Applepie

Tanzania - What did I see?

One of the many surprises during my Safari to Tanzania was the vast variety of photographic opportunities and wide range of wildlife. There was something for everyone: great landscape, flowers, lots of birds, big cats, huge herds, etc

Below is an incomplete listing of all of the animals we saw during our 2 week safari. (Note: * denotes animals that I was not able to photograph)

African Mammals (38 species):

• Bush pig*
• Warthog
• Hippopotamus
• Giraffe, (Masai race)
• Dik-Dik
• Thompson Gazelle
• Grant's Gazelle
• Reedbuck
• Waterbuck
• Hartebeest
• Topi
• Wildebeest (herds of 200,000)
• Impala
• Bushbuck
• Cape Buffalo
• Black Rhinoceros
• Zebra, Boehm's Race
• African Wild Asses
• African Elephant
• Rock Hyrax
• Yellow Mongoose*
• Banded Mongoose
• Suricates
• Spotted Hyena
• Leopard
• Cheetah
• Lion
• Side-striped jackal
• African Wild Dog
• Bushbaby*
• Vervet Monkey
• Savanna Baboon, Olive Race
• Savanna Baboon, Yellow Race
• Eastern Black-and-white Colobuses
• Savanna Hare*
• Cape Ground Squirrel*
• Grass mouse*
• Camel

African Birds (note: this will be the most incomplete section, there were just too numerous bird species to remember them all) - (41 different species)

• Ostrich, Masai Race
• Pink-backed Pelicans
• Gray Heron
• Yellow-billed Egret
• Little Egret
• Yellow-Billed Stork
• Marabou Stork
• Ibis
• African Spoonbill
• Lesser Flamingos
• Greater Flamingos
• Egyptian Goose
• African Fish-Eagle
• Black Kite
• Lappet-faced Vultures
• White-headed Vultures
• Black-breated Snake-Eagle
• Tawny Eagle
• Secretarybird
• Gray Crowned Crane
• Kori Bistard
• Crabplovers
• Black-winged Stilt
• African Dove*
• Fischer's Lovebirds*
• Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
• Pied kingfisher
• Malachite Kingfisher
• African Pygmy Kingfisher
• Little Bee-eater
• Lilac-breated Roller
• Crowned Hornbill
• Ground-Hornbill
• Crested Barbet
• Grosbeak Weaver
• Spectacled Weaver
• Lesser masked Weaver
• Red Bishop
• Red-billed Oxpeckers
• Yellow-billed Oxpeckers
• Helmeted Guineafowl

African Reptiles (6 species)

• Tortoise*
• Nile Crocodile
• Red-headed Agama
• Tropical Gecko
• Monitor Lizard
• Green Mamba*

That's a total of 85 species, and I am sure I have left out various others.

Probably the most impressive sighting was the 200,000 strong heard of wildebeest and zebras.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
May 31st, 2006 at 6:57am

EOS 1Ds II, EF 100-400 at 275mm,
ISO 800, Shutter Priority at 1/250 sec, A 5.6

Yellow weaver bird

One of my favorite photos from my Tanzania Safari is a series I took of yellow weaver bird in the process of making its nest. I had about 60 seconds to photograph this bird. I plan on making a large print out of the collage below.

Serengeti National park, Tanzania
EOS 1DS II, 500 f/4L w/ 1.4x Tele
Shot at 700 mm, ISO 800, Aperture priority at F5.6, 1/80s

There is something about this photo...

I don't know what it is, but the photo below has a captivating effect on me.

The photo was taken in Tanzania, at the Selous Game Reserve on June 7th, 2006.

Canon 5D, Shutter Priority, 1/250 sec, F/10, ISO 200, at 400mm

Tanzania Gallery Posted

I finally got around to posting some safari photos on my photo web site - check it out.

Tanzania - By The Numbers: Updated

Originally, I had selected 1142 images from my African Safari (out of 8412 photographs taken). The initial selection was done the day after my return from Tanzania. 2 weeks later, I took another pass over my 1142 selected photographs and trimmed them further. I now have 858 photographs, with 152 of them being of people, lodges, and stores. Leaving me with 706 wildlife photographs.

The 284 photos cut from the original selection were mostly repeats from other photos, very few were cut from a technical or photographic reason.

