The Valley of Flowers
is punctuated with
waterfalls, wild
flowers, forests and
beautiful landscapes








Bison have poor
eyesight, but have
acute hearing and
an excellent sense
of smell

Photography


PHOTOGRAPHY:
Be sure to take along plenty of film or video stock tape and buy it beforehand. Although film is for sale,  it may be expensive and limited.  For color slides, many professional photographers use Fuji Velvia,  50 for bright scenes, and 100 and 200 for low light. Also for color slides, Kodachrome 64 and high-speed Ektachrome 400 is dependable.  For color prints, we recommend Kodacolor 100 and 400. Take along extra batteries for the light meter, and a waterproof pouch, such as a zip lock bag, to protect your camera from moisture and dust. Heat can affect the emulsion and color quality, so keep your film supply in the shade. Use an aluminum bag to shield it from the x-ray screeners at airport security, or ask for a hand check.  Take extra batteries and adapters if you plan to use a video camera. For landscapes, we recommend a wide angle, 28 or 35mm lens. Remember that wildlife and birdlife behave most naturally if they forget human presence, so try to whisper.  The best scenes result from patience.

Please refrain from taking any photographs at airports, harbors, or government buildings, as they are considered illegal.  If you want to photograph any local people, you must ask permission, and expect to tip them, so carry some small change with you.  It is best to check with your guide first.

GOING DIGITAL:
Many travelers are choosing digital photography over film photography with the big advantage being that you can view your pictures immediately on your camera’s monitor and delete any unwanted shots. Most digital cameras take some form of 'memory stick' or 'Flashcard'. These come in various sizes from 8Mb up to 2GB. You may want to upgrade to a 1GB flashcard which holds around 500-600 pictures, on the “fine” setting on the camera, depending on how complicated the picture is. When on safari, where you must pack light and be able to carry everything you take, photographers must address the issues of charging batteries, storage and editing of photos. Be aware that digital cameras consume a large amount of battery power. Rechargeable batteries are a good answer, but require planning ahead for charging time (not yet always available) – and remembering to do it! While charging facilities are available in most lodges and camps, you must remember to bring your own adapters.

Keep in mind that the number of your camera’s mega pixels largely determines the quality of your photos (and the cost of the camera.) The more pixels, the better the photo. Quality is seldom a problem unless you want to significantly enlarge your images. Generally speaking, a 2.1 mega pixel camera will produce a good 8x10 print, IF you don't crop your picture to make your subject bigger. A camera with a large optical zoom allows you to do the cropping at the time of taking the picture. You may want to choose to upgrade to a 5 mega pixel camera for safari photography.

VIDEO:
Charging facilities for video cameras should be available in most hotels, as long as you have a standard charger. Please bring along enough batteries to last you at least three days of video filming.

CAMERA FEE:
You may have to pay a fee for using a still and/or a video camera in most monuments, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. This fee, which ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 500, depending on the place and the type of camera used, is payable at the entrance gate. Please ensure you carry sufficient funds with you to cover this charge.