How to get better photos of wildlife on safari
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ค. 2024
- Safari photography is a specialist niche of wildlife photography in Africa and it can be challenging for beginners. With these 15 tips I explain some of my favourite techniques for African safari photography. Including the best lens for safari photography, but also how to approach and photograph wildlife from a vehicle, how to frame shots and choose a background. What to look for in the bush, and how to stay focussed and connected for long periods of time.
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My name is Will Goodlet. I am a wildlife, landscape and astro photographer working in the African Safari business. I spend my time exploring the dusty roads of Africa with my Land Rover, Basil.
I've been taking photographs for 40 years, first in Hong Kong, where I grew up and later to follow my dreams of a life photographing Africa.
📖CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:22 PRE-TRIP RESEARCH
1:54 TARGET SPECIFIC ANIMALS OR SCENES
2:47 STAY CONNECTED
3:57 COVER THE ANGLES
4:24 SPOTTED HYENA & CUB
5:24 WHAT GEAR TO TAKE?
6:48 LIGHT & SUBJECT SELECTION
7:05 CAPE LONGCLAW RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE
7:36 APPROACHING WILDLIFE
8:25 SURICATE RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE
8:32 SWITCH OFF!
9:21 BACKGROUNDS & LIGHT
10:13 COMPOSITION & DEPTH
11:09 FINDING WILDLIFE
11:29 BROWN SNAKE EAGLE
11:43 STOP FREQUENTLY & LISTEN
12:10 GROUND AGAMA
12:26 CAPE COBRA KGALAGADI NATIONAL PARK
12:54 USE LIVE VIEW FOR SMALL SUBJECTS
13:29 IF IT'S GOOD, STAY ON IT!
14:51 WORK WITH THE WEATHER
#WildlifePhotography #SafariPhotography #NaturePhotography - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Another interesting video Will, I just wish I was in Africa doing what you do. best wishes.
Thanks for watching John! I am in Africa but sadly I have not been out with a camera for several months either (recovering from an illness) hope to be able to put some more videos together soon. Happy shooting!
Thanks for your tips of wildlife photography
Thank you for watching
Thanks for these very helpful suggestions. I am eternally in search of "the perfect picture". Maybe I will get there one day. Thanks again
Thanks Jon! I'm pretty sure we are all looking for that picture :)
Top tip , use an experienced driver/guide.
They will know the areas certain animals frequent. The good ones will understand about wanting the best light and park accordingly.. and move as needed
Thanks for the tip. Great advice for those on private safaris!
Great concise tip summary Will! I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for watching and so glad you liked it!
Thanks Will. Great to see you back.
Thank you very much for all these advices.
Great Video Will very useful sorted cameras back to Kruger in Sept 😊
Hey mate! Just discovered your channel... glad I did! Well put together... you explain subjects in a nice detailed pace. I was in Africa twice... planning to go back soon. Don't know Kruger even though I was in Cape Town...(love that city!). Enjoying your posts! Thank you!
Great stuff! Love the caracal
Thanks for taking a look!
Very informative and, as usual, an amazing video. Thanks a bunch for your efforts.
Always enjoy your videos Will. Thank you!
Thanks so much Jason. Really appreciated
Hey Will, Thanks a lot for the videos. Amazing work.
Hi Abel, thanks for taking a look! Really appreciate your encouragement. Thank you!
Fantastic video Will, thank you.
Thanks Jan! appreciate you taking the time to watch it and leaving a comment here. Thank you for the encouragement!
Thanks this really helped me
Glad it helped
Fantastic mesmerising video. Thanks so much. More please!!!
Thanks for watching:)
Wow, what a great video and those photographs are exceptional! Great watch, Will!
Thanks Liesl!
That was really enjoyable, inspiring and educational to watch. Thank you. :)
Great tips Will, very clear and on point with you tips!
Well done mate!
Thanks Andy, very kind of you!
Excellent video . Very helpful
Thanks Andy!
A big thank you for all yr videos and Wishing you and your family a. Happy Christmas and New Year.
Thanks so much Catherine, I’m looking forward to it :) hope you have a great time too and stay safe!
Fantastic tips Will...very relevant to us here in Australia :)
Glad to hear that Mark! Thanks for watching.
