Tips for the Photographic Hobbyist

We just returned from K/T and had a fantastic trip. We had a great group of Tauck Guests, and we all enjoyed each others' company. There were 28 of us, and it looked like about 10% were fairly serious photographic aficionados -- those belonging to camera clubs, carrying big lenses and a satchel of equipment. But for the most part, most the guests were there to enjoy the experience, and brought binoculars, cell phones, point-and-shoots, and iPads.

So, for the small minority of avid photo buffs that are planning the trip, I'd like to proffer a few tips.

1. For really unique shots, bring the largest super-tele you can. I used, most often, a 840mm equivalent (actually a Olympus OMD-EM1 MKII with tele-converter). This allowed for capturing leopards high up in trees, that were barely visible to the naked eye. It allowed for head portraits of African Cranes, Chimps, lions, cheetahs, and their babies.

2. Bring two cameras. I had one mounted with a 80-300 equivalent, and the other with the 840mm prime. They hung from a Black Rapid Dual shoulder harness, and pretty much covered the spectrum for the shots you need. Yes, some animals were close, and crossed the vehicles' path, but usually the animals were at quite a distance.

3. Share your images. I allowed access to my best images to my Tauck friends for their personal use, and they reciprocated by offering me the best views from the safari vehicles. Actually, all the seats were good, but the back seats offered the most panoramic views. I took a lot of shots from the windows rather than standing up -- the angle of view of the animal was often better, e.g. rather getting the tops of Big Cats' heads, you can look into their eyes.

4. My best "accessory" was a microfiber jacket. The vehicles can travel 50+ mph on dirt roads (supposedly the speed ironing out the rut holes on the "African Massage", and generate plumes of dust up to 15-20 feet high at times. I used the microfiber jacket in my lap to cover and cushion the cameras from each other, on the bumpy ride, and to occasionally wipe the dust from them. It gets quite warm in the vehicles, so people have their windows partly open -- and -- dust. The dust can be choking and irritating over the course of the trip. We tried a Buff, which works, but what I found more breathable was a set of cheap surgical masks. The top of the mask can be bent to conform to your nose.

5. There is not a problem in changing lenses. I changed to a 24-200mm zoom for Masai village and Masai school children shots, landscapes, etc. But I changed lenses at bathroom stops or under the microfiber jacket when the vehicle was not moving, and, of course, at the hotels.

6. The tripod was not useful. I had planned to take Milky Way shots, but there was too much light pollution. But a flash was very useful for fill-in, to light up faces, especially in the classroom with Masai school children.

7. The TD said Tsetse flies were not a problem. And they were not for us. There was one area, a 15 minute drive, near the Four Seasons that was supposed to have the flies, but the drivers flew faster than the flies, I'm told. I am not aware of anyone getting mosquito bites on the trip.

8. Use of the infamous duffle bags. They are big, so we packed our clothes in one, and I packed a photo case with accessories in the other. However, cameras and lenses went with me into the cabin of the airplane, in the day bag, or slung from my shoulder. The TD was very gracious about photographic equipment -- he said to bring all you want -- it's a photographic safari. And the drivers were terrific -- they parked the vehicles, usually, for the best lighting and vantage points, they often tried to get ahead of the Big Cats so the Cats would come to you.

Hope this is helpful. You have an awesome opportunity to bring back some fantastic images.

Comments

  • Doug. Great tips based on your experience. I will put them in my travel folder for use on our next safari. Thanks for sharing. Ed
  • If this link works, here are samples of the use of a very long lens -- fx 840 mm.

    https://iluv2fly.smugmug.com/Forum-Shots-Africa/n-J5CjNB/

    If you don't have a long enough lens, you can rent them online. I believe people have used places like borrowlens.com, although I have not.

    Doug
  • BTW, for you photo aficionados, I bought a Travel King ALL ALUMINUM IATA carry-on for about $240 just before I left for Africa (lot cheaper than it's $950 counter-part) and got all my gear in it. Really sturdy, with ball bearing spinners - - AND IT FIT IN THE TAUCK DUFFEL BAG! I love it. Amazon. I lined it with foam on one side for lenses and bodies, and packets of accessories on the telescoping handle side.

    For you non-camera folks, please excuse us camera nuts :)

    Doug
  • Wow Doug, those shots are fabulous. As a fellow photography nut who is going to KT in July, I really appreciate the advice and inspiration.
  • edited February 2018
    Thanks Marc. You'll have a fantastic time!

