Imitation is the highest form of flattery...

[Sangeeta]

Considering that all the photo equipment I have is a Canon SX40 bridge camera that has never been moved away from auto-mode (unless by mistake!), I feel quite pretentious starting this mainly photo thread. And even more pretentious because I've signed these photos (only done that to distinguish among the various people who took pics within our company on this trip - not because I think they're great, by any means!)

 

With that little background, some thoughts. When I got back from Mana Pools last year (my first foray into photography because it was my first safari without my daughter, the family photographer), I remember Lynn & Pault mentioning that even non-photographers on this forum tend to get influenced by the quality and composition of the photos they see here on ST. That comment stayed with me. And although I am very much a binoculars person, on this trip (again without my daughter), I found myself thinking of this or that picture I had seen here as I tried (for the first time) to put some thought into framing my shots.

 

Lake Manyara Ranch, Tz

 

 

Breeding ground for yellow-billed storks

 

The Ngorongoro Highlands

 

Masai Mara giraffe

 

Doum Palm sunset

Skybed platform at Loisaba (Laikipia)

Laikipian horizons

 

Clouds on kopje

 

Laikipia Sunrise

 

Loisaba skies

Loisaba horizons

An Encounter Sundowner

A Nomadic Sundowner

Three guesses on who inspired these :D

 

I am almost tempted to see what life would be like on P mode, but that is a slippery slope!

[twaffle]

Sangeeta, you've done a brilliant job with these photos. It is a small step now for you to include some more animals!!!

 

I can see that you gave the compositions some thought and those skies take me straight to East Africa. Love the line of giraffes on the horizon and those Laikipia skies are so wonderful.

 

The DSLR is just a small jump to the right ...........

[madaboutcheetah]

Been waiting for this, Sangeeta .............. What a dramatic start!!! Can't wait for more...

[Jochen]

Hey Sangeeta,

Presenting an image can be done in lot's of ways, but it's true; a canvas adds "something" for the better. I should start doing this too. But I'm too lazy.

I have tried it though, and what I particularly like is to give the image itself a shadow. Like so:

[africapurohit]

I love scenic shots that tell you more about the locations, and you've done a wonderful job - I hope you're not trying to get out of a full trip report by starting this thread

[pault]

Yeh! Sangeeta, you got it. Great photos. I see some influences, but I don't think it's one photographer in particular (well okay, with a couple the Laikipia shots she could sue you, but I am so impressed you got them! ). Anyway, I certainly see how stunningly beautiful Kenya and Tanzania are and I want to be back there tomorrow! Is your daughter impressed?

 

@@africapurohit.....Sangeeta is definitely trying to get out of a full trip report - you can just smell it, can't you? I'm betting we'll get a few "impressions" and then it'll be time for her next trip.

[wilddog]

'The girl done good'; - some great shots @@Sangeeta. Looking forward to more.

[Game Warden]

Yes, come on @@Sangeeta, these photos need a lot of text to go with them... And @@Jochen, your butt casts a big shadow...

[COSMIC RHINO]

lovely photos

 

I like ele rears

[Geoff]

Nice work @@Sangeeta , love the journey of giraffe. Yes!, a DSLR and you'll be up with the big boys and girls.

 

I know it is personal taste but I'm not too keen on large borders for small images on the net. I find all that white, black or whatever detracts from the image.

Often one or two pixels does the trick.

[Sangeeta]

Thanks so much for the encouragement, guys. Actually, I am conducting an experiment and all shall be revealed in good time

 

Moving now to my Muse No.2. Only two guesses for this one!

 

Ndutu hyena den

A tender moment

What a cutie!

Tender Moments II

Is that what she said, really?

This little exercise was quite instructive in showing me how hard it is to capture mood. So hats off to all of you who are able to capture these moments so effortlessly in your work (a certain hyena specialist, in particular). I am in awe.

