Photo Safari Question#1
Oct 12th, 2007, 04:09 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Photo Safari Question#1
I've just begun to research our upcoming trip (Summer of '08). I'm sure I'll have many questions of all of you but everyone has been great in the past so I ask your patience.
Has anyone heard of or used "Oasis Africa"? I noticed the website because we are interested in companies that only offer photo safaris. Do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks a lot.
Has anyone heard of or used "Oasis Africa"? I noticed the website because we are interested in companies that only offer photo safaris. Do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks a lot.
Oct 12th, 2007, 04:25 PM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have not heard of it. Unless you specifically seek out (and pay huge sums for) hunting safaris, it is the photo safari that is offered.
There are companies that cater to professional and very serious amateur photographers, such as John Van Os.
The most serious photographers hire their own private vehicle. In East Africa a private vehicle for two is common for the average visitor and not just the pro photographer.
If you know what areas of Africa you wish to visit, then more specific recommendations, including agents, can be given.
There are companies that cater to professional and very serious amateur photographers, such as John Van Os.
The most serious photographers hire their own private vehicle. In East Africa a private vehicle for two is common for the average visitor and not just the pro photographer.
If you know what areas of Africa you wish to visit, then more specific recommendations, including agents, can be given.
Oct 12th, 2007, 08:18 PM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
jbella,
I would suggest Andy Biggs if you are interested in an African Photo safari. He often participates on this fourm. You can check out his work and the safaris he offers by going to www.anybiggs.com. His website also contains a lot of very helpful tips. I beleive his safaris fill up a year ahead of time so keep your timing in mind. I thnk you need to decide whether you want to visit Tanzania or Botswana or even Namibia. The photographic opportunities differ in some significant ways. If you decide that a serious photographic safari is not really what you had in mind but you are instead interested in a more casual experience, the better ground operators, Kibo, Thomsons, Good Earth,, etc, all offer acceptable vehicles suitable for photography. Just be prepared to let your guide know that you expect him to position the vehicle for best light and shooting angle, whenever possible. The photographic opportunities aresuch that even without a formal dedicated photo safari you will come home with coutnless images.
Regards-Chuck
I would suggest Andy Biggs if you are interested in an African Photo safari. He often participates on this fourm. You can check out his work and the safaris he offers by going to www.anybiggs.com. His website also contains a lot of very helpful tips. I beleive his safaris fill up a year ahead of time so keep your timing in mind. I thnk you need to decide whether you want to visit Tanzania or Botswana or even Namibia. The photographic opportunities differ in some significant ways. If you decide that a serious photographic safari is not really what you had in mind but you are instead interested in a more casual experience, the better ground operators, Kibo, Thomsons, Good Earth,, etc, all offer acceptable vehicles suitable for photography. Just be prepared to let your guide know that you expect him to position the vehicle for best light and shooting angle, whenever possible. The photographic opportunities aresuch that even without a formal dedicated photo safari you will come home with coutnless images.
Regards-Chuck
Oct 12th, 2007, 08:31 PM
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,395
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 12th, 2007, 09:44 PM
#7
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My friend's boss and wife are going on his Sept 10th Botswana trip, lucky dogs!
http://www.andybiggs.com/safaris_workshops.html
http://www.andybiggs.com/safaris_workshops.html
Oct 12th, 2007, 09:50 PM
#8
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 13th, 2007, 12:52 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some specific photo safaris that may be interesting:
http://www.hoothollow.com/
Joe and Mary Ann McDonald's Wildlife Photography
http://www.photosafaris.com/
Joseph Van Os
http://www.andybiggs.com/
Andy Biggs
http://www.darylbalfour.com/
Daryl Balfour’s Wildphotos Safaris
http://www.toftphoto.com/tours.php
Roy Toft Photography
Interesting photo tours by TA
and others:
http://www.africanencounter.com/photo/
http://www.ultimateafrica.com/Africa...to_Safaris.htm
http://www.africageographic.com/expeditions/
http://www.eyesonafrica.net/digital_safari.htm
I always go by myself but some of this trips don´t look bad ,i´m sure you can learn lots of things if you are really into photography.
