Luckily for me, I had one of the most incredible days that I have ever spent in the bush and rather than harping on about the wide open spaces, sheer numbers of wildlife, ecological diversity and abundance of predators, it takes a brief summary of a single morning drive to put it all into context. The penultimate day of our seven night stay in the magical Masai Mara was here and has the majority of the group headed out for their hot air balloon trip and champagne breakfast, 2 vehicles set out at 6:30am on what would be the game drive of a lifetime.

The Kiboko camp is located in one of the most central locations in terms of viewing wildebeest crossing the Mara river. The previous days had seen more and more wildebeest pour in from the southeast and gather on the open plains on the northern banks of the river. A later group had already started to congregate less than 500m from our camp and as we approached, continued to grow in size as more and more wildebeest made their way hastily towards the riverbanks.

Sitting and waiting patiently for what appeared to be shaping up into a fantastic crossing, our groups attention was drawn away by a female leopard moving along the near bank. In the preceding nights we had heard this female and male mating in camp. She moved secretively along the rivers edge before being spotted by the wildebeest on the opposite bank. This obviously startled the herd, now numbering in the thousands, and forced many individuals to move away from the river and back onto the open plains.

As we pre-empted the movement of the leopard and waited for her to re-appear further down stream, our attention was grabbed by a beautiful male lion that appeared on the far bank. After a short while, an adult female joined him to investigate what the comotion was all about. Their steady gaze gave away the leopards exact position and we continued to move further downstream, hoping to catch a glimpse of this beautiful creature as she climbed back up the steep riverbanks.

Our plan could not have come together any better as we caught some movement in the adjacent bush before stopping and waiting for her to pop out onto the open. She cautiously moved over the open ground before disappearing back down the banks of the river, giving us only a couple of seconds to rattle off some frames.

What a start to the morning! A potential crossing, leopard and lions all within 500m of one another, the Mara was really delivering.

Now that the predators had moved off, the wildebeest continued to build in numbers along the northern banks of the Mara River. No sooner had we come down from the high of our fantastic leopard sighting before the first wildebeest took the plunge into the river! We sat and watched as a couple of thousand wildebeest followed suite and made their way into the Mara Triangle.

Having witnessed our 5th crossing of the trip, both vehicles opted to head further south in search of a cheetah and her cubs, which we had seen on a number of occasions in the previous days. The cubs were still very young and the female was intent on hiding them in the long grass. We had had fantastic sightings but not many photographic opportunities. Riding our wave of luck, we spotted her way out in the middle of a large grassy plain as she scanned the horizon in search of her next meal.

The plains were extremely sparse, apart from a couple of zebra and Topi and we watched as she made her way back to the cubs, stopping to perch on termite mounds at regular intervals to search the plains below. As she mad her way back up the hill where she had hidden the cubs, we were presented with the perfect photographic opportunity.

It was now 9:30 and after the incredible morning we had had we decided it was time for breakfast. Our guide, Lerali pulled up next to a lone Acacia tree which gave us a fantastic view over the herds that were gathering in the northern banks. After half an hour we kicked off the second part of our drive and headed down to an isolated peninsula to check on the progress of a large gathering. Most vehicles had raced further up stream to catch another crossing which had just started, leaving only our two vehicles in the area – something which is pretty rare in the Masai Mara.

Initially, the herd was milling around in the thickets and there was not much energy or anticipation of a crossing in the air. Suddenly, masses of wildebeest poured into the thickets and the group worked up into a frenzy. A crossing was now imminent, we could feel it in the air and so could the wildebeest.

A small group cautiously approached the waters edge before the frantic herd gave them the last bit of courage to take the plunge, and as they did, 18000 followed suite over a period of 57 minutes. The sheer numbers of wildebeest that continued to pour in from the plains was incredible.

All in all, we sat watching what turned out to be one of the most spectacular crossings of the week. It was now 11:00 and after the morning we had experienced, it was time to crack open an ice cold Tusker and take in the magic of the Mara.

So, how was my trip to the Masai Mara?

