Last year I took my Fuji X-T1 to Botswana! Perfection. However I got the X-T3 at Xmas so took it to Kenya with me in August. The 100-400 lens is perfect for those distant photos of a majestic cheetah sitting high at alert on an ant mound. If you have two bodies, take both one already set for a something like a 50-200 - for those many opportunities when the elephant, zebra, water buck, lioness, cheetah walks between you and the next Safari vehicle. PS - Go with a photographer who is intimately knowledgeable of the terrain, and, has a well developed relationship with the local driver/trackers. As a photographer, you need a photo guide who can position your vehicle in exactly the right place pre-dawn with full knowledge of “the lion pride and six cubs were sighted under these bushes last night.”
The quality of the photos you take are in direct relationship to your goal. If you can live with “drive by’s” with another thirty photographers jostling for position that’s one thing. If you want to be the first vehicle in the best position to get the lion backlit with his breath visible, go with the best photo safari guide you can. I only travel with Piper Mackay Photography so far. Piper has lived in Kenya for13 years and has driver/trackers she has “developed.”
I’m in the Fujifilm X-T3 category. Took my X-T1 with me to Botswana last year. Got the 3 at Xmas. Took that and its 100-400 telephoto with me this past August to Kenya. Both are wonderful. Light weight. Compact. The customizability of the buttons is terrific. There are so many easy to change focus points! The lock feature on the tele is fabulous. I have never owned a Nikon. However I moved over the years from Leica to Canon - and now I love my Fuji!
Re : Jayne Mansfield. Interesting. For years her late actor husband, Mickey Hargitay, ran a flower store off Fountain Avenue (at La Brea, I believe). A stones throw from the cemetery. You would often find him behind the counter. I loved the charming scent-filled shop. I wonder if Ms. Mansfield may have been shared between both spots. So she would be near him, too.
My mum was cremated. I took half of her remains back to Brisbane, Australia but kept the other half here.
Thank you for reminding me of how lovely and peaceful that place is. My long ago actress friend, Joan Hackett, is buried there. Her headstone says, in typical Joan fashion, "Go away. I'm sleeping."
Great concept - An old fashion answering machine set to answer the 4 ring play the 4 tones you hear when you call a disconnected number, the computer hears the 4 tones and deletes your number, and these computers share numbers and information.
My phone is only about one year old. Costco. It had 250 call blocker opportunities -- all of which are now taken. And it is set to four rings.
Are you saying we could "create" four alternate tones (which would meet the response requirement)? Then they would just block themselves and remove our numbers from their calling data bases?
Thank you,
Adrienne
Gorgeous. I'm always blown away by those who can photograph wild horses. First find them and them "position" them (joke). Great work!
Adrienne
Lovely work. I love Africa so am predisposed to love your work. Especially love the elephants - but really love them all. I recently returned from a magnificent Botswana trip which included the Chobe River - four magnificent days on those special photographer boats with 360 degree swivel chairs and those great mounts that allow you to swing your long lens camera to any position, too. Highly recommend Botswana. And especially the Chobe River. - Adrienne
How, physically, did you get to that height? Is it a drive "up"? Or do you have to hike up thousands of feet? Old beat up knees are asking. They can't do much uphill climbing -- let alone downhill climbing.
Thank you.
Adrienne
While I only have the X-T1 and love it, I would recommend the Fujifilm X-T2. I get superior photos with my 1. One year I'll upgrade.
I have the Fuji XT-1 and love it. So much lighter than the DSLRs. New lenses coming out fairly frequently. Made in Japan. Good glass. Six customizable settings available.
We find a photographer whose work and leading is exceptional, then check out their web site for Africa bound safaris. About five years ago, we went with Mark Comon of Paul's Photography in Torrance, CA. He coordinated with Abercrombie & Kent. Flew from Samburu to Lake Nakura to the Masai. Only one long drive to get to the Rift Valley. A&K first class all the way. Three Land Rovers, four per vehicle.
Next year we're going to Botswana with Piper MacKay. In our opinion, the best, most original safari organizer. She works through a group that provides her vehicles designed for photographers - and has used many of the same guides for 7 years. So they understand her demanding requirements for getting the best "lit" shots. Expect to be up before dawn, shoot during daytime (working with tribes who know her well for portraits), and capturing sunsets. Her URL is
www.pipermackayphotography.com Enjoy!
~ Adrienne
Very nice, Shootist. Guess I've lived in the West Coast so long I forgot you East Coasters have snow capped mountains, too. 😃👍
I think of it quite often. My great grand father, William James Lindore, Australian, fought in same. He is buried in Taree, NSW, with a special bronze marker showing his honorable AU WWI service too! 🌹
Lest we forget!
Adrienne
Happy Father's Day to my most wonderful dad! Fisherman, photographer, and bombardier throughout WWII (Pacific, 2nd Bomb Group, 22nd Bom Group, 5th Army Air Corps. Mercury Marauders.)