Photography by Randy Hanna » Wildebeest

Safari update 24 Aug

Randy Hanna — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:47:37 +0000

Kogakuria Camp Site

24 Aug 2011

Weather: Clear skies, cool with a light breeze.

Today was about wonderful landscapes and a drive deep into the plains of the northern Serengeti in search of cheetah and rhino. Crossing the Bolognja River, it was classic cheetah country. Green rolling hillsides dotted with trees and rock outcroppings. As we paralleled the Bolognja River, we were treated to a 5 meter long Black Momba on the top of an ant mount. This makes two mombas that we have seen on this trip (green and black). With the speed that this snake went into the deserted ant mound, it is very clear to me why ant mounts should be avoided at all costs. With the Nyamalumbwa Hills on the left and Barakupes Hills to the right, we continued our drive toward the turn-off to Klein’s Camp Gate for lunch. In the distance, Kick Rock Lodge (Kenya) to the left and the rolling Barakupes Hills to rear, we could see for miles and miles. In the the morning, wildebeests were everywhere dotting the hillsides. By our return, they had moved south to a point that there numbers were very few. Returning to camp about 4pm, it was time to repack and ready ourselves for our charter flight tomorrow from the northern Serengeti to Arusha and later on-ward to Kenya. What a great day for viewing this wonderful countryside. I hope to return to do some serious landscape work around these rolling hills and kopjes.

Long Lenses for Landscapes?

Randy Hanna — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 06:17:16 +0000

You bet and it is one of my favorite landscape techniques. In this particular photograph, we had just returned to Mara Plains Camp after spending the entire day on the Masai Mara Plains. As we approached the camp, I noticed that big ole African sun about the break the cloud bank. I yelled at everyone to bring their telephotos and pods and get to the front of the camp as fast as they could. As everyone was setting up their tripods, I could be heard saying things like, shoot at f8 and ramp up your ISO to decrease the impacts of any shutter shake, turn off your VR, Auto ISO if you have it, as so on. I ended up saying, the meter is stupid in these situations – just shoot this way, as I belted out the exposure recipe.

Technical notes to remember: When facing the sun, ALWAYS shoot at f8 to get the round globe. Anything other than f8, and you will end up with an oblong sun. It will look sort of cool until you realize it is just not right. Unless you have a VR lens that has a tripod mode, kick VR off. Otherwise, the VR will fight the stability of the tripod. Remember, in VR, the lens wants to detect motion to defeat it (yes, I know……). If you have one, use a cable shutter release.

Three Wildebeest Crossing a Mara Sunset

Nikon D3s, 200-400 f/4.o at 400mm, f/8, ISO 200 at 1/125 sec,

tripod mounted.

If you have Google Earth, this image was taken HERE.

Cheers and don’t forget to use your longer lenses for landscapes!

Africa in 6 Days

Randy Hanna — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:23:03 +0000

Yes, it is 6 days before wheels up and the start of another wonderful photo safari into Tanzania. This Feb will bring a farily small but very focused group of photo safari enthusiasts to the wilds of Africa. At this point I always start checking weather and migration status realizing that the rains in the the Serengeti will drive the herds in a variety of directions. It is not uncommon for these herds to move some 30 miles or more per day to reach the fresh grass that is reach in nitrogen, which will spawn the brith of hundreds of thousands of young wildebeest. From the current weather patterns, it looks like we will be right in the middle of the migration. Seeing millions of Wildebeest across the Serengeti Plains is a sight that simply can not be adequately described in words.

For a great summary of the migration check out WATCHwild.com. This link presents a great annual summary along with a flash based interactive map of the migration path.

For now, I am busy doing some dry runs on packing and figuring out how to address the new bag restrictions associated with travel from Europe to the US (see previous post). For the first time, I am seriously consdering checking my Nikon 600mm. Not very happy about that, but I guess that is why I have insurance! I am also in the final days of delivering a number of large high-res prints in support of a beauty salon in Seattle. It has been a fun and challenging time in the studio and I continue to learn more and more about throwing light in the studio.

Looking at my safari schedule, I will have very limited email access so live postings will not be as frequent as usual. Those of you that have my sat phone, use it if you need it.

With lots of personal events happening this past year, I intend to find time to do some personal reflection as I sit around the camp fire looking at the stars and pondering life. Other than Namibia, I can think of no other place that I have been to that has clear skies and stars so bright that a flashlight is not needed during the night hours. What a great place for reflection.

Cheers and happy Photo’ing