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WILDLIFE BLOG
Tips for Wildlife Photographers: #3 “Think about Light Direction”
Even those who know almost nothing about photography will know that you "put the sun behind you" when taking photos. This is not a bad maxim to use for photography and certainly it's a safe bet that images taken with the sun behind the photographer will turn out just fine. But, applying this maxim to every subject that you encounter doesn't normally give the best results. Let me show you why.... Take this shot of an [...]
Photo Safari Report: Arun & Reeta | Marula Lodge | 16 – 21 May 2016
Without sounding like shameless promoters, there is no easy way to do justice to the early dry season as a time for game viewing in the South Luangwa; it is quite simply a beautiful, rewarding period which is slightly unpredictable, a trait that only adds to its appeal. It's true that the sightings of predators on the move can be better in the drier months, and that the birding opportunities better in the rainy season. It [...]
Wildlife: Not something you see every day….
On the final day of my safari with Arun & Reeta we spotted an elephant eyeing up the tasty leaves of a wild mango tree. Judging him to be of the size who can rear up on their back legs, I quickly trained my guests' cameras onto him and we watched as he shifted the weight onto his back legs and reared up to his tallest height! While they can't maintain this pose for long, it's [...]
Wildlife: Cool Luangwa Morning
Hot off the press from my safari with Arun & Reeta from India, here is a beautiful lioness contemplating a distant bushbuck as the soft light of early morning reflects the green hues of vegetation across her coat. We took a long time at this sighting of 5 lions, moving carefully around to work on different angles. Finally, this lioness's distant gaze provided a perfect complement to her serene surroundings. Please turn on Javascript Your web [...]
Tips for Wildlife Photographers: #2 “Focus very carefully”
Wildlife photography is a rich and complex subject. A professional can take a lifetime perfecting his art, trying new ideas, pushing his equipment to the limits and seeking that one moment which will make his name. However, whoever they are, and wherever they live, they will have learned about obtaining accurate focus and how to do it every time. Modern cameras have outstanding auto-focus systems. They can obtain focus fast, accurately and in very low light [...]
Through the Lens: Something a little different
Simple composition does nothing to distract from the wonderful details and creases on this old gentleman's face. Please turn on Javascript Your web browser appears not to have Javascript enabled, please enable it to use the form below. This is required to prevent spam and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. Leave a comment Your Name Your Email(Optional) Your Comment No info required here, please press the button below.
Tips for Wildlife Photographers: #1 “Get Low”
It's one of most common recommendations offered to aspiring wildlife photographers...."Get low, below the subject's eye level or even lower if possible". This has given rise to the common sight of a vehicle-full of people descending the side-steps and throwing themselves on the ground with their cameras to get that low-angle shot that they're looking for. And yes, I will admit, the effect is dramatic: compared to looking 'down' on the animal from above, the angle [...]
Photo Safari Skills: Sharpness, Focus and Blur
It's question that I am regularly asked: "Why is my image soft?". It's actually a good question, as it opens up a discussion about factors that affect how clear and sharp the details of your subject are in your final image. But before addressing the causes of 'soft' images, we need to ensure that we have correctly identified the type of softness in our image. There are 3 types: 1. Softness due to incorrect focus - [...]
Wildlife: Lions and Dogs
I must say it's a relief! Much as I value the rains as a time of regeneration (and for great birding opportunities) a day comes when the air is drier, and the breeze is fresh, and I celebrate! Not only am I happy to be able to move around without permanent perspiration, but it's a very exciting time of year - the promise of a new safari season. The wildlife seems to feel it too, beginning [...]
Photo Safari Skills: What constitutes ethical post-processing?
The arrival of digital camera technology has put photo manipulation into the hands of every computer owner. Previously, only darkroom experts had the ability to control the output. Now that we all have this power, what level of 'adjustment' is ethical, and what is cheating?! I'm about to reveal my secret and share some of my favourite images, in both their RAW and edited forms. But before I do that, I want to explore this idea [...]
Tour Info: South Luangwa – a world-class destination for bird photographers
The South Luangwa National Park proudly boasts a bird list totalling more than 450 species. This is certainly impressive, but perhaps more relevant is the incredible fact that it’s possible to see more than 100 species in a day! As a destination for birders, it must be high on all bucket-lists with particular focus on the park’s healthy populations of Pel’s fishing owl, Southern Carmine bee-eaters and numerous Eagles and raptors. A Barn Owl in flight, [...]
Through the Lens: My Favourite 5……Mammals
Number 5: Giraffes along Luangwa Canon EOS 1D Mark 3, 70-200mm f2.8 lens at f5.6, ISO 200, 1/2500sec, EV 0 and Evaluative metering. For me, a photo is a winner when it shows wildlife in its environment and captures some beauty of composition at the same time. This image could only have been taken in the Luangwa, and anyone who has been here would immediately recognise these unique giraffes, and their equally unique surroundings. We spent [...]
EDWARD SELFE
I organise & run photographic safaris in the finest wildlife areas on Earth since.
