On Safari with the Canon 5D Mark III. Day 5: The Main Event

Today is the last day in my photo safari series here on my blog. Scroll down to see earlier posts.

All the photographs were taken while we were on a photo safari with our good friends Jonathan and Angela Scott – known and respected around the world as "The Big Cat People."

Today is Day 5: The Main Event

The main event during our stay on the Masai Mara was photographing the migration of the zebra and wildebeest. One morning we saw more than 5,000 animals on the move. The animals follow the rain so they always have something to eat.

In this post I'll share some, only some, my favorite migration photographs, along with some photo tips. I'll be sharing all my Masai Mara photographs at my upcoming seminars.

The photographs were taken on three different days at three different locations.

Opening Image: Compose carefully. Notice the nice "S" curve in this photography. Learn more about composition in my KelbyOne class: Composition - the strongest way of seeing. Lens: Canon 24-105mm IS.

Above: Check your aperture to make sure you have the desired depth of field. Lens: Canon 24-105mm IS.

Above: Use foreground elements to add a sense of scale and depth to a photograph. Lens: Canon 70-300mm IS.

Above: Use slow shutter speeds to add a sense of movement to fast-moving subjects. Another tip: Use plug-ins to remove some of the reality from a scene. Lens: Canon 70-300mm IS.

Above: Take close-ups to tell the whole story. The story here: two crocks are eating a wildebeest that did not make it across the water. We talk about storytelling on my workshops. Lens: Canon 200-400mm IS.

Above: Wildlife photography requires patience. One morning we waited more than three hours for the animals to cross the Mara River. Here I am deep in thought - planning the next trip! :-) Lens: Canon 15mm, but I recommend the Canon 8-15mm lens. Oh yeah, they never crossed.

Above: The team that made my photographs possible.

I'm feeling a bit sad as this series comes to a close. I miss the Mara and my friends Jonathan and Angela Scott, as well as our guide Simon Sitienei. I also miss our home away from home for the safari, Governors' Camp.

The good news is that we'll be back!

Shoot me an email if you are interested in a small group or private African photo safari. Jonathan and I are making some cool plans!

Until then, check out the videos we made in the Masai Mara.

Thank you all for following along.

Rick Sammon,
Canon Explorer of Light

Canon 70D Test Shot/Quick Video

I picked up a Canon 70D yesterday from Adorama... mostly for the educational videos that we shoot (listed on the bottom of my On-line classes/Video page). Of course, I will be be shooting stills with the cool camera, too.

As always, I test and familiarize myself with all my new gear, which is something I stress to all my digital photography workshop students. So this morning, when it was 7° F outside, I swung by the New Croton Dam (where I teach summer and fall workshops) and took a few shots and made a quick HD video - before my fingers started to freeze!

Back home, after I defrosted, I downloaded my files. The camera is working perfectly - and the images are looking awesome.

NOTE: Waterfall was loud! You may want to turn down your sound.

If you are looking for a DSLR that shoots both stills and full HD videos, check out the Canon 70D. Among other features, including an awesome auto-focus system, you'll like the flip-out screen, which is great for moving making.

My main camera is still the Canon 5D Mark III. All my gear is listed on My Gear page.

Above: Here's a video we shot with the Canon 5D Mark III in Myanmar. As you will see, it's important to envision the end result.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. My Croton Creative Workshops, a.k.a. Rick's Backyard Workshops, fill up fast. I hope you can join the fun in the sun. :-)

iPhones Welcome on My DSLR Workshops

Canon 5D Mark III image, processed in Photoshop.

I've been teaching photographers how to make better digital images with their digital SLRs for about 15 years. We shoot from sunrise to sunset and process our images on site. My workshops are designed for serious photographers, but we also have good fun.

Recently, my wife Susan has been shooting with her iPhone on the workshops. While I share my DSLR techniques, Susan shares her pictures,  showing the students new iPhone apps and accessories.

Canon 5D Mark III, original image.

For those of you who have not been on my workshops, I thought it would be fun to do a post with one of my before-and-after pair of images and one of Susan's before-and-after pair of images.  I think you can see why her pictures and techniques are popular :-)

iPhone image, processed in Nik's Snapseed.

The message of this post: all photographers are welcome on my workshops . . . so if your spouse is not as serious as you are, drag him or her along for the fun. 

Original iPhone image.

We hope to see you on a workshop in 2013. All of 'em are listed on my Workshops page.

If you can't make a workshop, I teach 24/7 and 365 - via my on-line Kelby Training classes.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Yes, the DSLR photographers play with plug-ins, too. They are listed on my Plug-in page.

This post sponsored by Adorama - a great place for great gear at great prices. Click here to check out their holiday specials on Canon lenses and Speedlites.