Another awesome video Will!! Your description of how to approach photography - to what follows when on location both physically and technically is superb - it comes with experience! Switching of motor listening to light opera later and having your senses pealed on the surrounds is priceless! Thank you for another great video!
Thanks for watching Axel, really kind of you to leave this nice comment too! Safari photography is funny genre, photographing from the vehicle presents its own challenges, even if it is just staying present.
Thanks Will, hope that you are doing well and have to say that I love your content, very easy to watch but some great knowledge being passed on, thank you!
Thanks Paul, so glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent work. Good & Informative. Thanks Will.
Thanks again Subit :)
Nice and useful tips..loved it...but tell us how u attached that tripod to your vehicle door
Thanks for watching:) I use a door mount, the is a video about it if you want to know more - have a look at the gear review playlist. Sorry I can’t link directly at the moment - I’m cooking!
@@WillGoodlet thank you
Only just discovered your films Will, excellent stuff, interesting and very helpful, I am in the UK where my biggest problem is light levels, but hey I can still relate and use your suggestions, thank you 🙏
Hi Roger, running into more of your comments :) I guess it would make more sense to reply from the bottom up (first ones first) but YT hasn't thought of that yet!
Yes, I'd imagine light is a massive problem (as it is for all of us) I think you have to just try with what you have. I believe that the important thing about cameras is to define a 'use envelope' and to operate mostly within it.
We all try to push the limits! And that's good, but can also be demoralising.
Working your conditions can help too - one of my big complaints about bright conditions over here is that they are TOO bright :) And we only get 20 minutes of golden light.
With the sun hanging low in the summer skies, you should get hours and hours of fantastic light to work with (when the sun is out)?!
Awesome and Great 👍😃
Cheers Henrik :)
Love the prep work ideas and learning about the environment that you will be visiting. Really enjoyed your content - getting me amped up for a Kenya Trip!
Glad you enjoyed it and I'm jealous you are off to Kenya! Awesome :)
Going on my first safari and looking for advice, I'm pleased to have found your channel. A lot of great wisdom. Just as importantly, you convey it with stories and color and depth, like a good photographer!
Thanks for watching and glad to hear you are off on safari!!
Very good detailing of photography is given in this video ! Really from different angles every aspect is covered. Very useful application information.
Thank you for watching Mukund, appreciate it!
Hi Will. I really enjoyed the latest video. Sadly, living in the UK, the safari opportunities are few(!). I have been lucky enough to visit a number of African countries on group safari holidays. Not ideal as some are excited by e.g. the big cats, whereas for others maybe a bird. Photographic safaris are megabucks, so I'll keep playing the lottery and watching your videos!!
Christine, that’s where your are wrong. You can come here, rent a car and have the trip of a lifetime. And I guarantee your food bill will be a quarter of what you normally spend normally. I used to travel out from the UK and apart from the airfare it was cheaper than staying in my flat in London
Will, I think I would feel vulnerable attempting a trip on my own. Thanks for replying
I'd be interested in reading more of your experiences.
Hi Will, once gain thanks for the awesome content. What mount (quick release/ ball rotating) do you recommend on the Gimpro ? Thanks Deon
Not sure I understand. But I use a video head on the standard gimprogear fastener. Then a video plate on the lens.
Thanks Will. I have a gimbal head mount that I connect to my Gimpro, but found it a bit clumsy. I will definitely give the video head a go. Cheers D@@WillGoodlet
Great advice and very good video! Stopping and being still and quiet is very important. I will often think there is nothing around until I stop for a moment and small birds and sounds begin to appear. Best of luck to you in 2020!
Thanks! Agree with you about stopping it's amazing for small sightings
Excellent tips for wildlife! I'm primarily a bird photographer and most of these tips are very appropriate. Thanks and keep up the excellent work.
Thanks for watching Roger, glad it was useful!
Really loved this video... my dream is to go on safari in Africa.. (I am from the USA) I appreciate the advice and tips. Thank you for taking the time to make this video
Happy you liked it Karyn. Hope you can get out here :)
I always enjoy your videos. You strike just the right blend of imparting wisdom, concern for humanity, art and storytelling. I was on safari in Botswana and South Africa last summer but after watching this video I have made the decision to come back next summer.
Thank you!
Thanks for watching Chuck! So appreciate it. I’d almost forgotten this one and watched it again just now. I reckon I’m a very rusty photographer after the last couple of years!
