Wildlife photography is probably one of the most unpredictable types of photography. With people or models, you can ask them to move a little, or pose, but with wildlife, the rules are completely different. It has been just over a year since I joined African Flying Adventures on one of their trips to South Africa. It surely was an unforgettable experience! One of my most treasured moments was experienced during a safari in the Timbavati Game Reserve as I encountered a leopard. In a previous post, I shared my encounter with the leopard with you in more detail.

The gear for this safari trip

For this trip, I used two camera bodies: the Fujifilm X-Pro2 and the Fujifilm X-T1. As for lenses, I carried the 100-400mm lens with me for animal and bird shooting; a 10-24mm lens for landscape, overview, and group shots; and finally, a fixed lens giving razor-sharp images: the 56mm lens. I used this lens for the leopard shots I wrote about previously.

A wildlife photography paradise

Wildlife photography is challenging and addicting, but moreover: lots of fun! The best times to go out are just after sunrise and before sunset. The sun casts soft golden light, the shadows are soft, and the colours are vivid. The fun factor to wildlife photography is the unpredictability of it all. What we are going to see when and where is a complete unknown. So you search for the surprise with your camera at the ready. You are not able to steer the animals, ask them to lift their heads or move over a bit more for a better composition. You deal the hand that is given to you. But as there is a lot of wildlife, you get plenty of opportunities. There is always something inspiring to photograph. Ranging from animals, birds, and insects up to landscapes and sunsets. Africa is a paradise for the professional as well as for people just starting with photography.

In 2018 I will have the opportunity to, once again, join African Flying Adventures on their trips to Southern Africa. I would love to help you take the perfect shots there. Definitely highly recommended.

Martin Hogeboom
Photographer

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