Photo of the Day - Botswana Safari Group

Our Safari Group - July 2011

I love to take group photographs from each safari, and this one was no exception. It’s great to look back at so many happy faces after some amazing experiences out in the bush. On this particular safari we visited 2 camps in northern Botswana, Chitabe and Savuti, and came home with some stellar photographs.

Photo of the Day - Lion at Mombo

Lion, near Mombo Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. July 2011

Nikon D3, 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII, 1/800 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 1600

Photo of the Day - Elephants in the Okavango

Elephant Family in the Okavango Delta. July 2011

Nikon D3, 28-300mm f/3.4-5.6, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 1250

Photo of the Day - Elephant in the Savute Channel

Elephant in the Savute Channel

Linyanti Concession, near Savuti Camp, Botswana. July 2011

Nikon D3x, 28-300mm, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed in Adobe Lightroom and Nik Viveza 2

This was a very tricky image to process, I must say. I was shooting with my Nikon D3x that afternoon, and the camera isn’t well known for its high ISO capabilities. I needed to keep the ISO down, possibly 1600 or lower, but the main challenge was trying to balance blowing out the details in the sky with the deep shadows of my subject. I could only minimally process this image in Lightroom, and the bulk of the work was done in Nik Software’s Viveza 2. In Lightroom I only adjusted the white balance, exposure, black point and a small gradient on the sky. I brought the image into Photoshop as a smart object, which allowed me to go back to the original raw file to tweak some of those settings. In Viveza 2 I worked on tonal relationships, and the main thing I needed to work on was the exposure on the elephant. There was simply no way of getting detail in the sky with enough exposure on the elephant, at least from a global processing point of view. Viveza saves the day.

Tip: If you are interested in learning more about Nik Software’s tools, you can use my code ABIGGS during checkout for a 15% discount. www.niksoftware.com

Photo of the Day - Legadema

Legadema

Mombo Camp, Botswana. July 2011

Nikon D3x, 200-400mm f/4 VR, 1/640 @ f/4, ISO 800

Photo of the Day - Lion Pride Crossing

Lion Pride Crossing The Okavango Waters

near Chitabe Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana. July 2011

Nikon D3x, 70-200mm f/2.8, 1/250 sec @ f/8, ISO 640

We waited and watched patiently for a pride of lions, sans adult males, to cross some open water in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and our patience paid off. I have about 50 different images of them walking towards the vehicle, but the one that I like the most is this one, as I had most of the eyes visible. I also like the gentle curve of the lions from right to left. I do wish that I had used a 2nd camera with a wide angle lens, as my 70mm was barely enough to fit them all into the scene.

Photo of the Day - Elephant Family at Savuti

Elephant Family

near Savuti Camp, Botswana. July 2011

Nikon D3x, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6, 1/320 sec @ f/9, ISO 400

Safari Testimonial: Lou and Terry Buonomo

Dear Andy-

Well, we have sadly come to terms with the fact that the trip has come and gone. We are still pouring through hundreds of images and trying to complete a trip journal so as not to forget any of the fantastic experiences we had.  

We had such a wonderful time on the safari. Part of it was certainly the wonder of Botswana and our first experience in Africa and on a safari. But a huge part of it was the expertise with which the trip was planned, down to the very finest details. Your expertise combined with that of James and Grant ensured not only an amazing experience “in country” but also enabled us to return with so many wonderful images! The trip was designed to provide maximum photographic opportunities and it delivered on its promise. There was a constant supply of not-to-be-missed chances to capture a special image.

Reflecting on the experience as a whole, it is pretty amazing to take a group of thirteen people, all strangers (well except for the couples!), fly them around in little planes to dirt airstrips, immerse them in a place with no contact with the outside world, ride them around for hours at a time in open vehicles over what can barely be called roads, and have them love it…yeah, pretty amazing.

Seriously, all the planning that goes into these trips is clearly reflected in the superb level of the accommodations, the delicious meals, the transportation (between and in the camps), the camp staff; all of it. Everything was top-notch and no detail was overlooked.

We so enjoyed the trip that the “once-in-a-lifetime” tag line can no longer be used.  It is true that once you go to Africa, you feel you must return. 

Lou & Terry

 July 2011