Really great to hear you are coming back next summer! Awesome :)
You don’t need to be in Africa to practice these worthy tips,they apply to anywhere you may be.Good stuff Will,as usual.
Glad to hear you can apply them elsewhere David! Thanks again :)
Amazing video so much information and lots of great pictures. I've been in Africa 4 times and you tell some things that I never thought about. Or maybe doing wildlife photography during a normal holliday just gets me a little rushed all the time. Keep up the great work 😊
Thank you Guido! So great to get your encouragement here. Are you still in Denmark? Taking lot's of great shots I hope!
@@WillGoodlet he will no we went home last Friday. The shot I showed you unfortunately was the only one I took in that week. I'm pretty busy this weekend so hopefully next week will bring some oppertunity and good weather. Also I'm going to Scotland and hopefully the farne islands at the beginning of May hopefully that will bring some nice time. I the meantime I just keep myself busy with watching TH-cam and learning 😊
Oh wow! So excited to hear you are going to Scotland. If all goes well I'm going to be visiting my Brother and Sister in the UK (I have never met their 5 kids) and I will be going to the western Isles for a week or so. I would really like to get your thoughts and insights when you get back. Wishing you the best of the weather next week - take care.
@@WillGoodlet wow that's about time you go and meet them then. I've booked two holliday homes in Scotland. One in the area of glencoe and one in Aviemore for the cairgorms national park. I'm hoping to see some great landscapes, red deer, rain deer and birds. The other house is going to be in the North East of England around Seahouses to go to the farne islands. They are stacked full with puffins that time of year so hopefully I can see some then.
Fantastic! I am going to google the Farne islands, never heard of them.
Thanks for more tips. I’m curious about the heron shot in this video. Did you stack images to get the water blurred and the heron sharp? Or a really cooperative heron? 😆 I leave next week!
Hi James, good luck for the trip! it’s one shot, from memory about half or quarter second. I had a 6 stop ND filter on the lens which kept the depth of field shallow. You may notice the bird moving one foot. It stays still and tries to scare up prey with the movement. It’s a perfect subject for this kind of shot because of this behaviour.
Can you guide how you adjusted stand for camera in your car
The one in the window? I have a video on it - will post the link
GIMPRO DOOR MOUNT REVIEW - WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY ACCESSORIES
th-cam.com/video/-b224uT-tVk/w-d-xo.html
📸🎬🎥
Thanks!
What absolutely wonderful advice on each segment. We are going on our first safari in January of 2024, Kenya and Tanzania. Thank you for producing and posting this informative video. I’m looking forward to watching more of you videos.
Thanks for watching Robert, so glad you found it useful. And great to hear you are off on Safari!! :)
Hey Will, just found your channel. Great informative vlog - surprised its
Hi Terry, thanks! Glad you found it and I'm not jealous at all that you are off on safari! I haven't been on a trip since October 19.. where are you going and is it your first time? Have fun!!
@@WillGoodlet first time with photography gear :)
We'll be spending 12 days in Kenya split across Mara triangle & Amboseli. Hope to capture some nice animal portraits during this quiet time
Thanks!
You forgot tip #16 Will, and that's just sit and take it all in and appreciate that we as photographers are even ABLE to do this......keep up the good work :)
Good point Leigh! Thanks for reminding me :)
Great tips thanks Will. I live in Pta and have never been to Rietvlei except for trail runs. I've watched most of your vids. Will be good to see you do your magic in The Land God Made in Anger - Namibia. Any trip there yet?
Hi Sean, Rietvlei can make some beautiful pictures - 2 x cheetahs there now!
Sadly, my big adventure to the Kaokoveld was cancelled as we were robbed 2 weeks before travel a year ago now. I really wanted to make that video! Most of my adventures took place before I started TH-cam so, I haven't got any footage to show you. I LOVE Namibia.
@@WillGoodlet what a terrible setback. I have been binge-watching Namibian vlogs over the past 6 months (stuck at work abroad) so I'm really psyched up but, the travel restrictions are so prohibitive and their ailing tourism industry is pleading for rationality. 4 Border posts opened last week but, tourists can ONLY FLY IN (no quarantine). Due to no clarity, several tourists were turned away at borders. Revision of regs on 21 Oct. For the whole return trip we need 3 PCR tests each = R5100.00. Its a racket but 4x4 is prepped and when the borders open, we go! (In Dec)
Superb as always, and packed with great advice. So much effort put in to getting different angles from tip to tip, your effort really shows in the quality of the end result. If you are taking votes for the next video - I really enjoy your videos where you take us along on a day with you, and still pack in practical advice along the way, and always great to see the photographs you create along the way.