Unbelievable…

I guess that my hesitation in entering competitions was in part attributed to the fact that images which I personally took great pride in, and was inspired to create, would be subject to public opinion. What would others think of my images? Were they good enough? What would they say about them? These were the things that ran through my mind and held me back from exposing my images to public scrutiny. After all, I enjoyed them. I was proud of them. I had been inspired to take the photograph and create the memory. That is what mattered to me and that is what photography was about for me for a long time.

After reading books like “The War of Art” & “Do The Work” by Stephen Pressfield my outlook on this whole scenario changed .

The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline. Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself.

Stephen Pressfield

I was no longer worried about the perceptions or potential criticisms of others, nor about the potential to fail in these sorts of competitions. I realised that by entering competitions and sharing my images with others would allow me to build value in myself. Nothing else would change, other than my perceptions and ideas around these competitions. I would still enjoy my images. I would still be proud of my images. The inspiration to take the photograph and create the memory would still be there, only now, it would be fuelled with an even deeper purpose.

I made the decision to enter competitions for myself. Not with the aim of winning. Nor with the fear of loosing. But with the aim of conquering the enemy that every one of us must face, an internal foe, resistance.

This may seem like a very intense and deep blog post but this whole process has been somewhat of a personal victory for me. An image I submitted to both Getaway Magazine  and Africa Geographic publications, was chosen as a monthly winner in their September & July issues respectively.

When I found out that the image was chosen as a winning shot, I was ecstatic. Not because of the prizes or the publicity, nor the fact that others had validated my image, but because I had overcome my resistance to even partake in these sorts of events and won! The positive feedback and recognition that the image received from the various judges was an absolute bonus for me, as are the prizes. Interestingly, when entering the image I had titled it “Reflective Space”, not realising how much it had actually forced me to sit in my own reflective & contemplative space…

The take home message?

Don’t let resistance get the better of you. Ever. Be it in the work environment, at home, or in your personal matters. Conquering resistance and other obstacles of our ambitions will ensure that new doors are opened and that we slowly but surely move closer to achieving our ultimate goals and dreams.

I am entering the start of a new chapter in my life in so many ways (but more on that at a later stage) and I know that resistance will always be there to make me struggle, but for now, I have managed to conquer my internal foe!

Our flagship wildlife photography workshop held in conjunction with Photo-Africa, Wildlife Photography 101 (WP101) has undergone some massive changes as we have secured a fantastic new venue and adapted to content to suite the needs of our delegates.

This short video clip was taken during our previous workshop which was held over two days in Johannesburg and Pilanesberg National Park. As you can see, the weather was pretty miserable but we had a great time and the delegates went home with a far greater understanding of their equipment and the theory behind capturing that perfect image.

Bookings are flowing in for our next exciting WP101 workshop which will be taking place later this month, all the details can be found here. Alternatively, if you’re already sold on the idea, then drop us an enquiry using the form below.

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With today’s technology, digital photography is more accessible than ever and when combined with South Africa’s amazing natural heritage it is not strange that more and more people are taking up wildlife photography as a hobby.

This is also evident from the large amount of information available on websites and online forums where you can find anything from complete camera manuals to tips on composition and the various technical aspects of wildllife photography.  All of this online information has not only made it possible for many people to learn a lot more about their own photography but has also given them the opportunity to share their images with, literarily, the world.

This being said, one of the very best ways you can improve your own photography is by actually attending workshops and heading out into the field with a like-minded group of people led by knowledgable and enthusiastic presenters.  From a learning point of view, nothing beats being out in the field with a group of photographers where you will not only be inspired by different people’s approach to wildlife photography but also have the invaluable benefit of having immediate feedback on your images.

It is with this goal in mind that Photo-Africa and Moya Wa Tenga present Wildlife Photography 101, a digital photography workshop aimed at helping you create better wildlife images.

On the first day of the workshop, which took place at the Elizebeth Manor Guest House in Sandhurst, we focused on the ethical, technical and artistic aspects of wildlife photography.  This gave all the participants a chance to not only get to know each other but also to have all their initial questions answered.  Having an actual discussion about the technical and, especially, artistic elements of wildlife photography will always be more beneficial than just reading it on an online forum.

