Hi Y'all,

Earlier this month I got to return to Africa. This time we visited South Africa. The workshop was led by Marc Muench, Andy Williams (aka - Bad Andy) an Andy Biggs (aka- the good Andy).

After a 14 hour flight we reached Johannesburg. If I end up in hell when I die I expect it to be quite similar to spending 14 hours in coach and eating airline food. We spent the first night in Johannesburg in this hovel.

Fuji X100


the next morning we flew to Sangita in Sabi Sands game reserve.
Fuji X100


Our home for the next 10 days was the Singita Castelton Camp
Fuji X100


S. Africa was very different from Kenya. It was a lot colder with the temps in the low 30s in the early AM and early evenings. It warmed up to the high 60s and low 70s in the afternoons. I usually wore 4-5 layers starting out and delayered as the day warmed up. The landscape was very different as we had to track our subjects and they were rarely in a wide open plain as they were in Kenya. We usually were able to get fairly close to our subjects and my 70-200 got a lot of use. I ended up with a little more than 10,000 captures by the end of the safari.

Here are a few captures from the first two days.

Female Impala
D800E and the 70-200 2.8, ISO 1000


Elephant
D800E with the 70-200 and 1.4 TC, ISO 800


Lion at the water hole
D4 and the 200-400 f/4 ISO 800


Mating Leopards
D4 and the 200-400 ISO 6400


Leopard
D4 and the 200-400 ISO 8000


Sunrise
D800E and the 200-400 ISO 1600


One of the more dangerous moments of the trip Notice the Nikon cap that he is wearing.
Fuji X100


stayed tuned as I will inflict some more pictures on y'all later.

Wow, Harry. They are all great, but that sunrise is one of my favorite photos ever. How fortunate to get the tree, and then the deer in the foreground. How did you get the sun to not be blown out? I guess my question is how did you get the exposure so right? The color of the sky is so beautiful. Can't wait for more photos. I know I'm not the only one who checks the wildlife forum every day to see if you have any posted yet. Welcome home. Best, Pam

Originally Posted by Harryb One of the more dangerous moments of the trip Notice the Nikon cap that he is wearing. Fuji X100 stayed tuned as I will inflict some more pictures on y'all later.

You were cowering behind a tree, but I hit the bulls-eye

Originally Posted by PGM Wow, Harry. They are all great, but that sunrise is one of my favorite photos ever. How fortunate to get the tree, and then the deer in the foreground. How did you get the sun to not be blown out? I guess my question is how did you get the exposure so right? The color of the sky is so beautiful. Can't wait for more photos. I know I'm not the only one who checks the wildlife forum every day to see if you have any posted yet. Welcome home. Best, Pam

Glad you enjoyed them Pam.

On the sunrise capture I exposed for the sun then in post I brought out the shadow detail with Nik's Detail Extractor tool.

Originally Posted by Andy You were cowering behind a tree, but I hit the bulls-eye

You shot 6 arrows but I only see 3 in the general proximity of the target. I survived 2 years in Vietnam by cowering I'm not about to get off a winning horse.

Looks like you had another great time in Africa, Harry! I am looking forward to seeing more of your photos.

Those 14 hours flying has probably stopped me from flying back more frequently.

Wow, that sunrise picture is aces!

Originally Posted by raptorcaptor Looks like you had another great time in Africa, Harry! I am looking forward to seeing more of your photos. Those 14 hours flying has probably stopped me from flying back more frequently.

Thanks Glenn and I should be posting the next batch later today.

Those 14 hours would be a deterrence to frequent trips. Fortunately the pay off exceed the price.

Originally Posted by Fenix Wow, that sunrise picture is aces!

Thanks, I'm not great at landscapes but when you're hanging out with Marc you have to throw one in every now and then

Originally Posted by Harryb Thanks, I'm not great at landscapes but when you're hanging out with Marc you have to throw one in every now and then

Harry,

Wonderful images...you should look into selling them...if that interests you. Nothing wrong with making a little money on some stellar images. It helps with the NAS...lol...

Thanks for sharing...can't wait to see more...

Welcome home.

Originally Posted by Ed911 Harry, Wonderful images...you should look into selling them...if that interests you. Nothing wrong with making a little money on some stellar images. It helps with the NAS...lol... Thanks for sharing...can't wait to see more...

Thanks very much Ed. I used to sell my pics but it became like having that J thing again.

Originally Posted by Harryb Thanks very much Ed. I used to sell my pics but it became like having that J thing again.

I know what you mean...that's the same reason that I shoot very few weddings these days. Retired and loving it.

Originally Posted by Harryb I ended up with a little more than 10,000 captures by the end of the safari.

WoW !!! 10,000 captures !!! That's a lot of clicks and memory cards !. Kindly, help me estimate how much memory (CF Cards) I am going to need. We got a 20 day trip covering Victoria Falls (two days), Okawango (three days), Blue Train (day and a half), Cape Town (three days), Garden Route (three days) and finally Londolozi in Kruger (two days). I currently have 32 Gigs available on three cards, which should allow approx 1600 captures for the entire trip. My settings on the D700 will be at the maximum fine quality at raw capture.