Hi Giles, thanks! I will see what I can do about it. I have less material than I’d like at the moment because my wading has disabled the Landy. I hope it will be fixed by the weekend if all goes well! I’m trying to think of new places to go too. There’s a spot quite far away that could be interesting.
Will Goodlet you said the starter motor had given up! How is Basil? You don’t need to make an epic trip for you to make a brilliant and absorbing video. The first video of yours I ever saw was from Marievale. I think that is relatively close to you and it was superb.
Yes the starter motor. I tried to make a video the other day, and abandoned it because I couldn't turn off the engine. Basil is fine thanks,:)
Did my first safari in Tanzania in 2018. It felt like home and I'm looking to go home.
Glad to hear it Kurtis - hope you get back soon!
@@WillGoodlet Can you recommend a photo safari guide service?
Sorry Kurtis, I don't have any experience with any.
Will you please shere with us what camera car atttachment stand you are using /
Hi Kiran, yes I made a video about it here: th-cam.com/video/-b224uT-tVk/w-d-xo.html
*_Straight Choice: group tour, or self-guided?_* Have your say!
I tend to work alone and I'm concerned that being part of a group might cramp my style. I'm sure it would involve a lot of trade-offs and compromises.
Hi Robert, I think that is a valid concern. It really depends on the type of group (hopefully other photographers) the leadership (hopefully also a photographer) and the area. Sometimes you just can't get into a place without compromising unless you have a bottomless wallet.
I also like to shoot alone and tend to do so in the cheaper national parks. This means that the big ticket wildlife like lions, leopards etc... are often congested. I still happen upon them alone, but the reality is that the private reserves offer better opportunities for these animals. On the negative side, there are a LOT of other animals in the bush that deserve attention and these are of no interest to the average park go-er or private safari guide.
I can spend hours of my time photographing these animals without much disturbance if I shoot alone. I think that if you are coming over here for a trip and you aren't here for long periods of time, the private tour/group safari can offer a lot of opportunities that you wouldn't get on your own.
Of course, if it's a large tour on a bus or truck - of which there are many - it's almost a waste of time for photography.
When are you going back to the bush? I will be visiting Egypt from January. Maybe will fly down to RSA while in Egypt. Hope we can meet and go shooting
Great to hear you are on the move again :) It's difficult for me as my Dad needs care and it's not safe to get anyone in to help right now.
@@WillGoodlet sorry to hear that. May God continue to bestowed his blessings over you and your family. I will try to fly there and to share my photos
Thank you for your helpful and amazing videos! I will be in the kgalagadi-park next march and now I am planning my equipment. I ask myself if my 150-500mm will be enough (on a 61mp full frame body) Or should I try to rent / lend a 200-600mm lens that can be used with a teleconverter. My Tamron 150-500 is quite lite and small and also has a decent min focal distance. The Sony 200-600 is bigger heavier, but as said, can be used with a tc for additional reach. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.
A lot of us have shown up in the Kgalagadi with 500mm and been just fine. It is quite an open place and does favour longer focal lengths but don’t forget it also gets really hot quite early (March is still late summer/autumn) and in any case you will want to be quite close the animals to prevent atmospheric effects even if you do have a longer focal length.
It’s never a bad option to have more focal length and a zoom is also very welcome. Don’t forget the wider shots though. There are some fantastic landscapes ( you will want 30-150mm from a car) as well. Also night skies!
Minimum focus distance will be useful around the camps and picnic areas so it’s an important factor.
If the 200-600 is feasible for you and you have space to use it, it would appear to be a nice option particularly if it shared a bag with a wider lens/camera (two bodies will help to prevent dust ingress - otherwise close the windows and blow/wipe down when changing and using converters).
If you turned up with the 150-500 it would definitely be workable. But I’d prefer the 600 personally, especially if you can also use a wide and a TC.
If you can’t the 150-500 might be a better compromise choice
@@WillGoodlet thank you so much for your comment. Of course, besides of the tele lenses, I will bring my 14mm with me!