Overall, I am very happy with the outcome of the trip. My original goal was to have 12 great photographs, and I feel that I got at least 50 awesome shots - enough even for an iPhoto book!

Tanzania - By The Numbers

My safari lasted 15 days, 12 of which were dedicated to photography.

Below is a breakdown of the photos I took, and which cameras and focal lens I used.

Number of photographs taken:

8412 photos, an average of 701 photos per day.

An average of 14.82mb per photo, and a total of 121.76 gb of storage used.

1149 photos made my selection for family members (13.66% of all photos taken)*

300 photos made my selection for friends.

100 photos will make it into my web gallery.

5 photos are good enough to be made into large prints (20"x30").

Cameras used (excluding purged photos):

618 taken w/ EOS 1DS II

531 taken w/ Canon 5D

Focal length used (excluding purged photos):

1000 mm: 17 photos (500 f/4L w/ 2.0x tele)
0700 mm: 223 photos (500 f/4L w/ 1.4x tele)
0500 mm: 199 photos
0400 mm: 208 photos

350-399 mm: 14 photos
300-349 mm: 34 photos
200-299 mm: 78 photos
100-199 mm: 144 photos
050-099 mm: 85 photos
024:049 mm: 147 photos

439 photos used the 500 f/4L lens (plus tele-converters)

A total of 647 photos were taken at 400mm or above.

Note: during 3 days in Selous, I was not able to use the 500 f/4 as all photo opportunities were hand-held. If it weren't for this case, there would have been even more shots done with the 500 f/4L.

The 13.66% keep rate is accentuated by multiple shots taken of the same animal looking for the right tail flick, eye expression, etc...

Tanzania - Fantastic!

I just returned from a 2 weeks photography safari to Tanzania. The trip was fantastic! I will blog about my experience over the next few weeks. In short, we woke up on average at 5 am and went on a daily ~12h photography drive, taking on average 700 photographs a day.

The one tip I have for anyone planning a similar trip is to take at least 3 times the amount of disk storage that you think you will need. It is amazing who much disk space a couple of Canon 5Ds and one EOS 1DS II can consume in a single day. I kept having a recurring dream of finding an Apple store in Tanzania to purchase additional HD space - not good.

For anyone who loves wild life photography this was a dream trip - we did nothing but photograph every thing day, all day, for 14 days. We were completely unplugged from the world, no internet, no newspapers, no radio, no TV. Our whole focus was on photography.

We visited 5 major Tanzania National Parks, and in the end I had captured "The Big Five".

I will post some additional photos to my web gallery in the next few days.

Gone on Safari

I am off on Safari until June 10th - this blog won't get updated until then.

I am hoping to have the trip of a lifetime, and to return with awesome photos.

All that is left is a 9.5h flight to the Netherlands, and an 8.5h flight to Kilimanjaro.

Tanzania here we go!

Last Minute Items - Satellite Phone

My safari to Africa is less than 48h away, and while I tried to do as much preparation up front as possible, there are a few items that I still need to secure for my trip.

Satellite Phone

I decided to rent a satellite phone to ensure that I have a reliable means of communication back to the USA. There are 2 major satellite phone system in operation: Iridium and Globalstar. But only Iridium covers Tanzania (Iridium is the world's only truly global mobile satellite telephone).

The rental itself is pretty inexpensive - $34.99/week, but the per-minute charges can add up quickly at $1.36 per minute. I opted to pre-pai for 20 min a day to secure a lower calling rate. All in all, the satellite rental and usage will cost me ~$450

I rented my satellite phone from AllRoadCommunications.

Tanzania - What's in the bag: Video Equipment

While I am going to Tanzania on a photography safari I figure it would still be nice to capture some video while I am at it. My video plans are much simpler than my photography ones. Here is all that I am taking from a video equipment perspective.

• 1 Sony HDR-HC3 HD camera
• 2 NP-FP90 Batteries
• 1 AC-VQP10 Dual Charger
• 1 VCL-HG2030 30 mm 2.0x tele-converter
• 18 DVD Tapes
• 2 MDV-9 Mini DV Album Box (fits 9 tapes each)
• MP5 Camera bag

That's it.

Tanzania - What's in the bag: Photo Equipment

After much deliberation here is the final list of photo equipment that I will be taking on Safari in 3 weeks. This equipment will be shared with my father, so it is not as bad as it looks.

