40Driggs wrote:
Getting close to my safari date. Flying out on the 25th. I decided to go "all out" since I've never been to Africa and experience has taught me that you never know what the future holds. Since I'll be going during the rainy season and it sounds like there should be good birding activity, I decided to go against the grain and rent the 600 f/4. I'll be doing the Chobe stay at their hotel (Pangolin.)
Gear List
a1 gripped (version II wasn't available for rental in time)
a7r V gripped
16-35 f/4
70-200 f/2.8 II
600 f/4
1.4 tc
I'm getting excited and hoping that my decision to take the 600 pays off with some good birding opportunities....Show more →
Great list. The 600 will be very useful for birds. You will see a lot of Kingfishers - my favorite, including the absolutely wonderful malachite. There is an area on the river where lily pads are prolific and there is always an African jacana, sometimes even with chicks, the photo boat is absolutely amazing for taking. photos from low down and you can approach these birds without any problems as the boat drifts towards them slowly. Another great idea is to photograph a darter or reed cormorant strugglng to swallow a fish its just caught. They always take a minute or two to do that and make for good subjects on the water, then you can catch them running on the water to take off.
Again, as said, battery grips may not be necessary. Regarding battery life, I was in Kenya last month and during my trip I never had to change batteries during a game drive. I took 9 batteries, only used the 3 in the cameras, then recharged them after the drives. I also took a ton of photographs. But of course YMMV.
Anyway, have fun, it is indeed a great trip.
One other thing, do you have a 24-70? It may be a better option than the 16-35. You will find that there are solitary bull elephants on the river that again you can get very close to and shooting from a low angle, get some really nice shots. However, even a 16-35 would be fine if you are close enough.
Primus wrote:
Great list. The 600 will be very useful for birds. You will see a lot of Kingfishers - my favorite, including the absolutely wonderful malachite. There is an area on the river where lily pads are prolific and there is always an African jacana, sometimes even with chicks, the photo boat is absolutely amazing for taking. photos from low down and you can approach these birds without any problems as the boat drifts towards them slowly. Another great idea is to photograph a darter or reed cormorant strugglng to swallow a fish its just caught. They always take a minute or two to do that and make for good subjects on the water, then you can catch them running on the water to take off.
Again, as said, battery grips may not be necessary. Regarding battery life, I was in Kenya last month and during my trip I never had to change batteries during a game drive. I took 9 batteries, only used the 3 in the cameras, then recharged them after the drives. I also took a ton of photographs. But of course YMMV.
Anyway, have fun, it is indeed a great trip.
One other thing, do you have a 24-70? It may be a better option than the 16-35. You will find that there are solitary bull elephants on the river that again you can get very close to and shooting from a low angle, get some really nice shots. However, even a 16-35 would be fine if you are close enough. ...Show more →
Thanks for the advice. I don't currently have a 24-70 lens, so will have to stick with the 16-35. It's just never been a focal range I made use of.
40Driggs wrote:
Thanks for the advice. I don't currently have a 24-70 lens, so will have to stick with the 16-35. It's just never been a focal range I made use of.
Yeah, no problems. You can get as close as 6 ft from some of these elephants, so even a 16-35 should be fine. One other thing, sometimes you get more than what you ask for. We all want those low-shots, right? Well, with the elephants you can get them on a ridge just above the boat and then your camera is actually lower than it should be, cutting off their feet, not something that is obvious when taking the shot, it is a fine point, but I made that mistake.
Primus wrote:
Yeah, no problems. You can get as close as 6 ft from some of these elephants, so even a 16-35 should be fine. One other thing, sometimes you get more than what you ask for. We all want those low-shots, right? Well, with the elephants you can get them on a ridge just above the boat and then your camera is actually lower than it should be, cutting off their feet, not something that is obvious when taking the shot, it is a fine point, but I made that mistake.
All in all, it's a great experience.
Good advice on the elephants feet. I've seen videos that showed them getting extremely close to the elephants. I'll try to get some unique WA shots if I can.
40Driggs wrote:
Good advice on the elephants feet. I've seen videos that showed them getting extremely close to the elephants. I'll try to get some unique WA shots if I can.
What time of year did you go?
I've been to the Chobe twice, last year in early April and a few years earlier in June. Very similar sightings both times. The birds are amazing as are the elephants.
I've been reflecting on the best way to print my images when I get back from my upcoming trip, and thought about creating a photo book. I've never done this before and I was curious if anyone here had made a photo book before? Which size/aspect ratio did you go with? Any recommended companies?
40Driggs wrote:
A little off topic, but I thought I'd ask.
I've been reflecting on the best way to print my images when I get back from my upcoming trip, and thought about creating a photo book. I've never done this before and I was curious if anyone here had made a photo book before? Which size/aspect ratio did you go with? Any recommended companies?