Hey Will
"Clueless idiots" is just gold but so true. This would have to be one of your best vlogs. Definitely added to my favourites. Really enjoyed the content and as usual the photos are stunning.
Hints are very useful and practical. Would you consider taking people one on one, on a safari trip? I know I would enjoy it. Let me know.
I also see your subscriber numbers has increased. Until next time.
See you out there!
Hi Euge, thanks a lot. I'm glad you enjoyed it, I wasn't sure how this one would be received as it's different to the usual style. I have to make more searchable content to grow, and the vlog type videos don't get searched. I will have to mix them up a bit.
Doing safaris is actually something I'd like to do but maybe a little early. There's a lot to work out. I'd prefer to do some informal workshops first to get used to it.
See you out there :)
Thank you so much for this video, this is very helpful. I recently purchased an R5 and got the RF 100-500L is U... For my safari in Tanzania would you recommend the RF 24-70 2.8 or RF 15-35mn 2.8? Obviously very different but I only have the budget for one more lens... any insight would be greatly appreciated!
The 100-500 will be great I have no doubt. On the second lens - it depends on how and what you are shooting.
If you are in a vehicle and trying to shoot wider shots of wildlife, people, the landscape the 24-70 (doesn’t need to be a 2.8 - unless it’s for people or Astro) F4 is also fine. There are other cheaper (possibly better) options for Astro though.
If it’s landscape on foot or vlogging in the vehicle or Astro the 15-35 f2.8 (again better cheaper lenses for specific Astro)
A big consideration is what you will shoot when you are back from your trip.
Landscape on foot bias, go for 15-35 (not great in a safari vehicle unless you are vlogging with it)
People, landscape, low light 24-70 (good from vehicle - you will mostly use 50-70 end)
General travel, wildlife & landscape from vehicle, travel filming, people now and then 24-105 f4
Nothing really wrong with many cheaper EF lenses with an adapter either. I’ve been using a Pentax 105 f2.4 medium format manual focus on an adapter with the R5 and R6 and love what comes out (there are aberrations but that’s part of the charm). Not that I’m suggesting you do this right now, merely that you don’t have to choose a hugely expensive RF option for your trip.
Don’t forget you can hire too
thank you so much!!@@WillGoodlet
Every time I see those wild dogs I drool 🤤 I missed out when I was there... they are great tips, primarily I’m a naturalist that’s a photographer, I love wildlife and the natural world it’s what drives me and is the only constant in my life lol...
however I’ve lost my way a little at the moment, something maybe about being 50 next month 😣🙄😣 and your vlogs are firing me up again! I watch a LOT of photography vlogs on TH-cam and without blowing to much smoke up your nether region yours is simply the best one I’ve found! The content is spot on, technical, views of wildlife and your methodology is refreshing and the fact you are a dedicated Canon user, don’t change! I’ve noticed a couple of canon users switching to another brand say Olympus and they are now wondering why their channel has put on the brakes 🙄 ... same old rules apply buddy, find a working method and recipe that gives you a good result and stick to it! Keep em coming! JP
Thanks JP. I know what you mean. I am dreading 50. 40 was bad. 45 worse. Lost a year to my wife's illness, they a year and half to my electrocution, then the robbery, and now this lockdown, that's another year blown. - being a nature lover makes it worse, because so many of the events we want to capture are annual. If you list them all and then think how many we can realistically try to capture it starts looking a little bleak. I'm trying not to let it get to me, and trying to remember that all that history lead to me being here now!! Hope you are hanging in there too! Hope you have something awesome planned for the big day...
Thanks for watching all these and the awesome commentary. Great to know you have enjoyed the videos. I don't earn anything from them, and it can feel like I work for YT (you will know) so it's fantastic to know that they are appreciated!
Will Goodlet mate at least I’ve almost made 50 lol that’s amazed me! 😂 ...
bloody hell you have been through it! Is that the marks on your arm? And I’m sorry to hear your wife was poorly I hope she’s ok now ❤️ ...
It destroyed me being locked down here I was looking after my parents too as they are vulnerable for most of it, I managed a couple of isolated trips for my sanity, and you are completely right Nature and photography is my life now I’ve retired so it was horrible but onwards and upwards.