Cameras:

• 2 Canon 5D Bodies
• 1 Canon 1Ds MK II Body

Optics/Filters:

• 1 Canon EF 500mm L
• 2 Canon EF 100-400mm L
• 1 Canon EF 24-105mm L
• 1 Canon EF 24-70mm L
• 2 Canon EF 1.4x II extenders
• 1 Canon EF 2.0x II extender
• 1 EF 12 II Extension tub
• 1 EF 25 II Extension tub
• 77" Polarizer filter

Flash System:

• 1 Canon 580 EDX Speedlight
• 1 Better Beamer FX-2
• 1 RRS B-91B Flash Bracket
• 1 RSS LCF-50 Lens Plate
• 1 Canon Off Camera Shoe Cord 2

Batteries:

• 8 Canon BP 511A Batteries for 5D
• 3 Canon NP-E3 Batteries for 1DS
• 8 NIMH 2700mAh AA batteries

Film/CF Card:

• 6 4GB CF cards
• 2 8GB CF cards
• 1 Epson P-4000 Storage w/ 80GB HD

Miscellaneous:

• 1 TC-80N3 remote control
• Lens wipes
• Lens brush
• Sensor Brush
• Blower for CMOS

Chargers:

• 1 5D CA-PCS 400 Charger
• 1 Canon NC-E2 Battery charger
• 1 NIMH AA Charger
• 1 Charger for Epson P-4000
• 1 APC Travel Power Inverter - 75W

Backpacks:

• MP3 Backpack w/ Laptop attachment
• Lowepro Nature Trekker AW II
• Kinesis L511 Long Lens backpack

What's the drawback of all this gear? No, it is not the weight, the major drawback is that when I return from Tanzania with a bunch of ordinary photographs, I won't be able to blame my equipment.

Tanzania - What's in the bag: Clothing

We will be spending 16 days in Tanzania, we have a weight limit of 34 lbs for all of our luggage, and all of our clothing needs to fit inside of a single 30" x 14" duffel bag (per person).

Duffel bag (30" x `4")
Small Duffel bag for gifts to bring back
Locks for baggage

1 Rain jacket
1 Fleece Jacket hard wear wind-resistent
2 Convertible Travel Pants (w/ lots of pockets, w/ SPF 30-50 protection)

1 Pair of Shorts (w/ pockets, , w/ SPF 30-50 protection)
3 Long sleeve shirts (quick drying, wrinkle free, button down, roll-up sleeves, , w/ SPF 30-50 protection)
2 Short-sleeve shirts (quick drying, , w/ SPF 30-50 protection)
7 Pairs of underwear
7 Socks (light-weight, non-white, quick-drying)
2 Hiking shoes (non-white, trail running)
1 Hat (wide-brim, tie-on, neck and ear protection)
1 Photo Vest
1 Pair of Sunglasses
1 Pair of pajamas
1 Towel (thin, quick drying)

Travel Clothes

Rich Tong has a great review on ideal clothing for traveling. And REI starts their anniversary sale today - just in time for last minute shopping before my safari!

Tanzania - What's in the bag: Toiletries

Toiletries essentials for the safari trip (in addition to the medicine bag)

• Toothbrush w/ holder
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Deodorant
• Soap w/ holder
• Shampoo (2 in 1)
• Hand sanitizer
• Cotton swabs
• Fingernail clippers
• Comb
• Tissues (travel pack)
• Hand wipes

No shaver - we are going to Africa after all!

Tanzania - What's in the bag: Medicine Chest

With just under 3 weeks to go before my safari to Tanzania it is time to prepare my final check list.

First category on my list is the medicine bag:

• 1" adhesive tape
• Advil
• Alcohol wipes
• Antacid
• Band aids
• Bug repellent w/ 30% deet
• Cipro
• Cortisone creme
• Decongestant
• Hydrocortisone
• Immodium AD
• Lip balm w/ 30 SPF
• Malarone/Larium
• Neosporin
• Pepto Bismol
• Senokot (lazative)
• Sudafed
• Sunscreen 30 SPF
• Thermometer
• Throat lozenges
• Tylenol

Almost enough here to start a mini hospital.

Yellow Fever Vaccine in King County

My family doctor is not able to give me a Yellow Fever vaccine, it seems that I need to go to a specialized clinic for some of the vaccines I need to take for my trip to Tanzania.

