Better Wildlife Photography Course Modules and Itinerary Course Overview: The Better Wildlife Photography Course (BWP) has been designed and implemented as a way of helping guests, who already have a fundamental understanding of photography, and wish to learn new skills specific to wildlife photography. The course takes place in the game rich environs of The Chobe National Park in Northern Botswana and is hosted by Pangolin Photo Safaris, a registered tour operator in the region. The course take place over five days and commences on the first Wednesday of every month. The maximum number of guests is eight individuals per course thus allowing plenty of in- field student teacher interaction and one- on- one time in between, during theory workshops. The BWP course utilizes all of the Pangolin Photo Safaris specialised vehicles and hides and guests will be issued with a Nikon D7000 DSLR camera and telephoto lens should it be required for the duration of the course free of charge. The course is comprised of a set of practical and theoretical modules, which must be completed for the guest to receive a certificate of attendance upon completion. The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa has accredited this certificate of attendance. Generally it is required that all guests stay at the same location so as to aid group learning and save time but consideration will be taken for guests with alternative accommodation requirements such as self drivers.
The Modules: 1. Preparation Planning the Excursion Destinations Seasons Phenomena Equipment Essentials Extra s Back- up When the worst happens 2. Know your Quarry Animal Behaviour The Importance of Local Knowledge Settling In 3. Creative Techniques for Nature Photography Panning & Counter Panning Deliberate Camera Movements Focus Pull Zoom Pull Creative Statics 4. Time Exposures / Night Photography Star Trails Painting with Light Camera Traps
Itinerary Day 1: Guests must ensure that they have arrived and are settled in at the accommodation of choice no later than 2.30pm on the first day when an induction briefing will take place. This is where guests will meet their instructor and each other and the equipment is issued. PM Boat Cruise (15.30-18.30) This first game activity is an opportunity for the guests to get settled on the Photo Boat and to become reacquainted with their equipment. It s also an opportunity for the instructor to interact with each guest and establish levels of technical ability among the individuals. During every activity of the BWP course the instructor and guide will impart knowledge of animal behavior from Module 2 with different species that are encountered. The advantage of The Chobe is its immediate and accessible biodiversity, which allows close up and unrushed study of differing photographic subjects from reptiles and insects to birds and mammals often all within telephoto range at the same time. Supper (19.00) We encourage the group to dine together with the instructor as it gives time for people to reflect on the day s events. During and after dinner there is an opportunity for the instructor to discuss the elements of preparing for a photographic safari as per Module 1. Day 2: AM Game Drive (06.00-09.00) This is the first chance for guests to experience the Unimog and the session will be about demonstrating and practicing deliberate camera movement and panning techniques. Panning and counter panning are techniques better performed with a handheld camera or if the vehicle is stationary then using a beanbag for support both of which are very easy to achieve in the Unimog especially with the abundance of large mammals moving back and forth towards the river. Tea and coffee will be served during the game drive. Taken as a group once more in the lodge. Morning at leisure for editing and image review.
Workshop 1 (12.30-2.30) This is the first of three workshops that take place in a dedicated air conditioned room during the course. With photography its always preferable to learn in a practical situation with a live subject, but we use these times of non- optimal lighting conditions to teach the technical aspects of what we hope to achieve in the following activity without the distractions of photographic subjects appearing. In this workshop we will review and critique images from the previous activities and discuss ways of correcting or improving the images. PM Boat Cruise (15.30-18.30) The afternoons are an ideal time for bird photography with softening light and ca subjects utilizing the last rays of light to go about their business. The instructor will teach the attendees about recognizing behavior and flight patterns in birds as well as techniques to take creative and technically perfect images. (Creative statics and animal behavior from modules 2 and 3 covered here). Water, soft drinks and local beers served during the activity. Supper (19.00) Taken as a group in the lodge restaurant. During and after dinner the instructor will discuss the use of artificial light while photographing wildlife at night. There will be a practical demonstration after dinner of how to illuminate a subject without having to use a flash whether it be from the headlights of a vehicle or a hand held torch. Painting with light can create some startling and very imaginative imagery. Day 3: AM Game Drive (06.00 09.00) During this game drive we hope to encounter more of The Chobe s predators which allows the instructor not only to help the attendees understand hunting behaviors and patterns but to build the story around a particular scene. It s important in wildlife photography to find ways to bring your subject to life in an image rather than simply capture its existence. Guests will be encouraged to tell a story with the images they take on this activity to share with the group in the afternoon workshop. Two techniques, which can very quickly add drama to a scene, are focus and zoom pull, which will be explained, demonstrated and practiced during this drive.
The rest of the morning is dedicated to relaxation and editing. Workshop 2 (12.30 15.00) This workshop is divided in to two parts. The first is an opportunity for the guests to have some of their images taken so far critiqued by the instructor and the rest of the group should they so wish. This is an opportunity for the instructor to assess progress and rectify any mistakes that are being made. The second part is a theoretical lesson on how to take night sky photographs. The lecture will cover preparation for a night shoot, positioning of camera equipment, safety, camera settings, adding to the image by painting with light and timing parameters. Valley of the Elephants: (15.30 21.30 approx) Instead of heading in to the Chobe National Park the group will travel the short distance to the Lesoma valley, home to Pangolin s Elephant Bunker. Here guests will be able to get as close as safely possible to some huge herds of wild Elephants. It s also an opportunity to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of positional height when photographing wildlife. Just before sunset (around 17.30) the group will move further down the Lesoma valley to an open area where drinks will be served and a demonstration on camera trap placement will take place. Camera traps are becoming more common among wildlife photographers and this demonstration will show the fundamental dos and don ts of setting up a camera trap. Supper will be an outdoors event (subject to the weather) Spending a longer time in the Lesoma valley into the nocturnal hours will allow the attendees to put into practice their newly acquired skills in night sky photography as well as painting with light It is also an opportunity to practice some night photography of animals using artificial light on the return trip to the lodge through the rest of the Lesoma Valley and Kasane Forest Reserve. Day 4 AM Game drive (06.30 09-30) Once more an opportunity to photograph some early morning activity featuring the predators and their prey. Attendees will be encouraged to tell a story with their photography and special attention will be given to the techniques needed to
photograph animals that are obscured by dense foliage such as smaller birds and animals hiding in the bushes and trees. Dappled or restricted available sunlight can be tricky to overcome without these techniques. After breakfast there is time for relaxation and editing Workshop 3 (12.30 14.30) This final workshop features some basic editing techniques demonstrated by the instructor. Its is not essential that guests have had training or have studied editing packages such as Adobe Photoshop as this workshop will demonstrate techniques that can be used on even the most basic of editing systems such as cropping, exposure adjustment, straightening, colour adjustment and resizing. Attendees are advised to have their own laptops with them, as access to computers in Kasane is very limited. PM Boat Cruise (15.30-18.30) This final afternoon boat cruise allows the guests to practice what they have learnt so far and to engage with the instructor if they feel they don t understand a specific principle or technique. Soft drinks and local beer will be served as the guests relax and enjoy photographing on the Chobe River for the last time. Supper (19.00) Supper on the last night will be a relaxed affair and an opportunity to reflect on the sightings and experiences of the last few days. During the course of the evening each guest will be given his or her Certificate of Attendance accredited by The Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). Day 5 AM Boat cruise OR game drive (06.00 09.00) The choice of activity will be offered to the group with the majority deciding the preferred activity. Packing, checking out and scheduled departures during the course of the morning. For more information of bookings please call us on +21 461 2941 or email info@pangolinphoto.com