I do get the YT thing but I always keep in mind that it’s primarily for me, as I enjoy the process and I do it for my parents as they can’t get out as much now and they enjoy seeing what I’m doing and that makes it worth every minute of it...Anyway you stay safe and I am really enjoying your vlogs as I can appreciate what you have to do to do these fantastic videos and it’s making me want to get back over to SA even more now for the wildlife and to see friends! One who has just had a baby too so there’s a double excuse to get out to Jo-burg! When I do I’ll look you up and buy you a beer or three for keeping me going through these crap times!
Take care and keep going! There’s wildlife to be photographed!!!! 😎😂😉👍 JP
Yes, the marks are from the operation to re-attach my left bicep. But I couldn't walk more than a few hundred metres for about 6 months which was far worse. I've been neglecting the rehab in lockdown, can't lift the camera lens!! Almost back to my old self now thankfully - all to live for!!
I look after my Dad (he's got Parkinsons) so I'm not sure what the next few years will look like. I can't travel and leave him alone. Will have to come up with a plan. I hope your parents are doing OK now?
Be great to grab a beer when you visit. Take care!
Will Goodlet shit mate! You don’t do things by half! 😳 ..... glad you’re doing well now and yes, life’s sweet savour every single drop! One of my best friends has Parkinson’s so I really feel for you and Dad there buddy, I really do... my folks are ok, just worn out and having joints replaced etc but generally ok in the grand scheme of things for 70 plus year olds... I’ll start looking into that trip! I have a few contacts out there so I’ll come up with a plan and get out for some photography catch up with some old friends and several beers with you lol 😂 ... something to look forward to!
Do you have any tips for beginner wildlife photographers who don't have a strong lens or far zoom?
Sure maybe - what are you using at the moment and what kind of animals are you photographing?
HI nice Video CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME A lINK WHERE ICAN ORDER YOUR GIMBAL ON THE DOOR ( AM FROM NANIBIA)
www.gimprogear.com it’s made by Ralph Pollack in n Pretoria, tell him I said Hi :)
Thanks for watching
Thank what about the door mount... suction thing ? Really appreciate your response
@@michaeldande same company and website it’s all made there
A bit of a silly question but why do you need a bottle to pee in, is it that dangerous to pee beside your vehicle?
The park rules don’t allow you to get out. Of course people do. Just ensure you take the toilet paper back home with you after using it (which of course people don’t).
I greatly enjoy this site but the mere mention of scouting social media for tips on where to find wildlife makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up! I've lived right beside a National Park in America for 43 years and have watched in horror as social media has literally destroyed the park. In the old days tourists would stop by the mountaineering shop where I worked and ask questions like , "So is there any wildlife around?" These days they spend weeks on Facebook and other Internet sites, jot down all the "good spots" and then trample them to death. In just the last five years I have seen massive changes in wildlife behavior due to the large number of largely inexperienced people putting pressure on them. I am a bald eagle field researcher and there is a spot where for years I could reliably get great shots of eagles hunting. A few years ago someone posted the spot on Facebook and last spring although I spent more than 50 hours at the site I only managed to capture half a dozen decent shots. Of greater concern, however, is that eagles were forced to abandon a valuable foraging area due to excessive human presence. Truth be told the park I love so much has become virtually unusable for the entire tourist season. From overused hiking trails, to overcrowded parking spots the place is a nightmare. And on the rare occasions when I drive in the park all I need to do is pull over and take out my camera and half dozen cars pull over bedside me and try to figure out what I am photographing. Last week one of these people asked me, "Are you photographing landscapes or wildlife?" When I said, "Both." she asked, "But are you seeing any wildlife now?"
Hi, I know how you feel and have watched the US parks and other places (from a distance) in horror. I run a photo ethics group too. It has to be a duty for photographers to consider impact. It's quite clear to me that preservation is more beneficial to nature than conservation - it's a terrible idea that we should be entirely prevented from visiting sensitive areas but sadly, one we will likely have to accept in the appalling future we are making for ourselves.
In South Africa, it's still considerably different. We have, luckily, a strong history of both preservation and conservation and because the number of people entering parks is limited and the road network is limited, very large tracts of land are essentially 'preserved' and never visited (except by poachers and rangers).
The areas where it is possible to drive are generally well managed and the volume of traffic, even when the parks are at capacity, is quite low.