If you need to take some more exotic vaccines for an overseas trip, I found a place in King County/WA that can accommodate almost any vaccine needs.

Eastside Travel Medicine
1200 116th Ave NE, Suite D
Bellevue, WA 98042
(425) 455-8248

Preventive Vaccines for Tanzania

With my trip to Tanzania just 25 days away, I need to hurry and get the necessary vaccines that are recommended before a trip to Africa. The recommended vaccines are:

• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus Booster
• Measles
• Typhoid

• As well as Malaria prevention medication (a pill instead of a vaccine).

Time to visit my doctor.

Tanzania Visa - Arrived

The Tanzania embassy has finally returned my US passport with the appropriate visa! It took 20 days, instead of the stated 5, but the passport is here with 30 days to spare!

Tanzania: D - 30!

I am only 30 days away from leaving on my first safari to Tanzania! Everything is ready, I just want to practice packing to ensure that everything fits and to ensure that we are not too much over our weight limit.

It is still not clear if I will be physically ready to go on safari only 5 weeks after my back operation.

For now, I am assuming that I am going and I will make the final call in the last week. Luckily, I bought travel insurance; in case I can't go, I will at least get a full refund.

Tanzania

National Geographic Magazine's wallpaper for May 2006 is a photo from Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania’s Rift Valley.

First, there was the severe draught, then there is this little volcano, and now my back surgery. This is sure shaping up to be a great trip ;-)

River of Fire
Photograph by Olivier Grunewald
From "Visions of Earth," National Geographic, May 2006

Sony HDR-HC3

There is a good review on CarcorderInfo.com on Sony's latest consumer HD camcorder - the Sony HDR-HC3. This would be a great camera to bring along on Safari, especially with the addition of a High Grade 2.0X Telephoto Lens.

An HD camera would make a great companion for my father to bring along to the Safari, and a good way to slip our roles - I will take care of still pictures, and he can focus on videos!

Good thing that B&H is currently closed!

Tanzania Visa - US Passport

At what point should I worry that my password has been lost? On April 4th, we sent our US passports to the Tanzania embassy in Washington to get the necessary travel visas for our safari. The visa application clearly stated that it would take 5 business days for the passports to be returned. It has been 8 business days now and our included pre-paid fedex return envelop has not been used.

We know, via fedex tracking, that the Tanzania embassy received the passports on April 5th, so they have had ample time to return the documents. I will wait until the end of the week before I get really worried.

African Safari - At Risk

I just found out today that I will have to undergo back surgery to repair a slipped disk. Surgery will occur on Monday, August 17th. This is just 5 weeks before I head off to Africa for a 3 week photo safari. This may not be enough time to recuperate from surgery and be able to track around Africa with 35 lbs worth of photo gear.

Lovely. We are past the point of no return for a refund, but I did get insurance for just this type of situation. I need to see what options I have, I certainly don't want to delay the trip, but I need to be well enough to be able to enjoy it as well.

A call to the travel agency is in order - Thomson Safari. Let's see what my options are.

Africa - 93 days to go

Only 93 days left until I depart on my African safari - while the photography gear is in place (except for a backup camera), I still need to get my Tanzanian visa, and prepare the non-photographics items - clothing, medicine, supplies, and last but not least, my vaccinations. I am hoping to have it all done with 60 days to spare.

San Diego Wild Animal Park

I had been planning to visit the San Diego Wild Animal Park since a trip to CA last year. I thought it would provide a great practice run for my safari later in the year.

I just read an article on USA Today that reaffirmed my commitment to visit the San Diego Wild Animal Park in near future. Here is USA Today's arcticle: San Diego's Wild Animal Park thrums with exotic creatures.

From reading the article and visiting the web site, you get a sampling of what's offered at the Wild Animal Park:

• Photo Caravan Safari

• Roar & Snore camp-outs

• Cheetah Run Safari

• Balloon Safari

The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park is located at 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road just east of Escondido, northeast of San Diego. The park is open from 9 a.m to 4 p.m., 7 days a week.

Contact Info: 760) 747-8702, reservations for special tours (619) 718-3000.

Time to hit expedia.com for travel arrangements.

Safari Checklist (D - 122 days)

122 days to go and I finally got a chance to catch up on some of the paperwork that still needed to be completed.

