SOUTH AFRICA BUSH COURSE AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
SOUTH AFRICA GAME RESERVE, KRUGER PARK, SOUTH AFRICA
The focus of this fantastic course is the skills and techniques that photographers can use to produce truly stunning photographs. The course is split into two components that can be done as a whole or individually depending on the time you have available and your previous experience. You will have the chance to work with and learn the skill of some of the best in the business in luxurious surroundings as you learn to make the most of you art in the awe inspiring setting of the African bush.
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Location: |
SOUTH AFRICA GAME RESERVE, KRUGER PARK, SOUTH AFRICA |
Dates: |
1 – 5 June 2009 |
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Fees: |
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Payment: |
30% of course fee is required as a deposit at time of booking – the balance is due 8 weeks before departure |
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Reference: |
AA012 |
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General Information
The philosophy of this course is to cover the two fundamentals of all great photography: photographic know-how and knowledge of your subject matter. These lessons will be learnt in the context of the African bush and you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the masters of their crafts.
The Bush Course is aimed for those that have a little more time to spend on the development of their skills. By spending time in the bush and immersing yourself in the environment whose images you wish to capture, your chances of catching those elusive shots will increase significantly. The first step to taking great wildlife shots in the bush is being able to find the animal subjects; this course will start by teaching situational awareness and the skills of listening observing and tracking to help you find those elusive animals. You will also learn about different types of animal behaviour in order to better anticipate and plan your photographs. Your guide for this portion of the course is an expert in his field and has achieved the highest qualifications with FGASA.
The Wildlife Photography Course commences with a discussion of the equipment and skills needed to become a successful wildlife photographer. The course will then go on to focus on the essential elements of a good photograph and how you can combine these to great effect in the bush.
Lecture and Demonstration Subjects
- Equipment
- Lighting
- Backgrounds
- Depth of Field
- Exposure
- Composition
- Impact
- Shape and Form
- Highlights
- Story Telling
- Action
- Sequences
The morning and afternoon sessions each day will be spent in the bush looking for and taking advantage of photographic opportunities. Each day a lecture will be delivered and group feedback sessions for the digital images taken that day will follow. Tuition will be delivered by an expert photographer with in depth experience of wildlife documentary making, photograph publishing, photography and wildlife book writing and guiding.
Location and Environment
The two parts of the course take part in separate Game Lodges. The Bush Course is held in the Senalala Game Lodge within the Klaserie Private Game Reserve. The Wildlife Photography Course is hosted at the JayDee Bush Camp in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve.
Summers in this part of Africa are warm with temperatures ranging from the mid 200c/680F on cloudy days to the high 300C/860F on clear days. Occasionally peak temperatures can exceed 400C/1040F. The winters tend to be dry with an average morning temperature of 60C/430F tending towards warmer mornings when there is cloud cover. Afternoon temperatures range from 180C/650F to 320C/890F. There tend to be occasional winter showers and rain in the summer tends to be either heavy and short lived thunder showers or more gentle frontal rain over a longer period.
Senalala Game Lodge, Klaserie Private Game Reserve
The Klaserie Private Gamer Reserve is part of the greater Kruger National Park and home to the African Big Five of lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard. The camp is in a perfect location for photographers, being situated in the dappled shade of the riverine trees on the banks of the Ntsiri riverbed and overlooking a busy and often frequented watering hole. The accommodation is in a large semi-luxurious lodge with all rooms having river views. The camp is perfectly secluded and private providing the ideal atmosphere to relax between your game drives, walks and lecture sessions. The camp has a spacious and well appointed central communal area with options for both indoor and outside patio dining for guests. The camp also features a large boma for fires, a relaxing lounge area, a splash pool and a river lookout deck.
JayDee Bush Camp, Timbavati Private Game Reserve
The JayDee Bush Camp is a private camp boasting five en-suite thatched bungalows, a fully equipped kitchen and cook to cater for all meals, a dining room, open air braai area, a lounge, a lookout and a swimming pool. The living are overlooks the local watering hole and provides the perfect setting to practice your new found skills. The camp has access to 12000 hectares of the finest game area with regular sittings of lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and other game species. The birdlife is of international repute. The camp has patchy cell phone coverage available.
Support
Support and advice is available from your Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support.
Orientation
A comprehensive information pack will be sent participants upon booking their placement and further advice and information will be provided via telephone and email before departure. A full orientation will be provided on arrival by the project coordinator.
Accommodation and Meals
Senalala Game Lodge
Accommodation at the Senalala Game Lodge is in 8 cool double en-suite rooms overlooking the Ntsiri River. Communal areas are large and relaxed with options for indoor an outside dining. There is also the option of relaxing and watching the world go by on the river lookout deck.
There is electricity at the camp and a cash bar available for sodas and alcoholic beverages.
JayDee Bush Camp
Accommodation at the JayDee Bush Camp is in a private camp with five en-suite thatched bungalows and excellent catering facilities and a full time cook.
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available at the camp but must be paid for with cash. If you have any particular drink preferences these can be catered for if notified in advance. There is fresh drinkable water available from the taps and cordial fruit juices, tea and coffee are provided.
Meals
Breakfast: biscuits, fruit or cereal with tea and coffee at sunrise.
Bruch: fruit, cereal and a variety of cooked breakfasts.
Afternoon tea: sandwiches and snacks
Diner: hot plated dinner of meat, vegetables and salad
Getting There
Senalala Game Lodge
International flights should be arranged into Johannesburg (OR Tambo) Airport. From here onward transfer can be made either by road or air.
If you prefer to fly, flights to Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit are offered by South African Airways. The flight time is approximately one and a quarter hours with a further road transfer of forty minutes from Eastgate Airport to the camp.
Road transfers can be arranged for you from Johannesburg (OR Tambo) Airport to the camp if you prefer, the transfer time is five and a half hours. Uncovered car parking is available at the camp if you would prefer to self drive.
JayDee Bush Camp
International flights should be arranged into Johannesburg (OR Tambo) Airport. From here onward transfer can be made either by road or air.
If you prefer to fly, flights to Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit are offered by South African Airways. The flight time is approximately one and a quarter hours with a further road transfer of forty minutes from Eastgate Airport to the camp.
Road transfers can be arranged for you from Johannesburg (OR Tambo) Airport to the camp if you prefer, the transfer time is five and a half hours. Uncovered car parking is available at the camp if you would prefer to self drive.
Project Fees
What is included
- Transfers to and from the airport on arrival and at the end of the project
- Full orientation by local staff on arrival
- Teaching activities as outlined above
- Accommodation as indicated above
- Breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner
What is excluded
- International and domestic flights including arrival and departure fees if applicable
- Travel insurance to cover your project (to include cover for repatriation)
- Tourist Visas
- Any accommodation before and after the course
- Personal items, clothes, travel goods etc
- Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages stocked for yo