I also struggle with the lens out the window issue - particularly on TH-cam because quite often I recreate the moment after the event and I am actually looking at nothing at all and talking to camera - then someone pulls up and asks me what I'm looking at, which is, let's just say, frustrating. A sign in the back window saying something like 'birder on board' or 'plant photographer' works wonders.
I think it helps that there is still a strong connection to 'the bush' out here. Many children were exposed to nature from a very young age on annual trips and this tradition largely continues - there is a shared cultural heritage that seems important to various groups. And sightings etiquette is largely adhered to.
I do think it helps that most visitors are interested in big ticket sightings - sleeping lions are a great draw and largely oblivious to people watching them. Most will drive right past an endangered Martial Eagle, or a Roan Antelope and happily sit for hours with the lions instead. In the US, I'd guess that the eagles are a major draw and much more easily affected by aggressive photography?
In recent years, I've seen the popular parks fill up with foreign tourists. But besides being clueless in many cases, they usually stick to the rules and because the parks have, so far, resisted the temptation to increase accommodation it is mainly a problem for us locals to find space.
This popularity is no doubt linked to social media. In the 1990's, there were very few foreign visitors to the Kgalagadi and now, due to photography, its very hard to find space. South African National Parks, seem to have been following an interesting policy. They are not funded by the government to any great degree (as far as I know) and have been buying land around new areas like the Tankwa Karoo and Mokala etc... and re-wilding it. This is a great way to make more space available at the same time as protecting more areas.
Over here, where there is little funding for wildlife protection, significant corruption and large profits to be made from trading for traditional medicine (locally too in the 'Muti' trade) and regalia, tourism is seen as a solution. There is great pressure on land, it is not social media that is the problem. It is land rights issues, population growth, education, lack of employment that are the major threat to wild areas. Land use issues - for example, is it a better use of land to dig it up for mining or conserve it? The Kruger park has large Iron Ore deposits under it - there is a mine on the western edge and constant pressure to dig it up. Additionally, communities along the western edge are growing fast and traditional methods of farming are not the most efficient or sustainable.
Hwange in Zimbabwe is rich in coal. Even local wild areas like the indigenous forests in Magoebaskloof have been made available to mine - in this case a company mining decorative granite.
Sustainable tourism, offers an alternative to these atrocities and social media, sometimes, offers a means of fighting back. We have many battles like these - www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-09-14-game-changing-xolobeni-judgment-orders-applications-for-mining-licences-to-be-made-public/
So yes, social is a double edged sword and it's certainly not going away much as we might wish! (I have written a couple of posts about how detrimental it is to creativity) we need to use it responsibly and work hard as photographers to strengthen ethics in our communities.
Will Goodlet Thank you for your most interesting and detailed response to my comments regarding the dangers of social media impact upon wildlife in particular and nature photography in general. Clearly you share my concern regarding its impacts in terms of drawing masses of people to areas unable to sustain the pressure. As you say in your response it's kind of an apples to oranges comparison to equate overcrowding issues in US National Parks to parks in your area. Sadly many of our most beautiful parks are within just a day or two drive from major metropolitan areas and ever more massive numbers of people rush to our parks every year. To make matters much worse the vast majority of those people are city dwellers without even a shred of awareness regarding the needs of wildlife and, worse yet, totally unrealistic expectations regarding the number of animals they will encounter during their visit. For the past twenty-five years I've run a small boat chartering service here in Maine and I never cease to be horrified by people's expectations. Here's a classic example that took place ten years ago: A couple from Colorado in their late 30’s accompanied by their 8 year old son joined me for a six hour "Wildlife Trip." After getting everyone onboard I let go the dock lines and pulled away from the dock. When we were about 100 yds distant from our departure point the husband turned to me and said, "When are we going to start seeing wildlife?" I smiled and said, "Oh probably any minute now." Three or four minutes later the fellow cleared his throat loudly and said, "I am really disappointed that we aren't seeing any wildlife!" Now you can't spend thirty five years sitting in boats studying bald eagle behavior without developing patience...but humans often stress mine a good deal more than bald eagles. So after putting the boat in neutral I turned to my guest and said, "There are some days when all I see is a couple of seagulls. You better hope this isn't one of those days!" We spent the next several hours traveling in total silence and I figured