On my mind these days is my next safari in March.  I’m leading a private safari focusing on Wild Dogs and Rhinos in Kenya.  Operating exclusively in private conversation areas, off-roading and foot tracking will be the order of the day as we strive for outstanding up close and personal photography of these wonderful subjects.  We will also be spending time with a local Samburu Village for some wonderful travel shots.  Below is a shot from my recent trip to the Mara Plains area.  Place this in Google Earth to see where the image was taken at:

1 24.12921S, 35 8.3947E , elev 5182ft.

Drinking in the Mara

Nikon D3s, 200-400 VR @ 200mm, ISO 320, f/8 at 1/320 sec

Cheers and happy photoing.

Nikon D3S, 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 6400, 1/25 sec at f/5.0 (hand held)

This image was taken here.  Yes, I shot this at ISO 6400 and hand held it at 1/25 sec and without any noise treatment or color correction – straight out of the box, as they say.  I have been shooting with the D3S as my primary body (D3 is my  backup) for more than two years now and I continue to be amazed at the low noise and its ability to capture fine details in low light.  This camera really causes me to push the limits when it comes to shooting in low light conditions.  Controlled breathing, strong abs, and solid camera holding positions are the keys to getting images like this.  Remember, I am shooting upward at a sign that is over my head and therefore you will see just a bit of angular distortion.  I love the colors of the warm light and the details in the post.  A slight angular tilt of the camera added some emphasis to the lines.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Weather: Clear skies with a slight cool breeze from the west.

Today was all about travel. We said our good byes to the wonderful camp staff and broke camp at 0800 for the Kogatende Air Strip to meet our aircarft for our trip to Arusha Municipal Airport.  With mostly clear skies below us, it was a wonderful flight allowing us to see from above, where we had been over the past safari days.  After landing in Arusha, we proceeded to Shanga River House for a killer departure lunch.   Shanga as become a very special place to me, one where my face is very well known.  It is such a warm feeling to recognized by the crafts people of Shanga, words can’t describe it.  The mission of the Shanga River House is to teach deaf and mute native Tanzanian people a skill that will allow them to be productive members of their family.  From the Shanga Web site:   Shanga Shangaa was founded as a for-profit company to create a community that would support and empower those Tanzanians who have been marginalized by their disabilities.  By providing an open and safe environment, disabled Tanzanians are able to realize their potential, develop new skills, build relationships based on respect and improve their own lives.  Using recycled materials and producing at a sustainable level allows Shanga Shangaa to continue to expand and offer these opportunities far into the future.

Two years ago, I spent a full day at the River House doing some volunteer photography for some of their promotional materials.  I will never forget how the people of Shanga helped me construct a huge sun shade for the photo shoot.  It was comical to them to watch this photo guy battle the bright African sun,  and we still talk about it when I visit Shanga.  Today, Shanga has grown in production size, both in their bead work and in the fabric work.  During my visit they the manager announced that they would soon be opening a furniture store in downtown Arusha.  Please take time to visit the Shanga web site for additional information.

As we started loading up the trucks, I always remember the smile that comes across my face when I look over my shoulder and see the greeting wall, as seen below.

From Shanga it is off to our day rooms and then to the airport where the safari group splits into two groups, one heading directly home and the others heading into Kenya for two more full days of adventures.

Cheers and ulala salama

Islands Magazine, November 2010

If you are joining me in June for the Galapagos Safari, or just interested in these wonderful islands, check out the November 2010 Special Edition of Islands for a little history and some photography.  For a DVD treat, pick up the Blu-ray 3D Triple Feature.  Shot in IMAX 3D, the DVD features the Galapagos, Into the Deep, and Mummies, Secrets of the Pharaohs.  Not only superb photography, the DVD also offers a wealth of information about the areas.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

For travel from all foreign locations to the United States,
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued new security measures for all flights departing from any foreign location and traveling to the United States. These are in addition to the normal screening that all customers go through to enter secured areas. All customers should allow extra time for check-in and the boarding process and, as always, should check their flight status before departure.

Specific cities/countries carry additional restrictions. 

As an example, for travel from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to the United States Effective December 30, 2009, customers departing from Amsterdam Airport (AMS) en route to the United States will be limited to one carry-on bag, which may not exceed 45 linear inches or 114 linear centimeters (length + width + height). Medical assistance devices will be allowed in addition to the single carry-on item.

I have looked at several airline sites and have found considerable disparity, or a serious lack of updated information concerning this new requirement.  The most comprehensive information seems to be from United at http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,53307,00.html#amsterdam

I am now giving serious consideration to taking the appropriate container to Africa, then using DHL to ship back to my office.  This will keep a very expensive piece of glass out of the hands of the TSA animals.