    I did become quite ill with bad abdominal pains for a few days, as did another guest. Problem was Malarone. The TD got a trusted MD in Arusha, who diagnosed the problem as a side-effect from Malarone. He mentioned that MDs in the U.S. aren't too familiar with the anti-malarial drugs. Another TD said she has had a lot of folks react to the stuff. So I had to take Cipro, a cocktail of electrolytes, and start a different anti-malarial drug. I was bed-ridden for a day and had to have soft foods for another day. I believe I heard those who had had side effects were 10+%, which is pretty high. So you might talk to your health care provider in some detail.
  • We have taken Malerone on many trips and never had problems, i’m taking it right now, it must be taken with food.
  • Re: malaria meds.

    I took the K&T tour in 2014. While there is a lot posted about the medications for the trips, I have not read any that covered this issue on the malaria meds. ...or maybe I missed it. Before the trip, I went to a travel doctor specialist. Health system is large and includes affiliation with a medical college. I went to him in part because of the recommendations posted on this site. I took a copy of the Tauck itinerary with me. After the yellow fever and typhoid were addressed, he said I had 3 choices for the malaria. He said that all three would prevent the malaria. I asked what the difference was and he replied that the difference was that one was prone to more side effects; second was lesser side effects; and third was lesser yet. I asked the difference in price, and while the one that had fewer side effects was the most expensive, it was not huge --- a few dollars a pill -- and considering the investment in the trip, I did not want to have any 'down' time.

    I will echo the recommendation that others have given that a travel specialist, while expensive, is good. Doctor spent some time with me, previewing the same information that our TD gave us. ... do not drink any tap water, keep your mouth closed in shower, use bottle water to brush teeth and take extra tooth brushes in case you forget. He also said not to be adventurous and not to eat any food that tour director did not approve of.

    I am sorry that I did not write down or keep a note as to what malaria med I took, but had no side effects. Douglassue, I am sorry you had side effects. Your photography is amazing! Thanks for sharing the photos.
  • With experience, we have found that going to a travel specialist is an expensive way of getting the Malaria meds. Once we know which type of Malaria meds to take, we get a script from our regular Family Dr and it is much cheaper, the travel drs make a fast buck on these prescriptions.
  • Our TD told us that they weren’t really necessary for KT and that Europeans weren’t even prescribed them. A couple on our tour stopped taking them after 3 days or so because of stomach issues and we stopped them after 7 days or so as well. We always took them with food but after hearing from our very experienced TD and having slight, but ongoing, stomach issues, we simply stopped.
  • edited February 2018
    This is a photography thread, but hey, the Malaria subject comes up time and time again and everyone has their opinion so you have to do what is right for you. For us, however remote the possibilities of getting Malaria, we want to protect ourselves, so we take the Malaria meds, there has never been an issue and we take it in the recommended way. We can get a cheap script from our Family dr, so expense is not an issue either. During my nursing career I came across people with Malaria who had visited the various Malaria risk countries. It is not a pleasant disease and can recurre. We had the chance to speak to an infectious disease dr in our area a couple of years ago and he regularly sees patients who have contracted Malaria while traveling. We just don’t want to take the risk whenever we travel to so many counties. To have to worry if we get a fever, especially with this bad flu season, that it might be Malaria because we did not take our pills, we don’t want to deal with it. If people as famous as George Clooney and Lena Dunham can get Malaria while traveling, I am sure humble me might!
  • Good to know that malaria does not acknowledge star power! With that said, we do not second guess the experts and faithfully take our prescribed malaria meds! Since we have Kaiser HMO, we follow their orders, and have never had a problem with any of their prescribed meds!
  • Here's a link to a website for PHYSICIANS about choosing an anti-malarial med. Author appears to be a credentialed expert. One would think that we all best do our due diligence.

    https://travelreadymd.com/a-simple-way-to-choose-medication-to-prevent-malaria-in-travelers/

  • Hi Folks,
    I added a series of photos to my Africa Images for the Tauck Forum. I believe you will like them. I also entered a number of photos to the Photo Contest but they are mostly animals and do not have a lot of marketing value. But anyway, the images below are suggestive of the fun you can have on your KT!

    https://iluv2fly.smugmug.com/Forum-Shots-Africa/n-J5CjNB/

  • Hi Folks,
    I added a series of photos to my Africa Images for the Tauck Forum. I believe you will like them. I also entered a number of photos to the Photo Contest but they are mostly animals and do not have a lot of marketing value. But anyway, the images below are suggestive of the fun you can have on your KT!