I'd pretty much killed any chance I had of getting a tip. Happily I turned out to be wrong about that because on the return home the wife asked me to recommend a good restaurant and the balance of the trip passed pleasantly as we discussed various area restaurants. And I got a good tip! All this said social media is only the latest problem when it comes to increasingly unrealistic expectations of wildlife and ever more packed National Parks. An equally troubling factor is the ever increasing numbers of wildlife specials pumped out by National Geographic and other similar organizations. In these spectacular presentations literally years of patient stalking and waiting are condensed down into 53 minutes during which incredibly beautiful and interesting wildlife literally compete for screen time! Is it any wonder that the couple from Colorado grew impatient as we drew away from the dock and had seen nothing? Last, but far from least, all of this is made much worse by the ever ballooning human population! As populations increase personal freedoms decrease, it's really that simple. Well I've got to get back to work so I'll close with a story you might find interesting. A decade or so ago I had a lady doctor join me every summer with her young nephew. The boy was very interested in seeing bald eagles and year after year we would visit are nests so he could check up on how "his" eagles were doing. Over time I came to be friends with both the doctor and her nephew and once while discussing her interests she happened to,mention that at least once every year she went on safari in Africa. The fifth or sixth year she called to book a trip she mentioned that this time she was bringing along the young black African safari guide who had led all her Safari trips. Turns out he had shown some interest in the USA and as the doctor did not lack financial resources she paid for his trip over and back. Sadly I can't recall the young guides name nor where he came from in Africa. But I will never forget the intensity of his gaze as his eyes continually swept the horizon and it was a lesson in humility when I realized that he was seeing things I was unable to see despite my reputation for being able to spot eagles from l miles away! Although he spoke only broken english and thus our communication was limited, of the thousands of people I have guided in Maine he was undoubtedly one of the more memorable ones! And a few minutes after the party had departed the boat the doctor walked back down to my boat and handed me a fifty dollar tip. She told me that the young guide had been too shy to give it to me himself...
boatman222345 just a quick response for the moment - your point on nat geo spreads, nature documentary etc... is very well made. It’s true of most photography too. Just the selection of subjects, even cropping or framing shots to exclude man-made artifacts leads to unrealistic expectations of nature. And what about the beautifying of landscapes with post processing...As Edward Abbey says 'Better a cruel truth than a comfortable delusion.'
Will Goodlet I totally agree! With the ever growing reliance upon camera technology and pp software many photographers today have sidestepped the joy of recording reality and skipped to the process of technological invention of "pseudo reality." I once worked as a photojournalist and prided myself on predicting and capturing the all important "decisive moment." And although some of the cameras I use today are capable of capturing 10 frames a second I still honestly prefer the process of predicting and shooting a single frame.
As to quotable quotes from Ed my favorite Abbey quote certainly applies here: "We had a good thing in America but got carried away. The carefree exuberance of a wildly successful nation, dedicated to the youthful proposition that too much is not enough, is destroying the basis of our wealth and happiness."
Just watching the part about staying out all day and drinking lots of water.... and thinking " humans are a closed system". What goes in, must come out. Fact. Looking at the maps, it seems that it can be long distances between camps and picnic areas. Does one accasionally break the rules and get out of the car? We hope you and your family are doing well.
Thanks Jonathan haha! A case of it being easier for the guys. I Crack the door and stand with my back to the vehicle. In other countries you can get out.
Although one of my earliest memories of Kruger was watching a guy taking a leak and then driving off. A huge lion ambled across the road once he’d gone :)
@@WillGoodlet yes, Tammie will face a bigger challenge. Thanks for the Sigma lens video. I shoot handheld with that lens on a A6500 crop sensor ( we are on a budget). Had to get a nikon adapter so Eye AF doesnt work which sucks. They did just come out with a 60-600 sport model with E mount and faster focus . Perhaps worth trading up.
How is the situation with your father? Taking care of parents is difficult.
It’s been really difficult. I am stuck at home most of the time and have been since 2019. My photography has suffered a lot. I’ve been looking after him since 2008 but now he cannot be left alone overnight.
@@WillGoodlet he is lucky to be cared for by a family member instead of being institutionalized. The time will come when you can get back out and do what you love.
@@WillGoodlet hey, Will, a question that you may be able to answer... what happens when you return to the rest camp after gate closing time?
Do you get eaten in you car by the lions? Lol...
Hire a guide. Simple.