Booking Confirmation Form - Done
Emergency Contact Form - Done
Passport Copies - Done
Travel Insurance - Done

More Paperwork still not done

1) Tanzania Visa - application form is completed, still need a passport photo, and I must wait until I return from Spain in February before I can submit my passport to the Tanzanian Embassy. Visa application has to be submitted no latter than 90 days prior to departure. Feb 25 is the cur off date.

2) Medical - Yellow Fever vaccination and anti-malaria pills. I will go visit my doctor in February.

Equipment

All my photo gear equipment is in place with the exception of a backup photo camera and a possibly an HD camcorder.

I am waiting for the PMA 2006 show to see if Canon announces a 20D replacement. They most likely will do so at the show, but I will most likely just get a second Canon 5D to serve as my backup camera.

The HD camcorder is still TBD, I am not sure if it is worth it or if I should just stick with a mini-DV camera.

Safari Practice - Session #1

Weather permitting, I will take my complete safari gear out for a photo session in the Skagit valley this Saturday - to photograph bald eagles. My plan is to take the exact same kit that I will use on Safari with the addition of tripod and Winberley head, minus a backup camera body.

1x - EOS 5D
1x - EF 24-70 f/2.8 L
1x - EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS
1x - EF 300 f/4L IS
1x - EF 600 f/4L IS
1x - EF 1.4x II
1x - EF 2.0x II
6x - 5d Batteries BP-511A
1x - 5d CA-PCS 400 Charger
6x - 4GB Card File
1x - EF 12 II Extension Tube
1x - EF 25 II Extension Tube
1x - TC-80N3 remote
1x - 77" Polarizer Filter
1x - MP-3 Backpack
1x - Kinesis L511 Long Lens Case
1x - Epson P-4000 80Gb Storage

The kit above weights in at 15.5 kg - ouch.

Much of the lens selection above won't be applicable for this trip as I expect to be using the 600 f/4L almost exclusively. But this first practice session will give me a chance to go over my packing and it will give me much needed practice with long lens techniques.

Hopefully, I will have some great photos to show for my effort.

Safari Long Lens Selection

I am refining my lens selection for the African Safari. I have struggled a great deal on my long lens selection:

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM - 3,870g (8.5 lbs)

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM - 5,360g (11.8 lbs)

Sigma APO 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG HSM - 5,880g (13 lbs)

Both Canon's are supposed to be excellent - the 500 mm is nearly 3 lbs lighter and 3" smaller. And one of its advantage is that it "can be hand held for short periods of time".

The Sigma has a fantastic reputation for image quality and it gives the photographer a great zoom range to assist with composition. But the Sigma does not have Image Stabilization of any kind - putting even more importance on proper long lens technique.

My decision came down to 2 points.

1. You always need more reach, specially on Safari. From all I could see, everyone seems to use the 500 or 600 lens with a 1.4x tele-converter.
2. None of these lenses are really hand-holdable as far as I am concerned. They will all require a beam bag for support (or a tripod in other trips).

In the end, I choose the Canon EF 600 mm F/4L IS USM as my long-telephoto lens for the African Safari. The Sigma lost out because of its lack of Image Stabilization, and the 500 lost because of its smaller reach.

Only time will tell if this was the correct choice. I hear that many/most that go to Andy's safaris choose the Canon EF 500 mm f/4L, so I will be able to compare the output of both lenses.

I suspect, that any of these 3 lens would make a great selection in the right hands. I need to work now to ensure that my skills are ready for the task ahead.

Long Lens Technique

There is a great post by Les Zigurski on Fred Miranda web site discussing proper long lens technique.

If you have a long lens and are struggling to capture sharp images make sure to read Les's post.

You can also find additional long lens instructions in the following pages:

• http://www.naturephotographers.net/ejp0801-1.html

• http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/BirdPhotoBasics.htm

• http://www.photofocus.com/showarchive.php?aid=166&cid=4

• http://www.moosepeterson.com/techtips/longlens.html

• http://www.keiko-ni.com/keiko/Equipment/everything/longlenstech.html

Happy shooting.

National Geographic and Google Earth

National Geographic Magazine has linked much of its African archives to 3D satellite imagery from Google Earth. Zero in on a particular part of Africa and access National Geographic articles, images, videos going back as far as the magazine's first article on the continent in 1889.

