Photo of the Day

Leopard on a rock, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

October 2007
Canon 1DsMkII, 500mm f/4 + 1.4x, 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 500

How big is your rat?

I like to look back at my photographic journey every now and then, and why I am where I am today. I mean, I left a successful career in the software consulting industry, so why would I give up a steady job with a decent paycheck every 2 weeks? The question has many different answers for me, but the late Galen Rowell had a way of explaining why some climbers were better than others. It is all about the rat that lives inside of you.

"The phrase was coined by working class British climbers to account why some of them become so much more successful than others. The public believes that climbers who scale remote mountains, like published photographers must have greater inate talent and skill than their lesser companions, but this is not the case. The rat refers to the voracious creature gnawing at a person's stomach from the inside that drives him or her to repeatedly leave the comforts and security of civilized life to challenge him or herself in the natural world. Without a big rat, a person stays at home with the family and is content to be a shopkeeper."

-an exerpt from The Inner Game of Outdoor Photography by Galen Rowell

I realized that I had many different rats that lived inside of me. I knew that I had a desire for adventure in my life, and that I would go to my grave having regrets if this adventure rat wasn't fed. I had an inner voice that kept telling me that my life could be so much more than what it was at the time. I started my photographic safari business when I still had a full time job. I was working for a UK-based software company, and as a result I did have more vacation time than the average working American. I used this time off to my advantage, and in the beginning I spent all of my vacation time of 4 weeks in Africa each year. So I decided to lead 2 safaris each year, and this worked out very well for a few years. But the rat was getting bigger inside, and it needed to be fed. Fast forward a few years, and Leslie and I were expecting the birth of our baby boy. My travel schedule was extremely hectic, and I knew that this would be disruptive as a parent. Leslie would be disappointed with my travel schedule, and there had to be a better way to live my life.

It was at the 6-month pregnancy point when we (yes, we) decided that I would turn my photographic safari and workshop business into a full time (more than full time!) job. Well, I haven't looked back. But again the rat keeps eating away for more. So now this leads to the starting of a niche photographic product, which I will begin marketing and selling in early 2008. With one challenge under my belt, I am starting another one. The move from full time employee to self employed was a huge leap of faith, and I am a better person because of it. I am by nature a very risk averse person. However, there is a difference between calculated risk and being reckless. I like to think that my situation has all been about the former.

So I have to ask, what is *your* rat?

Photo of the Day

Running Elephant, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Canon 1DsMkII, 500mm f/4, 1/5 sec @ f/32, ISO 50

Botswana safari announcement. Now accepting signups

I have a safari planned to Botswana next April, 2008. If you are interested in wonderful photography in an intimate setting, perhaps this is the safari for you. As this safari is only five months away, please contact me as soon as you have a measurable interest in joining this exciting trip. Click on the link below for more information.

April 2008 Botswana Photographic Safari

Safari highlights:

* This safari offers superb game viewing and photographic opportunities in some of the best areas in Southern Africa.

* This itinerary focuses on a real wildlife experience from the surroundings of your private, premier accommodations.

* The reserves you will visit offer an insight to the fantastic wildlife in Botswana.

* Game viewing is done in open 4x4 vehicles and you will be led by one of the leading guides in Botswana.

* A highlight is the opportunity to photograph the wildlife and landscape of the Okavango Delta from a helicopter.

Photo of the Day

Fallen Trees, Rocky Mountain National Park
Canon EOS 1DMkII, 16-35mm f/2.8 L, 1/2 sec @ f/20, Singh Ray 3-stop soft ND graduated filter

New images from Tanzania

I haven't had all that much time to process my images from Tanzania, but I had a few minutes this afternoon to process just a few images from an afternoon of shooting in the Serengeti. I am eager to hear what people think about these new images, as I am working on a black and white portfolio that has a more interpretive look on my safari images.

Elephants #1, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

 

Elephants #2, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Elephants #3, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Elephants #4, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

 

Elephants #5, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Busy in early December? Come join us in Moab!

Busy in early December? I have 2 openings in my Arches and Canyonlands National Parks landscape and digital printing workshop. Due to two cancellations, I have two openings available. For more information:

December 4 - 8 Arches and Canyonlands workshop

Back Home from Tanzania

I am back home after a 21-day safari in Tanzania. I was on two different safaris; the first safari was a combination wildlife scouting and cultural safari to the Serengeti and Loliondo with some friends of mine, and the second safari was a trip more associated with my 'day job' of leading safaris for photographers. I have much to write about and share. Both of these safaris had some components that were completely new to me, and for good purpose. Here are a few items to take note of.

Safari #1

The purpose of the trip was to scout a new area in the Loliondo game controlled area, as well as go on safari with a few friends of mine. Relaxing, focused, and we had hoped to see and experience some new sights on this trip. It did not disappoint. We were able to get some amazing elephant photographs up close, as well as visit a Maasai manyatta that had over 100 huts. Roughly 500 people were living in this not-often-occurring location. This was certainly my most real and unique cultural experience with the Maasai to date.

Safari #2

The purpose of this trip, other than leading and teaching 14 talented photographers to Tanzania, was to the push the envelope with regards to technology. This was the first safari where I had a digital projector with me out in the bush. We always have a generator handy, but now I was able to increase my teaching opportunities by running slideshows before or after dinner. This is definitely the direction I am heading in at the moment. The other technology change for me was the lack of a laptop. Normally I always have a fully configured Apple Macbook (now Macbook Pro) with me for storing and reviewing images. I took along an Epson P5000 (80GB) and a P2000 (100GB) instead. I will write up a more lengthy report on my experience in the coming days. I also photographed with Nikon gear. Gasp! I used a D2x and 200-400mm f/4 as my primary long lens setup. There is a long story in why this came to be! I am not switching to Nikon, but I did find it to be a rewarding experience to see how Nikon equipment works out in the field. And finally, I used a Garmin GPS unit to record all of my tracks, along with waypoints. Some lessons learned along the way.

I have over 55GB of images to catalog and process. I am not exactly sure what I have, since I did not spend much time looking or reviewing my images while in Africa.