johan_belgium

Hello everyone,

I would like to share with you 10 of my favourite pics taken on my last 2 safaris.

You can see them by following this link:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&y=pyvy1r

Greetings,

Johan

cooncat

OUTSTANDING. I wish I could say I have a favorite but they all are fabulous.

Thank you for sharing! More, please???

eenusa

I second cooncat. These are fantastic.

Kavey

Those are gorgeous - definitely pro level - thank you so much for sharing! Are these going to go into the book your said you were putting together? They are wonderful!

Matt_from_England

I can only add my compliments - do you mind posting what your photographic kit is? What lenses you use? I am seriously thinking of investing in the new Nikon D200 to replace my beloved but weary FM2n. Whenever I look through my old National Geographics or copies of time I really appreciate how those pioneering wildlife photographers worked, using manual focus as I do!

Also probably asked previously, where were they taken?

Matt

Leely

Who said "OUTSTANDING"? My sentiments exactly.

Thank you so much. These are truly beautiful.

divewop

Johan-
Wow!! These are absolutely great. I would also like to know what type of equipment/lens you used.

And how close to the "zebras playing"
were you? They usually break up when approached too closely.

atravelynn

From the first shot of your favorites to the last male lion they were superb photos. Such a nice variety. The rambunctious zebras are a great catch on film. Now those should go in the book.

napamatt

Johan

Terrific pictures, do you have your own line of postcards ;-)

Do you private vehicle at Kwando? Every time I see one of those vehicles with six people, I am astonished at how uncomfortable they look.

KayeN

Hi Johan,

Lovely photos, zebra in particular just make a great photo with those colourful backdrops. Hard to get a bad zebra photo, all so photogenic!

I am wondering about that seating arrangement as well. I am off to Botswana this July, are all camp vehicles in that configuration? Do not like that 3 across at all! I have heard that seating arrangement at Kwando camps and it is usually followed by that you rarely have 3 across - but in high season I would think most vehicles would be pretty well full.

Kind regards,
Kaye

katt58

As everyone has already said, they're wonderful. My husband would really like to know what equipment you used.

johan_belgium

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your lovely comments on my pictures.

I use the following equipment at the moment:

Nikon D2X + Nikon D70 (will be replaced by Nikon D200)
Nikon lenses: 80mm-200mm F 2.8
300 mm F 2.8 (+ teleconverter 1.4)

About the vehicles at Kwando, I can say the following: in the green season I didn't book a private vehicle because most of the times I was alone or with two other persons on gamedrive. But in high season (wintertime) I'll book a private vehicle because I don't like overcrowded vehicles (too much noise for bird pics, too much people that want to move from point "A" to point "B" - and best pictures will be taken when you are sittin' with an animal for some time). All my trips to Botswana in 2006-2007 will be in a private vehicle because of those reasons (+ I don't want the people do bother with my interests)


About the zebras playing we approached them within +/- 70 metres I think. It's true what you said they stop doing their "zebra thing" the moment you approach them too closely. I think a great spot for zebra pics is "Rock pan" in the Linyanti concession.

Greetings,

Johan

Matt_from_England

Hi again Johan,

SO it seems the new D200 will be a popular digital body - re lenses: I was thinking of on of these two:

AF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Of course I'd love something like the big

AF-S VR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED

But alas think it's beyond my financial capabilities.

Matt

johan_belgium

Matt,

I would opt for the following lens:
AF VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED.

I think it's best to buy a second lens for portrait photography or landscapes.
It wouldn't be that expensive I think.

Abd you need a 400mm (or even more) if you are interested in taking pictures of birds.

In Africa there is lots of light so during daytime you won't experience much problems with the f-stops.

But to be honest with you I am not an expert on photography, so other people can tell you maybe much more about it.

Greetings,

Johan

divewop

Johan, I think you're being much too modest.

Matt-
I'm far from being an expert too, but I agree w/ Johan about the 80-400VR.
I've had it for a couple of years now and love it, especially for the close-ups. Using it w/ my D2X and D70 digital cameras puts the 400mm to up to about 600mm. It's great.
For landscape or wider angle shots, I use the 17-35mm lens. It's another one of my favs.

Matt_from_England

Thanks Johan and Divewop for that lens info: from all the reviews I can find it is a very sharp lens at both extremes and considered a top of the range consumer lens. But the focus speed is siad to be a bit slow and noisy? How do you find it in this respect? Also I see the D200 has 1.5 ratio so giving the 600mm top as you say.

With regard to landscapes and portraits I still love and use my old FM2n - I have the 28mm f2.8 and 80 - 200 f4 both AIS. Use the film scanner to upload them.

Have a look at my photo journals from TZ:

http://clubs.wanadoo.co.uk/pictures/...lbumID=5272073
http://clubs.wanadoo.co.uk/pictures/...lbumID=5280137

Taken with a combo of the old Nikon and Canon A80 digital compact. Nowhere near your quality Johan, but for my standard not bad. I use Photoshop 5 as well.

Anyway, sorry to thread hi jack but inevitable after your excellent photos Johan. Thankyou.

Matt

johan_belgium

Matt,

Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures. I always enjoy other's people work.

I think the other lenses you mention are more than sufficient.

Greetings,

Johan