Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY: Uganda is an extremely photogenic country; from panoramic scenery, wildlife and birds to people and vibrant ceremonies. Rich color and good low lighting conditions abound. Keep your cameras in a dust resistant, padded case and out of the midday sun. A 200mm (or longer) telephoto lens will prove very useful on safari. Remember that wildlife 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, considered illegal in many African countries. If you want to photograph any local people, you must ask permission. It is best to check with your driver/guide first.

Be sure to take along plenty of film or video stock tape and buy it beforehand. Although film is for sale in Africa, it is expensive and limited. For color slides, many professional wildlife 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. Electricity produced by generators at some lodges and camps may not be powerful enough to recharge your batteries, so you may want to take a recharging unit that works off the cigarette lighter in a vehicle, or larger batteries.

VIDEO: Charging facilities for video cameras should be available in some of the camps and lodges on the safari, as long as you have a standard charger that will plug into 240 volts. Please bring along enough batteries to last you at least three days of video filming.