During the morning we discussed topics such as composition, crop factor, shooting with super telephoto lenses and how the various technical aspects of wildlife photograph influence the final look and feel of your image.  Our approach was, as always, to focus on the universal settings and approaches to wildlife photography and then apply it to each person’s camera.  On this particular workshop the breakdown of equipment included a Canon 7D, Nikon D7000, Nikon D80, Nikon D5000 and a wide selection of lenses ranging from wide angles to telephoto zoom lenses.

The next morning we were up very early as we hit the road to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.  The original idea was to get to the Mankwe hide, which overlooks a massive dam, to set up and photograph the golden morning light.  This was not to be as it was completely overcast and raining from the moment we left Johannesburg.

We did not let this get us down and proceeded through the Manyane Gate towards our first photography stop of the morning.

We arrived at the hide and enjoyed a very welcome cup of coffee and fantastic continental breakfast, supplied by Moya Wa Tenga, and then proceeded to set up for the practical part of the WP101 workshop.

Now most people never get the chance of shooting with lenses such as the Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR II or Canon 600mm IS f/4 so what makes this particular workshop unique is that all the participants have the opportunity to use both Canon and Nikon pro level equipment which is all supplied by Photo-Africa Rentals.

So, by combining the theory from the day before with the super telephoto lenses we started our practical day.  The weather was not ideal but this did not put us off as all the participants started looking for subjects and scenes to photograph.

In a way, the bad weather was almost a good thing as it forced people to start thinking and shooting outside of their comfort zone.  There were almost no wildlife subjects around so we turned out attention to the numerous bird species around the water.

Photographing birds can be quite a specialized type of photography, and something that not a lot of people really try, but the combination of super telephoto lenses and enthusiasm made for a great morning of photography.

The lack of larger animals, caused by the cold and overcast weather, was regrettable but it did not stop us from looking for images as we spent the next 5 hours photographing subjects such as birds, flowers and landscapes.  During all of this time we discussed various techniques, approaches and possible compositions based on whatever subject we looked at through the viewfinder.

At around midday we packed up all our gear and headed off to the Bakgatla Resort for lunch as we discussed the mornings shoot and the images we were able to get.  After lunch we took a slow and easy drive through the reserve with a stop at another hide to look for potential subjects.

After a long day, and loads of images, we started making our way out of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and hit the road back to Johannesburg.  Tired, but with some great images and the amazing experience of having spent a day out in nature with our cameras – learning, photographing, sharing.

As a part of all Photo-Africa workshops, participants have the option of sending in a few of their images from the day so that they can get some constructive feedback from the presenters.  Below are a number of images sent in by the participants on the WP101 workshop with a few thoughts from Andrew Beck and myself.

Taking into account that the weather was pretty dark and miserable and that we did not have a huge amount of subjects to work with I am very impressed with the images the guys cam up with.

Wildlife Photography 101, 19 & 20 March 2011 – Image Crits

• Andrew: Good image but possibly a little too much dead space in the foreground. The White of the egret made for a tricky exposure but Victor has done a good job in waiting for the egret to approach the crocodile and provide an element of interaction between the species.
• Gerry:  The suspense, once you actually spot the croc, makes this image come alive.  Will the crocodile do anything?  This exposure on the Egret will be a problem in any type of light but overall it was very well dealt with.

• Andrew:  Good detail in the whites and a sharp eye which immediately catches ones attention. Also a good use of space to the right of the image which allows the viewer to wonder what it is that the subject is looking at. Perhaps a little too tight as the legs have been cropped.
• Gerry:  Nice portrait which draws you to the bird’s face immediately.  The line created by the beak, combined with the direction of the bird’s stare works perfectly by leading your gaze to the open space on the right.  If this image has been cropped it might be worth looking at leaving a little more space on the left hand side and also, if possible, show a bit more of the bird’s legs.