    https://iluv2fly.smugmug.com/Forum-Shots-Africa/n-J5CjNB/

  • While it is much more fun to talk about photography.......Here is another very helpful article regarding malaria prophylaxis that is directly from the CDC, and pretty easy to follow as well. https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html
  • FYI: The M.D. in Africa placed me on Cipro, then Paludrine (a component, apparently, of Maladrone) and I completed the trip without side-effects. I do not know if this practice is used in the U.S.
  • Cipro is not effective for treating Malaria, what did the dr give it to you for? It is something your doctor gives you to take along in case you get something like diarrhea! It is not meant to be taken as a preventative for anything. I think you mean Malerone not Maladrone
  • Sorry wasn't clear. Cipro for the problems caused by the side-effects of Maldrone; Paludrine, a component of Maladrone, for the anti-malarial. Seems to have done the trick. But, hey, just conveying information to try to be helpful for any of the 10-12% that experience these often debilitating side-effects -- it can ruin an expensive vacation, but, medicine is not my field. The Tauck-supplied African M.D. said U.S. docs don't have the experience they have and I guess this fellow deals with these issues frequently. There were 2-3 of us on this trip that had the side-effects. Didn't talk to the third person. As I have emphasized before, it would be best to do your research, talk to your health care provider. Just saying . . .
  • edited March 2018
    Malarone- anti-malarial

    Maldrone
    - anti-drone malware? : ) (really!)

    Pauludrine- anti-malarial trade name for Proguanil, also known as chlorguanide and chloroguanide, is a medication used to treat and prevent malaria. It is often used together with chloroquine or atovaquone (as in Malarone).

    Malarone (trade names Malarone, Malanil) is a drug combination of atovaquone/proguanil A standard tablet of Malarone contains 100 mg of proguanil hydrochloride and 250 mg of atovaquone. It is an antimalarial medication used in both the treatment and prevention of malaria. Atovaquone/proguanil is not normally used to treat severe malaria, when an injectable drug such as quinine is used instead.

    Malarone is notable for having far fewer side effects than other, older malaria drugs. While some people experience side effects, such as coughing, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, mouth sores, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or weakness, the majority have none or few of these.

    CIPRO
    (Ciprofloxacin) is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections.

    Since the side-effects can be similar, it sounds to me like the doctor was treating potential gastroenteritis (also called infectious diarrhea) caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungus, with CIPRO rather than the side-effects of Malarone. CIPRO isn't likely to help with Malarone side-effects.

    I take Malarone (my wife was prescribed and took doxycycline) for anti-malarial protection, but also carry an emergency supply of CIPRO or other doctor-prescribed antibiotic for you know what. If you have gastroenteritis, Lomotil and OTC anti-diarheals only treat the symptoms- you also need to take something that will kill the little buggers that are causing the problem in the first place.
  • Sounds good, Alan.
  • Excellent Alan, your devotion to detail is wonderful. People often mistake the difference in bowel movements,consistency and frequency due to change in diet as a side effect of a drug on vacations, yes I know, TMI but true, just my bit of medical knowledge talking.
  • Hello, Happy travels everyone. :))
    I need Help!! I cannot see the pictures. I'm doing this tour next Aug. 2018. Would love to see them.
    Please advise.
    Thanks
  • Mileg wrote:
    Hello, Happy travels everyone. :))
    I need Help!! I cannot see the pictures. I'm doing this tour next Aug. 2018. Would love to see them.
    Please advise.
    Thanks

    Looks like douglassue's photos are no longer accessible. Just hope he swings by. You can find similar photos using Google. Check the K&T archives for other photos. I and others have posted a few.
  • Yes, I wonder why they are no longer available. Did Doug remove them or Tauck? Doug, where are you?
  • milmil
    edited March 2018
    Jejejej!! my fellow friends, Alan & British always helping me out. :)) It's good to know that pics. have been removed and not That I'm loosing it. Yes, I will check google.
    By the way.. I came back from Morocco 2 weeks ago, I have not been able to write review yet, but the trip was AMAZING! if there was anything about the tour that needed a fix, they did it.! It was perfect, well organize, the drives were not that long ... only 2 were about 3-3.5 hours but the tour TD Todd and tour guide Shakib had a hand full of jokes & then also gave us xtra info on the area etc... so the ride seemed way less. A wonderful tour.

    Thanks

  • British wrote:
    Yes, I wonder why they are no longer available. Did Doug remove them or Tauck? Doug, where are you?

    The link still takes you to Smug Mug so it was not Tauck. It may be that Doug removed the photos, has exceeded the bandwidth allowance on Smug Mug, or he was using the site commercially which they might allow.

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