Go Out and Shoot!

A big thanks to Shem Compion for his guest post yesterday.

I am sure you will agree that images like those remind us all why photographing Africa is such an amazing privilege and experience.  If you are interested in bettering your own wildlife photography why not book a photographic safari with Shem?  All going well, I will be joining for at least two different trips later this year.  There is nothing like sharing ideas and shooting with other photographers to keep the inspiration, ideas and creativity from drying up so think about it.

Now one of the things that a photographic safari, or even just shooting with other people, will do for you is new ideas.  You might see a different way of approaching everyday wildlife scenes and guess what, it will make you a better photographer!  We all, and this goes for everybody, get stuck in a rut every now and then and to break out of the rut you have to ‘want it’.

Yeah, we all want to take bigger pictures.  We all want to, for whatever reason, head out into the field on a more regular basis to photograph nature in action but in order to do that we need to recognize that fact and make a conscious decision.  Your photography will not improve by itself.  Actually, for a short while you might be able to get better, shoot more interesting compositions and create different images but at some point we all hit the wall.  You cannot expect anything to grow in a vacuum and that’s why you need to want to go and shoot with other people.

So this weekend, find some time to meet up with someone.  Go out and shoot – anything!  Even when you are shooting subjects and scenes other than wildlife & nature you will be amazed how shooting with someone can give you new ideas and inspiration that will filter back into your wildlife photography.  Using your camera, learning how to see and shoot light is a universal thing and something that, as with everything else, will get better the more you do it!

Now before you head out to fire away, check this out.  During the last few months I have twice looked for electronic and photographic products that I could not find in South Africa.  First it was an Amazon Kindle and a few week ago I was looking for a Nikon Reverse Mount Adapter for my 50mm f/1.8 lens.   The Kindle, being an Amazing product, is not available in South African stores and after a while I got tired of asking for and having to explain to numerous camera stores what a reverse mount adapter is, looks like and does.

After a few searches on the web, one website kept on showing up – www.wantitall.co.za.  Up until now I have purchased two Kindles and my reverse adapter from them.  The prices were good and the service excellent!  Online shopping has changed the way we do things and with a product range like you can find at www.wantitall.co.za you will never have to search for those difficult to find electronics products again. Their range of products is phenomenal!!

If you live in South Africa, for the next month Photo-Africa offers you a 10% discount, up to a maximum of R400, for anything you purchase at www.wantitall.co.za. Simply visit www.wantitall.co.za, browse through the massive catalogue of products and when it’s time to check out use the following discount code – PhotoAfrica847 Easy as that!

Right, the weekend is here!  On Monday I am heading up to the Drakensberg to do a lodge shoot so during the weekend I will be pre-loading a few posts for Monday and Tuesday. Have quite a few things planned for the weekend so depending on how things goes I might do a post or two.

See ya on Monday.  Go out and shoot with someone!

Gerry