• Andrew:  Great use of a black and white conversion. The shallow depth of field provides excellent differentiation between the subject and the background, isolating the subject and removing any distracting features.
• Gerry:  The Pied Kingfisher is the perfect black and white subject allowing for an image with nice strong contrast.  The V-shaped branch adds a lot of interest in the image and keeps on leading your gaze to and from the bird.  The only issue I have is the tail that is almost chopped off on the left.  Other than that, awesome shot.

• Andrew:  Excellent shot! Good use of a slightly deeper depth of field to preserve the detail in both bees as well as the lilly. This image is made even better by the fact that the first bee is isolated from its background, it would not have been as interesting had the bee been infront of the yellow portion of the flower. A great capture Arend!
• Gerry:  Any way you look at it this is a great shot.  What makes it even more impressive is that it was shot with a 600mm lens.  Great color.  Great composition.  Awesome moment frozen.  A winner.

• Andrew:  This little guy spent quite a bit of time perched on this branch but Arend has managed to make the image interesting by waiting for the bird to move and provide some open space for it to move into.
• Gerry:  This image shows why patience is important in wildlife photography.  The bird on a branch would have made for just another bird on a branch image but by waiting and clicking the shutter the image has come alive.

• Andrew:  An interesting shot. Its a pity about all the plant debris which clutters the image a bit but great use of a fast shutter speed in order to freeze the motion as the bird enters the water. A very tricky moment to catch.
• Gerry:  I like this image as it makes you look twice.  What is that?  A faster shutter speed might have made for a slightly more crisp image but the image still works.  Would like to see this in color as well as the blues from the water and the bits of green plant material could make for quite a strong color combination.

• Andrew:  A nice image taken at the perfect moment. There the slight blurring helps to convey a sense of motion as the bird is about to land.
• Gerry:  An image like this takes anticipation, patience and skill.  You need to be aware of your environment in order to see the bird flying towards it’s landing space and then you have to track with it and then click the shutter with a fast enough shutter speed to get, at least, the face sharp.  The little bit of branch in the bottom corner anchors the image nicely by completing the story.

• Andrew:  This image makes on wonder what it is that the Kingfisher is so excited about – far more interesting than the usual portrait image of a the bird perching.
• Gerry:  Interesting image that makes the viewer ask questions.  What is the bird doing?  Is he upset with something?   With regards to the monochrome conversion I would have liked to see a bit more contrast, to get the blacks black and the whites white but this does not take away from a decent image.

• Andrew:  The framing of the subjects is perfect here and helps to convey a sense of contrast in size between the lilly and the bee.
• Gerry:  Compositionally this is a good image.  You get to see the bee in it’s natural environment and also it’s relative size to the flower.  Even though this was shot in cloudy conditions I would like to see a slightly cooler tone to the image.   This would not only have made the blues of the water come out a bit but also made the yellows stand out more.  The soft lines on the right hand side of the frame is slightly distracting but, considering the equipment used and the light not much that can be done about it.

* * *

After a great two days of wildlife photography with some amazing people, here are a couple of thoughts I took away from another succesful WP101 workshop.

• Person to person discussions still beat online forums.
• After a bit of revision, most people understand the affect of aperture on the final look and feel of your images.
• Metering and exposing for your subject is still one of the most misunderstood areas in wildlife photography.
• Large telephoto lenses are a great tool, and source of inspiration, in wildlife photography.
• Large telephoto lenses is not the only thing required to create striking wildlife images.
• Shooting in a group, with someone guiding the process, is still one of the best ways to learn and be inspired.
• Regardless of experience level, we can all learn from each other.
• Ego has no place in wildlife photography!

A big thanks goes out to Andrew Beck, from Moya Wa Tenga, for all his help on this workshop.  Also, a huge thanks to all of the participants for choosing Photo-Africa and sharing the joys of wildlife photography with us.  We look forward to seeing you on future workshops!

Our next, new and improved, Wildlife Photography 101 workshop will take place on 21 & 22 May 2011 so make sure to keep your eyes on the site for more info.  Alternatively, simply complete the form below and we’ll send you all the necessary info.