More info that I can read in advance of my trip. National Geographic plans on expanding its coverage on Google Earth to include the whole world.

Go forth and explore at will - NGM Google Earth

African Safari - 135 days and counting

May 26 is fast approaching, in fact, there are only 135 days left. Much remains to be done. My current short list involves:

• Apply for Tanzania Visa

• Get appropriate immunization shots (Yellow fever and Malaria)

• Get travel insurance

• Purchase remaining camera gear - still waiting for x-mas gifts to trickle in to see what I still need to purchase.

• Travel reading - read up on Africa related books, and pick up one or 2 Africa photography books

No time like the present to start...

African Safari - The Big Five

You often hear of the "Big Five" when people go on a safari. The Big Five are considered the "trophy" sightings when on a safari. The term goes back to when trophy hunters went to safari in Africa back in the 19th century. The big five were the animals that were more dangerous than all others - not the rarest, not the most beautiful, nor the fastest; but the most dangerous. As a result these animals became the most desirable trophies. While few people still go to Africa to hunt, the term "Big Five" is still referred throughout safaris in Africa.

The following animals make up the traditional "Big Five" list:

1) Buffalo
2) Elephant
3) Leopard
4) Lion
5) Rhinoceros

Now you know!

Safari Trivia: Giraffe

Did you know: a Giraffe does not vocalize any sounds, none at all.

(at least not in any frequency that we have been able to record so far)

Photo Safari - How hard is the 33 lbs limit?

My current safari equipment selection (w/ a flash system) weighs ~13kg, or 28.5 lbs. And that's not even counting a possible computer system to backup the photos (outside of the P-4000). A computer system w/ ext HD and power cables at best is 4.4 lbs (I am using a Sony 2.7 lbs notebook as a benchmark).

Figuring all of this out will be an interesting challenge.

Africa Safari: Baggage Weight Limit

Most organized African safaris have a 33 lbs weight limit for checked luggage

Baggage restrictions when using small aircraft: Operators are strict. Seating is based on 15 kgs (33 lbs) of luggage per person. Baggage must be in small soft bags such as duffels. Large or rigid bags/suitcases are not allowed and will have to be left behind due to the size and shape of luggage compartments. It is possible to reserve an extra seat (booked in advance, and based on availability) for those who absolutely need to bring more luggage.

I have been scratching my head trying to figure out how to squeeze my photo equipment into the 33 lbs limit. I seem to have two options:

1) Take a Canon S2 P&S camera and leave teh 5D SLR behind
2) Do not take any change of clothing!

Option 1 above is out of the question, so I guess #2 it is!

Photo Safari: Camera Lens Selection

I had the opportunity to chat with Andy Biggs yesterday to discuss lens selection for my upcoming African Safari - Andy is the photographer leading the safari on May 26th -- check out his testimonials.

Here are the Canon lenses that Andy recommended:

• EF 24-70 F/2.8L
• EF 100-400 F/4.5-5.6L IS
• EF 500 F/4L IS
• EF 1.4x II extender
• EF 2.0x II extender

Note: each Safari is different, what works for my upcoming trip may not be what works for your safari.

The selection above is not the only "right" combination - but it happened to match 1-1 with the lenses that I have available, so it is the perfect combination for me.

Photo Safari - Essential Camera Gear

The camera bag is probably the most inexpensive photo equipment for the Safari trip - yet, it is one of the most important. In most safaris, the use of a tripod is not realistic (no space in the car, no able to open in the open field, large/bulky, etc), the bean bag provides a simple but most effective way to stabilize a long lens enabling the capture of sharp images.

I plan on using a Kinesis Safari Sack for my trip. It is available for $29.00 from www.kinesisgear.com.

A general review can be found on Bob Atkin's web site.

Photo Storage Consideration

With my safari trip finally booked, it is time to get serious about the photography gear required for a 2 week trip to Africa. One of my original concerns is the storage capacity for all of the photos. I am currently ruling out taking a laptop to the dusty conditions found in a safari, and I am leaning towards taking a portable storage unit such as the Epson P4000.

The epson will provide me with 80GB of storage and it will give me the ability to preview and delete photos as needed.