Paco.
http://www.hoothollow.com/
Joe and Mary Ann McDonald's Wildlife Photography
http://www.photosafaris.com/
Joseph Van Os
http://www.andybiggs.com/
Andy Biggs
http://www.darylbalfour.com/
Daryl Balfour’s Wildphotos Safaris
http://www.toftphoto.com/tours.php
Roy Toft Photography
Interesting photo tours by TA
and others:
http://www.africanencounter.com/photo/
http://www.ultimateafrica.com/Africa...to_Safaris.htm
http://www.africageographic.com/expeditions/
http://www.eyesonafrica.net/digital_safari.htm
I always go by myself but some of this trips don´t look bad ,i´m sure you can learn lots of things if you are really into photography.
Paco.
Oct 13th, 2007, 04:42 AM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Not heard of Oasis Africa, is that a photographic company, there are companies special for Photographic safaris in Africa.It depends on what you want and in what budget.
Which areas are you looking for basically, it will be easier to advise.
Which areas are you looking for basically, it will be easier to advise.
Oct 13th, 2007, 05:46 AM
#13
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paco, what a thorough listing of providers!
Below is what one professional photographer told me. He worked for a company that did regular wildlife trips to Africa and elsewhere. Photography was naturally a priority for clients on all these trips. The same company also ran special departures specifically for photographers so the group would be like minded. Those departures cost more.
He said something like:
"I don't like leading the photography trips because those people always think you will be taking them somewhere special that other guests don't go. They expect professional results just because they signed up for the photography trip. The only way to get professional photos is to go out by yourself and spend hours upon hours in the field. But they don't want to hear that, they want to sign up for the trip that will provide it all for them."
When I have encountered photography travel groups in Africa or elsewhere, I always notice a higher level of angst and frustration among the members. I don't notice that in other small travel groups that I've seen or actually been a part of. I've never taken a trip just for photographers.
One advantage of the photo trips is that they will sometimes leave earlier and stay out longer than other groups. Another advantage is that the leader can help people with their photo equipment and provide advice. A regular guide may or may not be as knowledgable. The midday down time on the photo trips can also spent in a group session with laptops learning Photo Shop techniques.
But every outing, whether in a group or by myself, getting good pictures for the client(s) is a major focus of the excursion. You can see by the results posted, that everybody gets many great photos--even on the regular trips, not just the special photo trips.
Below is what one professional photographer told me. He worked for a company that did regular wildlife trips to Africa and elsewhere. Photography was naturally a priority for clients on all these trips. The same company also ran special departures specifically for photographers so the group would be like minded. Those departures cost more.
He said something like:
"I don't like leading the photography trips because those people always think you will be taking them somewhere special that other guests don't go. They expect professional results just because they signed up for the photography trip. The only way to get professional photos is to go out by yourself and spend hours upon hours in the field. But they don't want to hear that, they want to sign up for the trip that will provide it all for them."
When I have encountered photography travel groups in Africa or elsewhere, I always notice a higher level of angst and frustration among the members. I don't notice that in other small travel groups that I've seen or actually been a part of. I've never taken a trip just for photographers.
One advantage of the photo trips is that they will sometimes leave earlier and stay out longer than other groups. Another advantage is that the leader can help people with their photo equipment and provide advice. A regular guide may or may not be as knowledgable. The midday down time on the photo trips can also spent in a group session with laptops learning Photo Shop techniques.
But every outing, whether in a group or by myself, getting good pictures for the client(s) is a major focus of the excursion. You can see by the results posted, that everybody gets many great photos--even on the regular trips, not just the special photo trips.
Oct 13th, 2007, 05:55 AM
#14
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,880
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
jbella, we went thru this 3 years ago, looking for the right company offering trips for serious photgraphers. If you are still wondering which country to go to this run-down has a good country-by-country evaluation, though it's now a bit dated:
http://www.photosafaris.com/Articles/AfricaSafaris.asp
Paco's list is excellent ... we ended up looking at four companies (three on Paco's list) ... Andy Biggs, Joe Van Os, Joe and Mary Ann McDonald, and also Art Morris - Todd Gustafson at 'Birds as Art'.
Some things to look for ...
1) how many days are actually on safari (some count the travel days but three days are typically spent in international travel if coming from the US) ...