 

This was a particularly lovely half hour or so at the den. The hyena mum was relaxed and lazy and there was a palpable feeling of love in the air!

[michael-ibk]

Just beautiful! These belong in the "Show us your babies"-thread.

[pault]

Now we know we are part of an experiment the posts have dried up! But I am not scared!

 

The hyena shots are really sweet. I can see you tried to make them meaningful - and so consequently they can be captioned easily.

 

Are we supposed to guess the influences here? I think I can do it so far but I suspect I have read more trip reports than most.

[Sangeeta]

@Gamewarden : Matt, would you mind moving this thread to the Africa forum please? Not yet used to posting in sub-forums.

 

You know, with all this chatter recently about affiliations and tour operators etc, I honestly don't know how to do this TR. If I mention camp names, I don't want people to think I'm pushing those camps because of some nefarious back door deal between me & the camps in question. Unlike Jochen, I have gone into this all the way and while some bits of my recent trip were partially hosted by some of the camps, some bits were just me on safari as an independent traveller. But that's just me saying so. Bit of a quandary here.

[Sangeeta]

Paul the Braveheart

[Sangeeta]

Thanks, - really appreciate that. Now let's see what the boss says

Edited January 7, 2019 by Tdgraves
p

[twaffle]

This is how I would handle it, for what it's worth.

 

Up front mention that you were looking at certain properties, be honest with the positives and negatives as far as you found them. You don't have to recommend any in particular but if you are going to a camp not many of us have visited it would be good to learn a bit about it. Sugar coating not needed.

 

Transparency is always the key in my view.

[Game Warden]

Good point from @@Sangeeta - echoing @@twaffle's comments, be honest in your appraisals with constructive criticism and looking at positive and negatives if you encountered them. Also state why you were doing this trip and what camps or lodges you visited as an agent, rather than full paying customer.

 

Edit, sorry I was reading things wrong and thus have moved this trip report round a couple of times: so I hope it's now in the right place for you.

 

Matt

[pault]

It would be awkward if you were to assume that the camps in question were reading your report so I sympathies. However I think you'll find we just take you less or more seriously as we wish or as we feel it from you. It won't be less problematic than the writing for many newspapers and magazines. If you suddenly start writing hymns to bathroom fittings and poems about color schemes we might have to have a word though!! Remember you don't have to give a verdict and that the landscape and the activities are more important to you than the consistency of the mattress.

 

Seriously, just write as yourself and not for potential clients (keep those notes for your clients) and it'll be no different from before.

[pault]

Hang on!!! Fooled again! This is the sneakiest delaying tactic we've seen for a while.

 

"I'm delaying my trip report while I consider the ethical considerations......."

 

Good one!!

 

[Sangeeta]

Everyone knows everyone else too darn well on this site :D

Edited May 1, 2013 by Sangeeta

[Safari Cal]

Great photos @@Sangeeta Looking forward to the rest of the TR. I almost booked Loisaba last year but didn't have enough time, it'll be great to hear your views on it. I wanted Wild Dogs... but alas. Great stuff so far

[africapurohit]

@@pault 's hyenas aren't the only ones laughing.........

 

 

 

[Sangeeta]

Thanks @SafariCal.

 

@AP and @@pault - those pics are incredibly good. Talk about capturing the moment, you two! Brings a big smile to my face each time I look at them!

 

I am so tempted to ask @@pault to lend me his laughing hyenas for my avatar... Have not seen a better hyena shot ever! And my new name would then be Crocuta Crocuta. Hmmm, I like the sound of that already!

 

Sorry for not moving this along - have mad amounts of work this week. Shall get back to it next week, time permitting.

 

In the meantime, we should def start a 'laughing wildlife' thread!

[Super LEEDS]

I have that camera too. Snap! Yep, pun intended....

 

So I'm your influence?!

 

Seriously though, is this a TR or what? You get a bloke all excited and then start talking about other stuff. Come on! Please?