We look forward to welcoming you on a Photo-Africa workshop!

Gerry van der Walt

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Join Photo-Africa and Moya Wa Tenga Safaris as we set out to capture one of nature’s most fascinating phenomena – Great White Sharks Breaching off Seal Island in Cape Town - on camera!

From 8 to 11 July 2011, we will be taking over the Boulders Beach Lodge in Simonstown as we set up base and prepare to capture the natural predation and breaching of these magnificent beasts. We have linked up with the best operator to provide you with the greatest opportunity of photographing the predatory behavior of these amazing creatures. Chris & Monique Fallows, of Apex Predators, have been involved in the filming of a number of documentaries over the years and their expertise and experience will provide us with the best chance of capturing these majestic predators on camera.

This photographic workshop will be led by Gerry van der Walt and Andrew Beck. Gerry is a wildlife photographer, owner of Photo-Africa, and field guide who combines a passion for nature photography with an in depth knowledge of African wildlife. Andrew, the owner of Moya Wa Tenga Safaris, is a qualified conservation biologist and field guide who is passionate about photography and wildlife conservation in South Africa

Please note that this inaugural white shark workshop will be limited to 10 photographers.

Photographic Goals

The main goal of this photographic weekend workshop is to gain a greater understanding of how to use your digital camera to capture fast moving wildlife subjects, in this case, the breaching behavior of the great white sharks around Seal Island.

Other than that we will also be photographing:

• Penguins on and around Boulders Beach.
• The 64,000 strong Cape Fur Seal colony.
• Birdlife around Boulders Beach and Seal Island.
• Landscapes and seascapes during the weekend.

The first part of the photography workshop will be conducted on Saturday morning during which we will focus on the technical and creative aspects of wildlife photography. This will be followed by an afternoon shooting the penguins at boulders beach and prepping equipment for the following days main activity – the breaching of the great whites.

On Sunday afternoon, each photographer will have the opportunity to show a few of their best images during an informal crit session and debriefing, providing an excellent opportunity to review the mornings shoot and any problems that photographers might have had. Our goal is to do our utmost to help photographers attain their own personal photographic goals during the trip.

The Itinerary

Friday 8 July 2011

You will be met at Cape Town International by one of the tour leaders before heading off on your scheduled transfer to Boulders Beach Lodge in Simonstown. The rest of the evening will be spent getting to know the group and finalizing the arrangements for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday 9 July 2011

After breakfast we will commence with the morning workshop. After breaking for lunch we will head down to Boulders beach to spend some time photographing the penguins as they go about their daily activities. African penguins at the Boulders Beach colony in Simons Town notably less nervous than other African penguins, and are unusually tame and accustomed to people. This provides excellent photographic opportunities.

Sunday 10 July 2011

After an early breakfast we will make our way to the nearby Simons Town Harbour. The day will then run more or less as follows:

• 06h50: Meet crew at Simon’s Town Pier. Guests are welcomed aboard and a full safety and weather briefing is given before departure.
• 07h00: Depart for Seal Island, False Bay. (25 to 35 minute boat ride)
• 07h35 to 12h30: Arrive at Seal Island, False Bay shortly before sunrise. This is the optimum time to have a chance of observing the natural predation behavior that makes Seal Island so unique. The great whites of Seal Island are now world famous for their highly athletic breaches in pursuit of Cape Fur seals which they hunt in the area. We will observe natural predatory behavior for as long as possible; however it is usually the first hour and a half that is the most intense.

After this period the crew will try a short decoy tow using a fake cut out carpet seal where they try to get the sharks to breach. It is a very unique way to elicit predatory behavior and has been very useful to help us identify different strategies adopted by the different sharks. After the decoy tow, we will do an inspection lap around Seal Island looking for any signs of bitten or injured seals. These observations are recorded for research & conservation purposes.