2) how many people in the jeep ... if you don't have a full row for each person it's not a serious photo safari, in my book. Some of the guys on Paco's list have 2 per jeep, most have 3 in oversized landrovers, but some have 4 or even more and those you want to avoid.
3) how many game drives do you get? Some companies squeeze in morning game drives on transfer days, then PM drives when they arrive, which is hectic but I feel we are basically there primarily for the game drives. Others are more leisurely on transfer days and get in 2-4 fewer drives for the same number of days on safari. A 10 AM drive to the airstrip isn't really a game drive, you want to check the number of days you are out at sunrise and afternoons when you stay until closing time.
4) look at as many photos as possible of the trip leaders and of participants and decide which style suits you best ... while you will see different things this is still the best indicator of what to expect as some leaders do more people work, others more landscape, others concentrate on birds, etc.
We ended up with Birds as Art, in part because we already knew Art Morris, in part because Van Os, Biggs and McDonald had already filled up for the dates we had free (some fill up 2 years in advance!), in part because we like to photograph birds and Art is one of the best known bird photographers in the world, in part because they jammed a game drive into every possible time slot by planning short transfer days.
After the first trip you can do similar ones on your own, I feel, but you learn a lot by going with professionals your first time over.
Bill
http://www.photosafaris.com/Articles/AfricaSafaris.asp
Paco's list is excellent ... we ended up looking at four companies (three on Paco's list) ... Andy Biggs, Joe Van Os, Joe and Mary Ann McDonald, and also Art Morris - Todd Gustafson at 'Birds as Art'.
Some things to look for ...
1) how many days are actually on safari (some count the travel days but three days are typically spent in international travel if coming from the US) ...
2) how many people in the jeep ... if you don't have a full row for each person it's not a serious photo safari, in my book. Some of the guys on Paco's list have 2 per jeep, most have 3 in oversized landrovers, but some have 4 or even more and those you want to avoid.
3) how many game drives do you get? Some companies squeeze in morning game drives on transfer days, then PM drives when they arrive, which is hectic but I feel we are basically there primarily for the game drives. Others are more leisurely on transfer days and get in 2-4 fewer drives for the same number of days on safari. A 10 AM drive to the airstrip isn't really a game drive, you want to check the number of days you are out at sunrise and afternoons when you stay until closing time.
4) look at as many photos as possible of the trip leaders and of participants and decide which style suits you best ... while you will see different things this is still the best indicator of what to expect as some leaders do more people work, others more landscape, others concentrate on birds, etc.
We ended up with Birds as Art, in part because we already knew Art Morris, in part because Van Os, Biggs and McDonald had already filled up for the dates we had free (some fill up 2 years in advance!), in part because we like to photograph birds and Art is one of the best known bird photographers in the world, in part because they jammed a game drive into every possible time slot by planning short transfer days.
After the first trip you can do similar ones on your own, I feel, but you learn a lot by going with professionals your first time over.
Bill
Oct 13th, 2007, 05:59 AM
#15
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JBella,
Just remembered, there is TPTS, it is a very nice company too, you need much time for photographic safari Jbella, mornings and afternoons..try to get their contact if not let me know, I will see how further to assist.
Thanks
Just remembered, there is TPTS, it is a very nice company too, you need much time for photographic safari Jbella, mornings and afternoons..try to get their contact if not let me know, I will see how further to assist.
Thanks
Oct 13th, 2007, 08:34 AM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, as usual, everyone has been great with suggestions! Thanks. I've got a lot of research to do. I think there are as many safari companies as there are gals.of water flowing down Victoria Falls
Oct 14th, 2007, 08:48 AM
#17
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 15th, 2007, 06:24 AM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
The simple solutions to getting good photos on Safari are
1) Get good equipment
2) Know what you are doing
3) Get a private vehicle
4) Go somewhere where you are more than likely to get a good sighting
Other than that rely on being in the right place at the right time, or be like us and constantly go on Safari, it improves your chances.
1) Get good equipment
2) Know what you are doing
3) Get a private vehicle
4) Go somewhere where you are more than likely to get a good sighting
Other than that rely on being in the right place at the right time, or be like us and constantly go on Safari, it improves your chances.
