Photographic Safaris
Photographic Safaris
Luxury Practical Workshop with Extension Options, $$$
All of our Photographic Safaris have at their core a four day (three night) practically oriented workshop combining lectures in the lodge with plenty of opportunities to test out your newly-acquired skills on game drives or on foot.
They take place in two locations: the world-famous Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, and the adjacent, less-visited Manyeleti Game Reserve (which shares open borders with Sabi Sand and the Kruger Park, but has a lower density of vehicles).
Wildlife Photographer Sean Pattrick
All Safaris are hosted by renowned wildlife photographer Sean Pattrick and his partner Megan Emmett. Each Workshop is then complemented by an optional extension to a different and carefully selected Reserve to continue to develop your skills whilst benefitting from some hands-on guidance from the team.
Sean has built up a vast travel and wildlife image library comprising thousands of images. From these he creates giant-size works for photographic exhibitions and interior decorators, lodges and hotels, plus smaller pictures and cards. Although his work concentrates mostly on classic wildlife photography, it incorporates a wide range of genres.
Sean’s articles have been published in the following magazines (to name a few):
- Africa Geographic
- Country Life
- Saturday Star Travel
- Diversions
- Sawubona
- Progress
- Sports Afield (USA)
- Practical Photographer (UK)
FEEDBACK
"The trip was fabulous and I felt so relaxed after 4 days of the bush through Sean's eyes; it exceeded all my expectations despite that i have regularly been in the African bush in half a dozen countries over the past 20 years... About 95% of the credit goes to Sean, i have never met a more knowledgeable articulate, eloquent, fun, caring bush guide before. Excellent customer focus with all of us." Dr JR, Australia
TOPICS COVERED
The photographic workshop covers a variety of topics including:
- An introduction to wildlife photography and basic equipment
- Composition
- Technique (including aperture and shutter speed)
- Flash usage and night photography
- Animal behaviour and bush sensitivity
- Exposure, metering light and understanding light.
Group sizes are small- they are limited to six to ensure that everyone has an outer seat on the game viewing vehicle- and this ensures that there is plenty of opportunity for one-to-one time with Sean to focus on your particular requirements.
Small group sizes also maximise the chances of attending to participant's specific interests, be it elephants, birds or the feline family during the Safari.
Although we prefer to use digital technology to enable the review images by participants after outings, all camera formats are welcome (with the understanding that there are no development facilities for film cameras). Digital workflow is not covered in depth but rather the focus of the four days is to maximize photographic opportunities with wildlife, and the understanding of their behaviour.
THE OPTIONS
Sabi Sand Workshop
Sabi Sand is the definitive "Big Five" destination. Its 90,000 hectares are unfenced with the Kruger Park and animals concentrate densely around the two perennial rivers from which it takes its name. This photographer's paradise hosted the trailblazing Londolozi Leopards films of the seventies. It has not looked back since... |
Manyeleti Workshop
Manyeleti is a fantastic Reserve, adjacent to the Kruger and Sabi Sand (no fences with either), but less developed. This is more of a wilderness area, and we will spend some serious time in the company of our photographic subjects without disturbance. We will also explore landscapes and some of the smaller things. |
THE EXTENSIONS
Kruger Park Extension
We swap the habituated leopards of the Sabi Sand for a private concession hidden inside the Kruger Park itself, well away from tourist roads. Tracking and spotting may be more challenging, but more rewarding. Practice some of the animal behaviour Workshop skills for the first time. Exclusive, off the beaten track- wonderful! |
Thornybush Extension
This seriously exclusive Reserve has high animal concentrations and excellent Trackers to keep an eye on where it is. The Thornybush Extension option saves the richest Game concentration for last to make the most of what you have learnt. Unusual sightings such as Cheetah and Wild Dog are more frequent here than elsewhere... |
PODCAST
Listen to Kruger2Canyons.com's professional Wildlife Photographer, Trails Guide and Instructor Sean Pattrick giving an overview of the Photographic Workshop.