The file size for my current Canon 5D is approximately 12.5 MB, the P4000 will enable me to store ~6,500 raw shots. Which in turn averages to ~450 photos per day. Assuming it is wise to sort and delete photos based on a 3.5" screen, and assuming a super generous 50% keeper rate (which will reduce to 10% keeper while back at home), an 80GB drive should give me adequate storage for the entire trip.

I could also use my 60 gb iPod as extra photo storage if needed.

My remaining concern is not having an adequate backup for the photos... Maybe a cheap sacrificial iBook might be a wise investment.

African Safari

After much deliberation, I have finally found an Africa Photo Safari that works around my schedule.  I have decided to book a safari through Thomson Safaris for May 26 to June 9th.  We will be going to Tanzania!

The itinerary is as follow:

Day 1  Depart U.S.
Day 2  Arrive Arusha
Day 3  Arusha ⁄ Ngorongoro Highlands
Day 4  Ngorongoro Highlands
Day 5  Ngorongoro Crater
Day 6  Ngorongoro Crater
Day 7  Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti National Park
Day 8  Serengeti National Park
Day 9  Serengeti National Park
Day 10  Serengeti National Park
Day 11  Serengeti National Park ⁄ Arusha ⁄
Day 12 Fly to Selous Game Reserve

Day 13 Selous Game Reserve
Day 14 Selous Game Reserve
Day 15 Selous Game Reserve
Day 16 Selous Game Reserve
Day 17 Return trip to US

Lots to do now.  First in the list is settling on the right camera gear to take!

African Safari: Inspiration

As if one needed any further inspiration to go on an African Safari, I ran into a posting on www.dpreview.com from Alex Bernasconi who just returned from an African safari. Alex posted some awe inspiring photographs from his safari on the D100 forum on DPReview - just outstanding photography of some incridible animals and landscapes.

While my photography is not yet at the same level, just the opportunity of being in the presence of so much wildlife in such an untouched landscape will be an experience of lifetime.

I hope I can come home with at least some photos as great as the one's Alex took.

For a more complete collection of Alex's photographs visit his Africa 05 Photo Gallery on PBase.

African Safari: National Geographic

Just in time for my planning phase, National Geographic has a special issue out dedicated to Africa.  Great background reading material in anticipation of an African Safari in the next 12 months.

They are stories whose time has come. With that in mind, National Geographic Editor Chris Johns led the production of a special edition on Africa. In this issue we look at the impact of humans on the environment and the fate of Africa's great animals. We examine the consequences of oil wealth in impoverished Chad and the plight of the Democratic Republic of  the Congo's Mbuti Pygmies as outsiders invade their forest home. We contemplate the relationship between people and wildlife through the eyes of an African writer returning to Zambia. We take the pulse of life in Kenya's bustling capital of Nairobi and ponder the future of HIV-positive South Africans, who tell their stories in their own words. Listen to the Editor remark on why, at this particular time in history, Africa is so important to the rest of the world and how we can help as it forges ahead.

You can still find a copy at your local bookstore - I have bought 3 of them to send to family members. 

African Safari: Thomson Safaris

I have added one more Safari Tour Operator to my list of possible travel agents for my safari trip next year: Thomson Safaris.

Thomson Safaris has a broad selection of tours catering to all interests: photography, family, camping, luxury, etc.  They also do custom safaris, which is what I am leaning towards right now.

On another note, I have called and requested a catalog from Micato Safaris twice now, and I still haven't received anything.  They came highly recommended by colleagues, but I am now inclined to drop them from consideration.  If this is the type of service that I get when they are selling me a safari, imagine what I will get when I am in the middle of the Serengeti?

Photo Safari: Tour Operators

I continue to research my African Safari tour for 2006. Much remains to be done. Location has not been decided yet. I now have travel brochures from various tour operators.

Here is a current list of tour operators that I am considering for my photo safaris.

Micato Safaris - Voted the "World's Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter" by Travel+Leisure magazine-for the third consecutive year!

Joseph van Os Photo Safaris - Large operator offering photo-tours worldwide.

Andy Biggs - Highly recommended by forum members at http://www.dpreview.com. However, most of Andy's safaris are already sold out for 2006. There are openings in September, but my work schedule makes a September trip unlikely.

Premier Tours - Owned and operated by people born and raised in Africa.

Tanzania Photographic Tours - Small family operated tours - "We offer safari experiences to take into account the wishes and desires of all our clients."

