Wildlife Photography Kit

OceanTragic · Nov 29th, 2008, 04:30

I'll be in Ranthambhore in April 2009 doing safaris in Gypsys/Jeeps and I wonder what gear I need to make sure I've got, especially things like monopods or bean bags.

Obviously with Christmas coming up it's an ideal time to subliminally mention things to the wife.

I've got zoom ranges from 18-300mm covered, polarisers, lenses and a decent bag but that's it.

rtandon · Jan 19th, 2009, 03:50

Hi, You have already listed down important gear like monopod and bean bags. One suggestion from me - if feasible. If you can, carry a couple of camera bodies with different focal length lenses mounted. You indeed have a good telephoto but still if you have spare camera bodies, make use of this. Especially in wildlife, you often do not get sufficient time to change the lenses. Evenif you do get, it is wise to utilise that time in making exposures with changes settings and compositions, rather than changing lenses. Another point - in the dust and dirt of wildlife you have to be careful in changing lenses due to exposure of open camera body to the atmosphere.

If you also have a 2x multiplier, it can also help getting more of your existing zoom.

PeakXV · Jan 19th, 2009, 04:00

Just remember that because of the Ranthambhor jungle foliage - alot of the photo ops will be shadowy or dark - this is particularly so on the mountain routes. So prepare yourself & equipment for this.

OceanTragic · Jan 25th, 2009, 01:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

Just remember that because of the Ranthambhor jungle foliage - alot of the photo ops will be shadowy or dark - this is particularly so on the mountain routes. So prepare yourself & equipment for this.

Hi PeakXV. I'll be there mid April so I'm guessing it's all going to be brown (hey I've always wanted to take sepia shots

) and the foliage will be sparse. Is this accurate do you think?

PeakXV · Jan 25th, 2009, 01:39

No, not totally brown. In fact, although mid-April may be pushing it a bit, the numerous 'flame of the forest' trees there - should still have some bloom( I was there in late March, early April and it was @ peak). Look for the langurs to be sitting in the branches munching those orangey petals, highlighted by rays of sunlight emerging through the jungle canopy. A very nice photo-op with the right camera optics!

OceanTragic · Jan 25th, 2009, 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

Look for the langurs to be sitting in the branches munching those orangey petals, highlighted by rays of sunlight emerging through the jungle canopy. A very nice photo-op with the right camera optics!

Crikey, I'm under a bit of pressure now

So far I'm booked up for four gypsy safaris, with a chance of two more the following day, although I'd like to see the fort too.

Do you reckon this'll be enough?

PeakXV · Jan 25th, 2009, 02:51

So that's 12 hours with an option for 6 additional hours. This is certainly plenty of time to see all the wonders of the park in various degrees of lighting. If it is time enough to see the 'KING' remains to be seen and is mostly a matter of chance.

... don't forget to stop for a chai under the second(?) largest banyan tree in India!

Nov 29th, 2008, 04:30	#1
OceanTragic More Of A Leecher Than A Seeder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southampton,UK Posts: 946	Wildlife Photography Kit I'll be in Ranthambhore in April 2009 doing safaris in Gypsys/Jeeps and I wonder what gear I need to make sure I've got, especially things like monopods or bean bags. Obviously with Christmas coming up it's an ideal time to subliminally mention things to the wife. I've got zoom ranges from 18-300mm covered, polarisers, lenses and a decent bag but that's it.

Jan 19th, 2009, 03:50	#2
rtandon Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India Posts: 125	Hi, You have already listed down important gear like monopod and bean bags. One suggestion from me - if feasible. If you can, carry a couple of camera bodies with different focal length lenses mounted. You indeed have a good telephoto but still if you have spare camera bodies, make use of this. Especially in wildlife, you often do not get sufficient time to change the lenses. Evenif you do get, it is wise to utilise that time in making exposures with changes settings and compositions, rather than changing lenses. Another point - in the dust and dirt of wildlife you have to be careful in changing lenses due to exposure of open camera body to the atmosphere. If you also have a 2x multiplier, it can also help getting more of your existing zoom. __________________ -- Rajeev

Jan 19th, 2009, 04:00	#3
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,878	Just remember that because of the Ranthambhor jungle foliage - alot of the photo ops will be shadowy or dark - this is particularly so on the mountain routes. So prepare yourself & equipment for this. __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

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Jan 25th, 2009, 01:39	#5
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,878	No, not totally brown. In fact, although mid-April may be pushing it a bit, the numerous 'flame of the forest' trees there - should still have some bloom( I was there in late March, early April and it was @ peak). Look for the langurs to be sitting in the branches munching those orangey petals, highlighted by rays of sunlight emerging through the jungle canopy. A very nice photo-op with the right camera optics!

Jan 25th, 2009, 02:51	#7
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,878	So that's 12 hours with an option for 6 additional hours. This is certainly plenty of time to see all the wonders of the park in various degrees of lighting. If it is time enough to see the 'KING' remains to be seen and is mostly a matter of chance. ... don't forget to stop for a chai under the second(?) largest banyan tree in India!