Given your expirience, am I going short on memories ?. It's difficult to imagine how one could manage 10,000 captures, considering all the editing after I get back home.

Any thoughts, on best practices. Would greatly appreciate your opinion.


Thanks

Ben

Originally Posted by cammot WoW !!! 10,000 captures !!! That's a lot of clicks and memory cards !. Kindly, help me estimate how much memory (CF Cards) I am going to need. We got a 20 day trip covering Victoria Falls (two days), Okawango (three days), Blue Train (day and a half), Cape Town (three days), Garden Route (three days) and finally Londolozi in Kruger (two days). I currently have 32 Gigs available on three cards, which should allow approx 1600 captures for the entire trip. My settings on the D700 will be at the maximum fine quality at raw capture. Given your expirience, am I going short on memories ?. It's difficult to imagine how one could manage 10,000 captures, considering all the editing after I get back home. Any thoughts, on best practices. Would greatly appreciate your opinion. Thanks Ben

Hey Ben,

MY gear for the trip was the D4, D800E, D3s (backup body) and the Fuji X-100. For glass I had the 200-400 f4 VR 1, the 70-200 2.8 VR 1, and the 24-70 2.8 along with the 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 TCs. Each of the cameras needed their own battery charger and I took 2-3 batteries for each camera. Then I had my travel tripod, my monopod, the RRS gimble head for the monopod and a RRS head for the tripod. I also had the Manfrotto clamp for the monopod. I took 6 32 gig and 3 16 gig CF cards, 2 32 gig and 1 16 gig XQD cards, 4 32 gig and 2 16 gig SD cards. I added on my artic butterfly, rocket blower, sensor cleaning swabs, sensor cleaning fluids, sensor brush, sensor loupe, lens pens and cleaning cloths and lens cleaning pads. I'm took my laptop and external 2 TB external hard drive for downloading and storage. Finally I also took my SB-900 speedlight, flash cable, and shutter release cable and a few filters.

Originally Posted by Harryb Hey Ben, MY gear for the trip was the D4, D800E, D3s (backup body) and the Fuji X-100. For glass I had the 200-400 f4 VR 1, the 70-200 2.8 VR 1, and the 24-70 2.8 along with the 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 TCs. Each of the cameras needed their own battery charger and I took 2-3 batteries for each camera. Then I had my travel tripod, my monopod, the RRS gimble head for the monopod and a RRS head for the tripod. I also had the Manfrotto clamp for the monopod. I took 6 32 gig and 3 16 gig CF cards, 2 32 gig and 1 16 gig XQD cards, 4 32 gig and 2 16 gig SD cards. I added on my artic butterfly, rocket blower, sensor cleaning swabs, sensor cleaning fluids, sensor brush, sensor loupe, lens pens and cleaning cloths and lens cleaning pads. I'm took my laptop and external 2 TB external hard drive for downloading and storage. Finally I also took my SB-900 speedlight, flash cable, and shutter release cable and a few filters.

How did you transport all that stuff, Harry? And, how much of that stuff did you actually wind up using? I've been considering an African Safari, myself, but after reading this post, I'm inclined to go on another cruise.

Originally Posted by dlplumer How did you transport all that stuff, Harry? And, how much of that stuff did you actually wind up using? I've been considering an African Safari, myself, but after reading this post, I'm inclined to go on another cruise.

You have to remember that Linda went too. Linda was only shooting with a Coolpix so I had two carry on bags (the Pelican rolling bag for Linda and the Guru Gear Kiboko bag with me). No problem.

Unfortunately Linda is now shooting with a D7000 so I will have to cut back a bit for the Kenya trip in February. If you are thinking of an African Safari that would be a good op for you.

One of the things I appreciate about traveling to Africa is that I'm cut off from the "normal" distractions of daliy life. There is no telephone, no TV, no internet, no newspaper, etc. One is free to concentrate on the moment and no camera is required to appreciate the moment.

I did however happen to have a few cameras with me and South Africa did provide some moments.

two affectionate leopards - D4, 200-400 f/4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 8000


One of our vehicles across from a cheetah - Fuji X-100, ISO 200


One of my high points was to be in the middle of a herd of elephants - D4, 70-200 2.8, ISO 1600


D4, 70-200 2.8


D4, 70-200, ISO 1600



We had quite a few meet-ups with lions
D800E and the 200-400 VR, ISO 800


D800E with the 70-200 2.8, ISO 1600


D4 and the 70-200 2.8, ISO 2000

Originally Posted by Harryb D800E with the 70-200 2.8, ISO 1600

They're all great but I *love* this one.
We still have room on the next trip that Harry's going on, who is in?

All I can say is this must have the trip of a lifetime! I know it would be for me. To be wrapped in all that beauty and to see animals the way they were meant to be (free) must have given you goose flesh the first couple of days! Beautiful photography, skillfully done! I would have a hard time choosing only one as my favorite.

Cheers,