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1. Always Shoot Wide Open
The primary objective in taking photographs is that they are sharp. Unless you
intend to creatively blur an image to suggest motion, sharpness is critical
to the success of your pictures. With wildlife, you want to see as much detail
as possible to appreciate the beauty and drama of your subjects.
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Elephant at sunset in Botswana, South Africa, photographed with
a 250mm lens.
All photos taken with a Mamiya RZ67 II and Fujichrome Provia F
film. The camera was steadied against a bean bag in the Land Rover.
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In my opinion, closing the lens down by one or two stops to gain depth of
field is a mistake. The difference in depth of field between f/4 and f/5.6 or
f/8 is negligible with a 400mm lens, but the loss in shutter speed—say
from 1¼250 to 1¼60—may mean that your subject won’t
be tack-sharp. Therefore, sacrifice a small gain in depth of field in exchange
for the certainty of taking sharp pictures. This is true unless your subject
is perfectly still, such as a crocodile sunning himself in the early-morning
light.
2. Bring the Longest Lens You Have
Safari vehicles in Africa can get remarkably close to both big and small game.
However, there will be times when you are restricted to an established road
and can’t drive right up to a rhino or a pride of lions. In those instances,
you’ll need a long lens in the 400mm–600mm range. These lenses are
expensive and heavy, but they will help you bring home superb images. If your
budget allows it, the fast super-telephotos are ideal. Large lens apertures
mean you can capture wildlife in muted light with shutter speeds fast enough
to ensure tack-sharp pictures.
For an all-around telephoto lens in Africa, a 300mm f/2.8 is perfect. The next-best
option is a 300mm f/4. For head shots or to photograph animals farther away,
I’d recommend a 400mm f/4 or 500mm f/4.5. 400mm lenses with an aperture
of f/2.8 are so expensive (although you can rent one), and so large and difficult
to manage, that I’d only recommend bringing one of these on safari if
taking pictures is more important to you than anything else.
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Maasai girl in Kenya, photographed with a 350mm lens.
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3. Shoot From a Low Angle
Many photographers shoot out of roof hatches. This is a comfortable shooting
position because you can stand on the floor of the vehicle and rest your arms
on the roof. The camera is cushioned by a bean bag, and you’re in business.
However, when you lower your camera position, something very interesting happens.
Wildlife subjects gain stature. Whether you’re shooting elephants, lions
or warthogs, a low camera angle makes the animal seem larger, more powerful,
and more intimidating. Plus, there’s an intimacy in the photograph that’s
often lacking when the camera angle is aimed downward. I shoot from a window,
rather than from the roof. If I could get out of the vehicle and shoot from
the ground, this would be ideal. But in most game parks this is prohibited for
obvious reasons.
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A lion in Botswana, photographed with a 350mm lens.
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4. Bring a Second Camera Body
There aren’t any camera stores in the bush, nor does FedEx deliver there.
If you have a mechanical problem with a camera body, you’re in big trouble.
Seeing something spectacular on your photo safari and not being able to shoot
it because your
camera malfunctioned is much worse than getting three root canals at the dentist.
Trust me on this. The solution, of course, is to bring a second camera body.
Even if you have to rent one, it’s worth your peace of mind.
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Cheetah in Botswana, shot with a 500mm lens.
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