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honeymoonshoneymoons
Take back amazing honeymoon snaps
with these practical tips on travel and
wildlife photography
DavidBostock,TheBridalPhotographer
SnapDECISIONS
By the time your photographer starts
working on your wedding album, you’ll
be happily snapping photos of your dream
destination. Fortunately, digital cameras are
sophisticated and easy to use, you can’t
possibly go wrong... or can you? Clever
as they are, cameras can’t be blamed if
your heads are chopped off the frame in
that picture you asked a waiter to take.
So instead of leaving it all to chance,
learn a few tricks from David Bostock
(www.thebridalphotographer.com) on how
to take better pictures.
Capturing wildlife
Safari honeymoons are becoming more
popular, as couples opt for the thrill of
wildlife adventure. Taking pictures of
animals during those rare encounters is
part of the excitement, and although they
are the trickiest subjects to photograph,
with patience and practical skills, you can
produce the most amazing, enigmatic
images. So where do you start?
The right camera
“To photograph big game the way top
professionals do requires the use of a DSLR
camera with a long lens – at least 200mm
but preferably longer,” says David. “These
lenses alone often cost thousands of pounds
to buy, and are totally impractical and
unnecessary for most people, unless you
are seriously into photography as a hobby
or profession.
“While a budget of £300 won’t buy you a
brand new digital SLR, you can get a good
compact digital camera with a minimum
12x optical built-in zoom lens. Avoid
cameras that claim to have large digital
zoom, as this just magnifies an already
large image and will produce poorer
quality images.
“The critical thing about photographing
game is getting close enough to fill some
or all of the frame with the subject, rather
than come back with a set of pictures where
the lion or elephant is a tiny spec in the
distance. This means having the ability to
zoom right into the picture with an optical
zoom lens. Canon Powershot, Fuji Finepix
and the Nikon Coolpix ranges are all
worth looking at. A good camera shop like
Jessops and magazines like What Camera?
should also give some good advice on the
best buys.
“Alternatively, those who are really serious
about their photography might want to get
hold of a second-hand digital SLR and a
long lens from eBay. People are always
upgrading to the latest model and there are
some great bargains to be had if you know
what you’re looking for.”
DavidBostock,TheBridalPhotographer
David Bostock, The Bridal Photographer
RowenaMarella-Daw
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My first proper camera was a secondhand
pre-digital age clunky Pentax SLR. The
automatic mode didn’t work, so I had
to use my best judgement when it came
to manual settings such as aperture and
shutter speed. I carried a large camera
bag stuffed with wide-angle and zoom
lenses wherever I travelled. Amazingly,
for an amateur attempt, the pictures were
pretty good. Waiting for the prints to
come back from the lab added a sense
of anticipation.
Fast forward to the age of instant
gratification. Digital cameras are such
time-savers and I can’t imagine how I’d
manage without one. I use a Panasonic
Lumix FZ18 with a 28mm wide-angle
Leica lens and an 18x optical zoom,
the highest I could find for under £300.
It’s light, easy to handle and perfect for
shooting wildlife. Here are my top tips:
• Timing is everything: Most digital SLR
cameras now have a function that lets
you take a series of shots by pressing
the button once – ideal for catching the
action. These cameras are also capable
of taking HD movies that can be printed
as individual images, but the resulting
photo will not be as sharp as you’d get
from a still image. Bear in mind that film
is a totally different medium. There is a
certain magic you get from print images
that cannot be replicated in film.
• Expect the unexpected: Animals are
unpredictable. Make sure that your
camera is in the right mode and setting,
so all you need to do is aim and shoot
when the meerkats come out, or when the
goat climbs that argan tree. Your patience
will be rewarded.
• Points of view: When photographing
scenery, people or animals, if possible,
vary your angles and perspective.
Try shooting from behind a tree, from
the top of the stairs, or from under the
table – whatever it takes to get good,
dynamic pictures.
• Memories: The last thing you want is
to run out of memory just when the lion
starts growling. Make sure you have
plenty of spare memory cards, with no
less than four gigabytes each.
Style and technique
“Before you head for the real thing, it’s
worth going to a local zoo or safari park
to get familiar with your camera and its
functions, and what shots do and don’t
work,” says David.
Composition
“When composing your image, I suggest
applying the rule of thirds: Use your mind’s
third eye to divide the scene into nine equal
parts using two equally-spaced horizontal
lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines.
Important elements of the composition
should be placed along these lines or
their intersections.
“Don’t just shoot an animal in the centre
of the frame. Position it in one of the thirds.
This rule also applies when photographing
the horizon. You’ll be amazed at how much
better your pictures will look.”
Hold your breath
“When photographing game, it’s important
to keep the camera perfectly still when
zooming in on the subject. The slightest
movement can cause the camera to shake,
which results in blurred pictures.
“If you are on a four-wheel safari drive,
rest your camera on a bean bag balanced
on a flat surface of the truck, or use a
lightweight tripod or a monopod, if you
prefer. I recommend a very cheap portable
support system called Gorillapod from
www.joby.com. This can sometimes be
hooked over the window of the truck and is
very lightweight and easy to pack.”
This picture was taken when Elizabeth and Liam Donovan were on their
honeymoon in Krabi, Thailand.“At Tiger Cave Temple, there were lots of
monkeys, and this cheeky one was trying to stare me out. I took this with
my Nikon D80,” says Elizabeth.
RowenaMarella-Daw
RowenaMarella-Daw
RowenaMarella-Daw
From manual to digital...Rowena Marella-Daw shares her
travel photography tips
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