Photography, Digital Cameras and Taking Digital Photos in the Kruger
Digital cameras owe their existence to the NASA space program. In 1969 an image capture system called Charge Coupled Device (CCD) technology was developed and this was refined for use in the space program.
Digital cameras have made it easy for anybody to take very acceptable photographs. Of course a basic understanding and feel for "composition" makes any photo better. In the Kruger Park the subject makes the photo anyway without much help from the photographer. Seeing a herd of elephants or lions at a kill is more than enough subject material to get on camera.
Modern digital cameras have ever increasing photo
resolution and shutter speed. They come with auto focusing methods,
built-in flash that allow you to take excellent pictures.
In addition to wonderful camera capabilities there is a multitude of
easy to use software that allows for image cropping, colour enhancement
and sharpness improvements.
It is now easy to create wonderful wide angle landscape shots without using wide angle lenses. This is done by using stitching software ... you take say 3 photos over the width of a bigger scene each one slightly overlapping the other. The software which is very easy to use then recognizes a common feature and joins the photos perfectly to provide a wide angle view.
Take a look at this shot which was created in exactly the way I've just described ... sunset over the Shingwedzi .
Of course any "real" photographer will tell you timing is everything and that it is important to grasp that small window of opportunity to capture a truly great photo and I must agree. However few of us are looking to win competitions rather we just want a reminder of a memorable incident. The Kruger Park will provide anybody with more than a few such memories that can be captured for later enjoyment.
To take excellent digital photographs, you can do this with a wide range of low cost cameras. For use in the Kruger however I would seriously recommend that you get one with an very good optical zoom capability (you can ignore digital zoom for all practical purposes). At times you will be able to get so close as not to need a high powered telephoto capability but as so often happens the perfect photo is just that bit too far away.
I own 2 digital cameras ... all the photos on this Kruger Park site were taken with one or the other. The cost of a photo is essentially zero once you've bought the camera.
The first one is a Sony DSC V1 with a 5 times zoom (maximum focal length is about 120 mm) and a Canon EOS 350D single lens reflex camera to which I have fitted a Sigma 70 to 300 mm zoom lens. In practical terms this means I can use the Sony for general purpose shots and the Canon for taking close up shots of birds for example. The Sony would just not be powerful enough to do this. It is far easier to carry the Sony and taking photos is much easier. On the other hand the ability to get close ups with the Canon I found most important.
By having 2 cameras I do not need to change the lens on the Canon which would create dust problems on the image sensor almost certainly if i was to change lenses in the dusty environment of the Kruger (remember there are lots of dry sand roads and dust inevitably gets everywhere as you will notice after a few days of driving).
The main problem with the Canon is not a camera problem but rather a weight of the lens problem. Long telephoto lenses are heavy making it difficult to take "in focus" shots in darker light conditions (eg shaded areas under trees). These situations require longer aperture opening times and the camera cannot be held steady for long enough without a tripod. The result is a blurry image even if the focus seemed perfect at the time. In the Kruger Park driving with a tripod is not easy although monopods (one-legged "tripods") now available do make it a possibility.
Focusing the Canon on subjects surrounded by other objects like tree branches or grass stalks means you will need to use manual focusing quite a lot and this is also not that easy in a cramped vehicle conditions.
Choosing Your Digital Imaging Equipment
The first decision is in regards to your overall camera needs ... what is the main use to which you will put the camera and since we are talking of the Kruger National Park here you do need a telephoto capability preferably.
If you intend to make large prints of your digital images then large pixel size images (along with good camera focusing capability) are required while if you only intend to print postcard sized images and/or use the images on a website or in emails then such large pixel requirements are unnecessary. Remember the pixel resolution is a measure of picture size not focusing accuracy. Most camera suppliers plug pixel size as an important selection criterion and while important this is not the most important for most people. Zoom and zoom range are more important for most of us.
Spend some time doing research online. Talk to retailers and look for good common sense and professional assistance. Most expensive is not always best here. Read digital camera magazines.
These magazines (and also review web sites) often review cameras by price range and make sensible recommendations. That's how I came to choose the Canon EOS 350D as well as my Sony that I've had for about 2 years. The Canon is quite new.
Most digital cameras come with basic editing software as well as downloading and archiving software (eg each photo had a time and date attached to it to help filing and locating on your hard drive). You can also generally delete and or copy images to another location including memory sticks and CD's so that you can take the photos to a print shop where you can order the photos in various print sizes. Most of the software is user friendly and is easy to install and operate.
These days, there's nothing you can't do with good software and a decent camera.
Digital photography is a technology that allows picture takers to experience instant results that can be checked instantly too. Everybody who visits the Kruger National park should come equipped with a digital camera ... and be ready for action.