if you are a careful shooter!) Make sure you have your chargers and a reliable power source for everything to charge overnight. Some places have limited outlets so a multiple outlet charger helps. Have the proper electrical adapter for your charging box. Have your smart phone for close-up videos. Bring your lens and sensor cleaning gear - it will be dusty.
Have fun - Africa is an amazing experience.
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