African Safari - Minimal Equipment List

My first choice for photo equipment is too heavy.  Let's look at the minimal gear that I should take on Safari and still be able to capture great shot.

• Canon 5D DSLR (12.9 MP, FF) - 810g
• Cannon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 USM - 600g
• Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM - 1800g

This would give me wide angle and long reach zoom.

A 1.4x extender would give me 700 mm at f/8. 

 

• Canon EF 1.4X II extender - 220g

A 2x extender would give me up to 1000 mm and f/11 lens, which means no auto-focus, and too dark.  May as well leave the 2x extender at home.

Total kit weight is 3430g or 7.56 lbs - not bad. 

But this selection does not have a lens with image stabilization, maybe I should stick with the

 

• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM at 1380g

420g less weight, but 100 mm less reach, but image stabilization!

African Safari: Equipment Choice, Option 1

Here is a great selection of camera gear for a safari, but will it fit in the 35 lbs total luggage limit?  The list below covers dual camera bodies, and super wide-angle to 400 mm zoom, with an option for a 800 mm zoom.

• Canon 5D DSLR (12.9 MP, FF) - 810g
• Canon 20D DSLR (8MP, 1.6x) - 685g
• Cannon EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM - 385g
• Cannon EF 28-300mm F/3.5-5.6L IS USM 1670g
• Cannon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM 1380g
• Canon EF 1.4X II extender - 220g
• Canon EF 2.0X II extender - 265g

Would I have enough reach with the 100-400mm lens?  I could add the 1.4x extender but the 2.x extender might be stretching the image quality.

An interesting long reach zoom lens is

• Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 EX DG APO IF HSM lens - 5870g (and 21.3" in length)

But is it practical on safari?

Instead of the 28-300mm, should I take a

• Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM - 1800g

Total weight of the Canon kit above is 5415g, the Sigma 300-800 would make it total 11,285, or 24.87 lbs.  Add to that a camera bag that can handle this load and you are looking at 30 lbs total just in camera gear.

Clearly this is a bit much, what to cut?

African Safari: Photo Equipment

What camera equipment should I take on an African Safari?

Things to keep in mind.

• Luggage weight limit (~35 lbs)
• Dusty environment
• No repair facilities
• Photographs are taken from the roof of a car (not on the ground)
• Limited access to electricity during the day
• Distance to subject varies greatly

What happens if on the first day you drop your long lens and it breaks?  Knowing that one can not reasonably be expected to take 2 of everything, what makes the ideal photo safari equipment list? 

Tripods don't seem very practical on a tour safari.  A beam bag might be more useful.  Lens that offer image stabilization might also be a good idea.

Because of the dusty environment, I am leaning towards using zoom lens instead of primes (minimize lens change while in the field).  To capitalize on this, I am planning on taking 2 camera bodies, one with a long reach zoom lens, and another with wide angle zoom. 

To minimize equipment, it would be best to have 2 identical camera bodies in order to share batteries, cables, and power cords.

I have a good collection of Canon equipment, and while the Nikon 200-400mm zoom is an awesome lens, I would be better off staying with the Canon DSLRs.

Photography: African Safari

I am planning on doing an African Safari next year with my father (and maybe my brother and sister - if they are reading this blog).  I would like to make photography a focal point of the safari.  There is a lot to prepare before we go.  Finding the right safari, picking a destination, choosing the right time of the year to go, getting vaccinations, the list is almost endless.  I am only at very start of the planning phase - Choosing the Right Safari.

Before I go further into my planning, I would like to make sure that I have my photographic equipment all in order, I don't want to be purchasing a new lens or camera at the last minute.  I want to ensure that I have enough practice with all of the equipment before I board the plane to Africa. 

One thing to keep in mind is that most safari operators impose a weight limit on luggage because of limited space and the use of small aircraft for inland flights.  The weight limit varies, but they are mostly around 35 lbs.  It seems high at first, until you take your photographic equipment into consideration.  It would be very easy to use the whole 35 lbs with only camera gear, leaving no room for clothing ("When in Rome do like the Romans" comes to mind, but I will leave it at that).  The weight limit will play the biggest role in deciding what equipment goes and what stays.  The advantage of traveling with family is that you can spread out your gear amongst everyone!

Next Safari blog entry I will look into a suggested equipment for the safari...