The Safari for the Landscape Photographer

Before I went on my first photographic safari, I thought a safari would be a photographic opportunity of the wildlife only. I thought of the vast number of published photographs of the big cats, elephant, wildebeet, zebras and other exotic mammals and birds. But once I traveled to Africa and went on a safari for myself, I realized that there are so many other subjects to photograph while out on safari. In particular, the landscapes of the region are a landscape photographer's paradise. Not all great subjects while on safari are of of the wildlife!

Mist and Trees, Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, 2004. Canon 10D, 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS

It is all about the light

Since I primarily lead my photographic workshops to Tanzania, I will focus on the landscape opportunities and background of that specific area. But make no mistake. There are plenty of landscape photographic opportunities throughout all of Africa.

Most of the popular game parks in Tanzania are located in the northern region of the country, and these parks are known as the 'northern circuit'. Within this circuit lie diverse and vast ecosystems, ranging from an altitude of 2,500 feet (The Great Rift Valley) to over 19,000 feet (Mount Kilimanjaro). Since most of the locations are well above sea level, you are able to capture the wonderful and clear light at all times of the day. From a sunrise shot while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to a sunset shot of a lonely acacia tree on the Serengeti plain, a landscape photographer has great light to shoot with.

Acacia Sunrise I, Serengeti National Park, 2003. Canon 10D, 70-200mm L f/2.8 IS

The Serengeti, as an example, is roughly 3,500 feet above sea level, and is far away from any major human settlement. The large landscape enjoys no contaminants in the air, and the cool evenings and mildly warm afternoons also create dynamic cloud formations. Just a rich playground to work with. I liken a photographer to the opposite of a painter. A painter creates a painting from a blank canvas; adding elements from the ground up. The landscape photographer has just the oposite; it is our job to remove distracting items to arrive at a final photograph. Most of the locations have the perfect environment for the landscape photographer: little to no distracting elements to remove from the viewfinder.

So if you are primarily a landscape photographer, there are many subjects to photograph while on safari other than the wildlife. Remind yourself that a photographic safari isn't only for the wildlife photographer. Coming soon, my next article we be on photographing the culture while on safari.

Acacia Sunrise II, Serengeti National Park, 2004. Canon 1D, 70-200mm L f/4

 

Andy spends a few months each year in Tanzania, the 'home of the safari', to teach workshops and to share his enjoyment of the wildlife, landscapes and people of Tanzania. If you are interested in joining him on one of his trips, you can contact him at info@andybiggs.com, view his workshop schedule on this site, or visit his website at www.andybiggs.com.