Madagascar Visit after Tanzania and Rwanda
I was thinking to go to Zanzibar after Safari in Tanzania and Kilimanjaro Hike. I will probably go to Rwanda for few days.
I was thinking to skip Zanzibar and go to Madagascar if is really worth it to see some interesting landscapes and animals and maybe visit Nosy Be to relax a bit
Any idea ?
40Driggs wrote:
A little off topic, but I thought I'd ask.
I've been reflecting on the best way to print my images when I get back from my upcoming trip, and thought about creating a photo book. I've never done this before and I was curious if anyone here had made a photo book before? Which size/aspect ratio did you go with? Any recommended companies?
I'm pretty sure that there has been at least one recent thread on photo books, maybe a few years ago. I haven't made any of my own photo books (yet), but a friend made one as a gift for me, using my photos. It was really nice.
Might be a good time to start a new thread on photo books.
If you go to Rwanda you should do a gorilla hike if permits are available for your dates. We did two days for gorillas which worked out great since the first day wasn't great due to gorilla trackers getting drunk the previous night.
I shot 99% wildlife in Madagascar. We didn't have time to visit the spiny forests so we didn't shoot many landscape images.
ChicagoJeff wrote:
If you go to Rwanda you should do a gorilla hike if permits are available for your dates. We did two days for gorillas which worked out great since the first day wasn't great due to gorilla trackers getting drunk the previous night.
I shot 99% wildlife in Madagascar. We didn't have time to visit the spiny forests so we didn't shoot many landscape images.
This is my plan...I will go to Rwanda and take Gorilla Trek Tour to Uganda from there... is cheaper
Last year I got permit but I canceled my trip to Africa, so I am trying too make similar plan from last year
But instead to go to Zanzibar for 8 days for Zanzibar, I really think to go to Madagascar
40Driggs wrote:
A little off topic, but I thought I'd ask.
I've been reflecting on the best way to print my images when I get back from my upcoming trip, and thought about creating a photo book. I've never done this before and I was curious if anyone here had made a photo book before? Which size/aspect ratio did you go with? Any recommended companies?
I've used Printique (Adorama) with good results for a 12x12 album, although it was definitely on the pricey side. They seem to have 25% sales fairly regularly and 30% less frequently.
Also would recommend using them for large framed prints, I ordered a 20x30 print on hot press rag from my last safari and was really satisfied by the results - price was very reasonable too including frame/mat/poly glass.
Amuchnick1 wrote:
I've used Printique (Adorama) with good results for a 12x12 album, although it was definitely on the pricey side. They seem to have 25% sales fairly regularly and 30% less frequently.
Also would recommend using them for large framed prints, I ordered a 20x30 print on hot press rag from my last safari and was really satisfied by the results - price was very reasonable too including frame/mat/poly glass.
jcolwell wrote:
I'm pretty sure that there has been at least one recent thread on photo books, maybe a few years ago. I haven't made any of my own photo books (yet), but a friend made one as a gift for me, using my photos. It was really nice.
Might be a good time to start a new thread on photo books.
I agree it's a good time to start a new thread on photo books and it should be cross posted to either Nikon or Sony forum for exposure.
Amuchnick1 wrote:
I've used Printique (Adorama) with good results for a 12x12 album, although it was definitely on the pricey side. They seem to have 25% sales fairly regularly and 30% less frequently.
Also would recommend using them for large framed prints, I ordered a 20x30 print on hot press rag from my last safari and was really satisfied by the results - price was very reasonable too including frame/mat/poly glass.
I used Printique myself many years ago for a photo book. It was a great product in the end but very pricey. I've seen others getting their books a Shutterfly, but of course you get what you pay for. I too am thinking of doing another photo book soon.
As far as just prints are concerned, there are several choices. There is a very long youtube video by some guy on a direct comparison, will see if I can find the link again.
I've used Whitewall and Nevada Art Printers recently. They both cost the same in the end, but IMHO NAP takes much better care in shipping - their boxes are custom made for each print and very sturdy. More importantly, their prints are simply outstanding. They do a canvas mount on aluminum that I've never come across before and it simply blew me away. Their flagship product though is the Lumachrome HD acrylic prints. These are the most expensive and cost approx $100 per sq ft delivered. However, they are the best in class anywhere.
Only criticism I have is that their website is rather clunky and they could certainly do with an overhaul.
Caught some motion blur on the little gu, but I'll try to fix it later.
Awesome photo Alan. Guess the new hide is very productive, saw some pics posted of lions at night by somebody else on another forum. How was the experience? My only night-hide trip was to Lentorre and it was very slow.
Well we were there for 24 hrs. They had a tv screen in the back sleeping area where you could see if there was any action at the waterhole while you napped. And, I would be sleeping and the guide would tap me and say "Lions." Kept camera on a gimbal in the dark area, so all I had to do was go though the curtain and shoot. Very neat. Lots of down time too. A great experience, but don't know if I'd do it again.