This is a great opportunity to get close to the 64 000 strong Cape Fur seal colony that has made Seal Island their home. Thereafter we choose the best spot to anchor up based on weather conditions and attract sharks to our vessel. Once a shark approaches, a small piece of bait is put in the water to keep the sharks interested around the boat for identification and viewing purposes. At no point are the sharks purposefully fed or handled. We do not use shark livers or any other attractants that have a negative impact on the environment and all efforts are made to avoid the sharks coming into contact with our vessel.

If the weather conditions are favorable, i.e. good visibility and workable seas, the cage is lowered into the water for cage diving. Safety precautions and operational procedures are then explained to the diver wishing to enter the cage. It is important to know that the sharks come very close to the boat so it is not necessary to dive in order to see them. So for those guests not wishing to dive they will still have excellent views of the Great White Shark.

Lunch which usually consists of rolls with cold meats as well as a vegetarian option, accompanied by soft drinks, fruit juice, bottled water and a variety of snacks are available throughout the course of the day.

12h30: Boat will arrive back in Simon’s Town Harbor depending on the weather conditions and shark activity.

After a short break and a shower to freshen up after the mornings activities, we will convene in the conference room for an informal crit session and debriefing, providing an excellent opportunity to review the mornings shoot and any problems that photographers might have had.

Monday 11 July

Shortly after breakfast you will be transferred back to Cape Town International for your onwards travel arrangements.

Cost

• Workshop Cost: R 5 500.00 per person sharing (Full package – includes accommodation and breakfast at Boulders Beach Lodge)
• Workshop Cost: R 3,750 per person (Exclusive of accommodation option; for photographers from Cape Town area)
• A 25% deposit is payable to confirm your booking.
• Balance is due 30 days before safari.
• Rates are based on double occupancy so please contact us for details on single supplements

Included

• Return transfers from Cape Town International Airport. (Please contact us for preferred flight details)
• Three nights accommodation at the Boulders Beach Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.
• Photography Workshop & Notes.
• Entrance to Boulders Beach.
• Half day White Shark Boat Trip.
• Dive Gear (Small to XXL are available).
• Light lunch, snacks, fruit and refreshments on board the boat.
• The services of professional field guides & Photographic guides.
• Use of prime lenses for both Canon & Nikon cameras on a first come first served basis.

Not Included

• Flights
• Items of a personal nature.
• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Gratuities. (at your discretion)
• Travel insurance.
• Visas (if applicable).

Should you have any questions, or would like to book for this photographic weekend, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@moyawatenga.co.za

We look forward sharing this incredible experience with you!

Gerry van der Walt & Andrew Beck

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This month has been focussed a lot around the launch of our Botswana travel packages and it is for this reason that I have opted to share two of my favourite images taken on the trip to the delta last month (you can view part one and part two of the travel diary by clicking on these links). Also, dont forget to check out our SPECIAL DEALS for South African Residents!

I hope you’ll enjoy these images as much as I do!

{filelink=17} the full sized image here

This first image was taken from the deck in front of my room at the Jao Camp in the Jao Concession (Western region of the Okavango Delta). Our group had just returned from and awesome afternoon boat cruise along the delta and was treated to this breathtaking sunset to the west of the lodge. The tree on the left hand side spoils the image a bit for me but i still think it makes for a great desktop background – what do you think?

{filelink=18} the full sized image here

The second image was also taken in the Jao concession, infact this was the same afternoon we were treated to the spectacular sunset. The reflections of the clouds and trees in the water are what stood out in this image for me but again, I think it would look a lot better if it were cropped a bit tighter from the top to make it even more of a wide landscape image. What are your thoughts?

What exactly is a halo?

Here is Wikipedias description of a halo.

There are many types of ice halos. They are produced by the ice crystals in cirrus clouds high (5–10 km) in the upper troposphere. The particular shape and orientation of the crystals is responsible for the type of halo observed. Light is reflected and refracted by the ice crystals and may split up into colors because of dispersion. The crystals behave like prisms and mirrors, refracting and reflecting sunlight between their faces, sending shafts of light in particular directions.

Atmospheric phenomena such as halos were used as part of weather lore as an empirical means of weather forecasting before meteorology was developed. Other common optical phenomena involving water droplets rather than ice crystals include the glory and the rainbow.

