There is an aspect that should not unduly worry the amateur photographer. It is that these safari creatures have been so frequently photographed that taking strikingly original photos are a challenge. So in his introduction to Franz Lanting’s Okavango, BBC nature producer David Attenborough applauds that acclaimed photographer’s capacity to “turn a cliché into a vivid new vision.” This was sometimes achieved by combining artificial with ambient light and featuring aerial views. More straight forward devices more readily available to the amateur include artful blurring; photographing only a striking part of the subject such as an elephant’s legs framing antelope; silhouetting; and the unexpected use of wide angle shots, such as a Chameleon on a parched plain. Shots of massed herds are also dramatic. And the golden glow of very early or late sun casts a special spell on its subjects. Portraits of adults feeding or playing with their young are of course irresistible. Some of these strategies are apparent from my own pictures but for the most part I have been content to depict creatures interacting or in the wider habitat, especially when it features picturesque massifs in the background.
The parks featured in my photos are in Kenya and Tanzania and whose fame is legendary. They provide the traveller with a range of diverse environments within a relatively compact area. Amboseli is nestled under the increasingly vanishing snows of Mount Kilimanjaro. No more dramatic backdrop can be imagined. Masai tribe’s people provide a fascinating counterpoint to the wildlife.
Lake Nakuru provides the dazzling spectacle of masses of pink flamingos.
[by slightly under-exposing the shot I was able to catches their reflections in the water]
The Serengeti’s undulating savannah contains the greatest concentration of game in Africa, particularly during the annual migration. The Ngorongo Crater concentrates the varied wildlife within a huge volcanic bowl. These are just a few of the great parks to be found throughout the anything but “Dark Continent”.
Conventional safari travel is comparatively structured: most parks forbid travelling by foot, so travel is vehicle-bound. Furthermore, the vehicle itself is restricted to defined tracks. This can reduce the sense of being in the wilderness, as compared with those few parks (such as the Selous) which permit touring by foot under escort of armed guards. Another decision facing travellers is whether to settle for the conventional tourist lodges (with their inevitable smorgasbords) or opt for tented accommodation.
Travelling by jeep has photographic advantages and disadvantages. The roof hatch provides solid support to long lenses, reducing blur-inducing camera shake. The slightly elevated vantage point it provides helps in game spotting. For really dramatic shots some professionals choose a low angle to recreate the animal’s perspective, but your guide will likely forbid you from leaving the vehicle. But the windows are a good compromise. Remember, however, that it is important that you are able to give directions on where to stop and for how long. My shots would not have possible otherwise.
Copyright Mark Berthold 2006
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