Photography of Gorillas

I'm luccky enough to be going to Uganda on a truck safari for two weeks this
summer. Part of this trip will be tracking mountain Gorillas in the forest
as well another day going after chimps.
Does anyone have any tips for these situations specifically or for the trip
as a whole?

I currently have a Minolta Dynax 505si Super with 28-80mm (f3.5-5.6) and
70-300mm (f5.6) lenses as well as a shabby manual Cosina c2 with 35-70
(f3.5-5.6) and a 2x teleconverter. For general use I carry both and shoot
Fuji Sensia in the Minolta and B&W in the Cosina.

I'd appreciate any hints you might be able to give me as I want to make the
most of this opportunity. I don't mind spending a little cash to supplement
my kit if it'll be worthwhile.

Also any feedback on my work to date would be appreciated (see link below)

Thanks.
Steve
------------------
Steve Smith
www.unfamiliar-image.co.uk





Steve Smith

"Steve Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:PLhOa.1168$%(E-Mail Removed)...

> Does anyone have any tips for these situations specifically or for the
trip
> as a whole?
>
> Thanks.
> Steve
> -----------

Yes..er..ee, Steve,

1) Gorillas in the wild feel threatened and respond aggressively when you
try to look them in the eye.

2) A camera lens, to a gorilla, is a big eye

3) Stay downwind, and, don't let them see you sweat! ;-)

Enjoy your trip and good luck with the photography.

Journalist

Hi Steve, I will be there in the same period. :-) More commes are greatfull
!!!!!!!!!! Thanks

Albert

"Steve Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> escribió en el mensaje
news:PLhOa.1168$%(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm luccky enough to be going to Uganda on a truck safari for two weeks
this
> summer. Part of this trip will be tracking mountain Gorillas in the forest
> as well another day going after chimps.
> Does anyone have any tips for these situations specifically or for the
trip
> as a whole?
>
> I currently have a Minolta Dynax 505si Super with 28-80mm (f3.5-5.6) and
> 70-300mm (f5.6) lenses as well as a shabby manual Cosina c2 with 35-70
> (f3.5-5.6) and a 2x teleconverter. For general use I carry both and shoot
> Fuji Sensia in the Minolta and B&W in the Cosina.
>
> I'd appreciate any hints you might be able to give me as I want to make
the
> most of this opportunity. I don't mind spending a little cash to
supplement
> my kit if it'll be worthwhile.
>
> Also any feedback on my work to date would be appreciated (see link below)
>
> Thanks.
> Steve
> ------------------
> Steve Smith
> www.unfamiliar-image.co.uk
>
>
>

Vinnie <(E-Mail Removed)> observed
>"Steve Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:<PLhOa.1168$%(E-Mail Removed)>...
>> I'm luccky enough to be going to Uganda on a truck safari for two weeks this
>> summer. Part of this trip will be tracking mountain Gorillas in the forest
>> as well another day going after chimps.
>> Does anyone have any tips for these situations specifically or for the trip
>> as a whole?

Lucky so-and-so! I'd love to do that.
>
>For one, take a lot of 400 and 800 ASA film. The gorillas are in
>forest cover and there often isnt a lot of light. A fast 200/2.8
>would be even better, if you can swing it - you'll need all the light
>you can get.
>
>You are not allowed to put anything down on the ground at any time -
>so a tripod may not be viable. Take a monopod instead - the extra
>stability will help in the low light.

Looks like good advice. Can I just warn you not to use tripod or monopod
in vehicle with engine running? The vibration is worse than usinmg your
body to absorb the vibrations. HIH.

>Lastly, please go with a legit company. The gorilla population gets
>stressed when visited too often and is also susceptible to human
>diseases. Some less ethical safari companies pay bribes and
>circumvent the restrictions placed by the govt on the # of visitors
>allowed. Please do not support this, as this contributes to the
>decline of a species that is already tottering on the verge of
>extinction.

Indeed.

Mike
[The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]
--
Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "digression".
<><

(E-Mail Removed) (Ed Blagden) wrote:

>Despite living in that part of the world (in Kenya over the border,
>but I go to Uganda +/- once a month) I have never actually seen a
>gorilla in the wild. The last time I had an opportunity to go to the
>Rwenzoris ...

Ed,

I wouldn't be too surprised not to see any gorillas in the
Ruwenzori mountains. I believe they are not there. They are
instead on the Virunga volcanos.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/radar/sircxsar/karisoke2.html

Correct me, please, if I have missed a new gorilla habitat
coming up.

Hans-Georg

--
No mail, please.

"Jan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Vinnie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> > "Steve Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:<PLhOa.1168$%(E-Mail Removed)>...
> > > I'm luccky enough to be going to Uganda on a truck safari for two
weeks
> this
> > > summer. Part of this trip will be tracking mountain Gorillas in the
> forest
> > > as well another day going after chimps.
> > > Does anyone have any tips for these situations specifically or for the
> trip
> > > as a whole?

Thanks to everyone for their tips. I visited your site Jan and was able to
read the text too (sort of) care of one of the online robot translators
(can't remember which, I found it on Google (they don't do Dutch
themselves). I'll look at my budget and see what I can afford in the way of
a faster lens.
For those who are interested I'll be vising the Biwindi Impenetrable Forest
N.P..

Thanks again,
Steve

PS. I usually shoot transparency. Should I change to print film consifering
the speed I'll require and the climate? (Isn't print film more 'robust'?)

In message <cikPa.672$(E-Mail Removed)>
"Steve Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


>
> PS. I usually shoot transparency. Should I change to print film consifering
> the speed I'll require and the climate? (Isn't print film more 'robust'?)

Your call, but IMO slide film is better, and the fast slide films are better
than the fast print films. Having said that, according to Jessops in
Glasgow, Fuji have stopped doing the one I used to like which was an 800
emulsion which was designed for pushing 1 or 2 stops.

Having said that, Fuji do a fast print film (800) which a lot of press
photographers use, and which is pretty good, considering.

Liz
--
Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk
Safaris; India; Seychelles; image-manipulation
New Mar 03: Kenya additions Apr03: Impressions of India.