How to view a Halo

Simple! Shield the sun. Halos are much more easily seen when the sun is shielded. Use a building, a tree, a post or a hand. Always shield both eyes and never look directly at the sun.

‘Digital Photography 101’

The first in a series of fun and interactive photography workshops that will help you to not only understand the basics of digital photography but also explore the creative side of the craft.

Aimed at beginner and intermediate photographers and users of both compact and DSLR cameras, this full day workshop will help you to dramatically improve your images in one day.  The workshop has been designed around the most common questions people ask about digital photography:

• What is aperture?
• How can I improve my images?
• Why is the rule of thirds important?
• Why not?
• What do I do once my image is in on my computer?

Through a combination of theory, practical exercises and visual presentations we will work through the technical, artistic and post processing elements of digital photography. By the end of the day you will understand the basic technical terms and how aspects like shutter speed, aperture and ISO can easily be used to create memorable images.  Along with this we will share tips, ideas and various other creative principles and approaches to photography which will assist you in creating better images, with more visual impact, whether you are shooting people, wildlife, landscapes or just snapping away on holiday.

Digital photography should be fun and the goal of this workshop is to simplify all the terms and technical ‘stuff’ so that you can focus on taking better pictures!

During the workshops we will work through the following and more:

The Technical ‘Stuff’

▪             What is aperture / shutter speed / ISO?

▪             What is exposure?

▪             What is metering?

▪             What is a histogram?

▪The Artistic ‘Stuff’

▪             Light and how to use it

▪             Composition and Creative Cropping

▪             Lines and Shapes

▪             Color

▪             Negative space

▪             Seeing images

Processing Your Images in Lightroom

▪             What is Lightroom?

▪             The basics if post processing

▪             What does this slider do?

▪             Special Adjustments

▪             Live walkthrough

In between all the above theory we will work though various practical exercises, group discussions, photo recipes and a live walkthrough of the complete picture taking and post processing process with the goal always being to simplify all the various technical terms and principles and make them practical for you to use when you head out with your camera

Included in the package

•   Full day digital photography workshop

•   Comprehensive lecture notes

•   CD with notes and other useful resources

•   Tea, coffee and pastries on arrival

•   Lunch

•   Tea, coffee and biscuits during mid afternoon break

Cost

R 950 per person (limited to 10 delegates in order to ensure personalised attention)

What To Bring

•  DLSR  Camera (preferred) or Digital Compact Camera with full manual control

•  Laptop (Not necessary but helpful if you want to follow along with the post processing walkthrough)

Venue

•  Elizabeth Manor Guest House, Sandhurst, Johannesburg

Date

•  Saturday 13 November 2010

Duration

• 09h00 to 16h00

To request a booking form or for any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at info@moyawatenga.co.za or fill out the contact form below.

We look forward to welcoming you to the workshop!

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The desktop backgrounds for September are in two size formats:

• 1280 x 800 (click on the image to open it in a new window, then right click on the full image and save)
• 2560 x  1600 (simply click on the ‘Download” link)

The first image is of an African Darter (Anhinga rufa ), sometimes called the Snakebird. This common name describes the darter’s habit of swimming with its body submerged and only the snakelike head and long, curved neck exposed.  They nest in small colonies with ibises and herons, building bulky nests lined with leaves. The helpless young are fed by regurgitation. The male of the species is mainly glossy black with white streaking, but females and immature birds are browner. This image was taken on a still morning  during a day trip to the Pilanesberg National Park.

{filelink=8}the large file here

The second image was also taken in Pialesnebrg National Park and is of a lone Elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull walking through the tall grass of an open field. I opted to crop the original image to place the Elephant off centre and create a sense os space to the right of the image. I also toyed with converting into Black and White  and really couldnt decide which image I preffered, so , I have added both the colour and black and white version. I would be very keen to hear which one you prefer!

{filelink=9}the large file here

{filelink=10}the large file here

I hope you enjoy this months images and, as usual, I welcome any feedback or comments you might have!