Safari Part 1--News

　　Visiting the great game parks of Africa without a camera seems absurd-like visiting the race track and not putting on a bet. Partly perhaps this is due to the primordial hunting instincts that still lurk under our apparently “civilised” exteriors. I am hardly unique in experiencing a deep satisfaction in getting a good “shot” of a lion or leopard.
　　
　　

　　
　　And this is distinct from the subsequent joys of showing off the “trophy”. Not forgetting the continuing joys of just personally revelling in the frozen image of such beautiful creatures.
　　
　　In the best African reserves even a blind person would have a good chance of taking adequate wildlife shots. Armed with a good telephoto there is little chance of leaving disappointed. The most dramatic shots are those of the big cats capturing their prey-a spectacle likely to be denied all but long term visitors. But portraits of the big cats are more assured. Lions certainly and leopards perhaps. Cheetahs were not seen in my ten day visit, but that seems to have been comparatively unlucky. The remaining star cast are a cinch-namely elephants and rhinos.
　　
　　

　　
　　So how to do justice to this much photographed celebrity list? Something of their habitat should sometimes be featured-“I did NOT take that in the zoo!” And if the settings are as spectacular as those crowned by the snows of Kilimanjaro it would be a shame not take advantage. So I found myself using the 28mm wide angle lens almost as often as the 300mm telephoto.
　　
　　Copyright Mark Berthold 2006