For clients looking to capture holiday memories on camera or perhaps upload some envy-inducing Instagram posts, Virgin Limited Edition is sharing some of the top photography tips of its staff at the Ulusaba Private Game Reserve.
Its team of Rangers and Trackers are trained to help guests spot Africa?s wildlife and can share some of their own photographic expertise with holidaymakers whilst on safari.
As an example, the game reserve?s conservation manager, Trevor Savage, offers some tips for superior safari shots. They include:
1. Our guides are experts in animal behaviour so guests should spend the first day of their trip listening to their tips and observing the animals. Soon, they?ll start to recognise the tell-tale signs of a yawn or roar and will be ready to snap the local wildlife in all their natural glory.
2. The endless plains are perfect for capturing photographs of sunrises and sunsets. If using an iPhone the best way to truly illustrate the extraordinary colours and shapes in the sky is to frame the photograph to show one third ground and two thirds sky. When using a camera the settings I recommend at these times of day are a low ISO and a F stop of F8.
3. Think about the animals being photographed; the bigger animals like elephants can be challenging because budding photographers need to decide between capturing detail using a very tight crop or a wide angle so as to capture natural behaviour like drinking at a waterhole.
4. Guests should make the most of game drives during the soft morning and evening light as, at this time of day, the light falls directly on the subject and backgrounds are softer. Beginners can create amazing quality photographs at this time of day as the neutral back round makes the animals appear even more vibrant and alert in their natural habitat. During the daytime, the sun creates shadows and bright backgrounds which can lead to images being over exposed.
5. If guests are looking to capture the night sky then I recommend visiting in the winter months; the clear skies offer unrivalled opportunities for some stunning photography. I recommend using a wide angle lens on a tripod; set the focus to infinity and leave the shutter open for approximately 25-30 seconds.
To give photography enthusiasts more opportunities to capture these picture-perfect moments, Ulusaba is currently offering the final night for free on stays of four nights or more before September 30.
For more information call 0800-716919 or visit virginlimitededition.com
