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About Andy

 

I am an avid adventurer, conservationist, teacher, and outdoor photographer whose photography celebrates the African landscape and its rich wildlife, people, and culture. My photographic safaris allow my travelers to not only enhance their understanding of photography, lighting, and wildlife, but to develop a life-long admiration for Africa ‘s beauty and culture.

Banana Republic recently used my photographs as the cornerstone of their Urban Safari campaign, and my images were seen in all 750 stores around the globe, as well as in their billboards, catalogs and annual report. I was also the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the ‘Wild Places’ category in 2008 and a highly commended in the ‘Creative Visions of Nature’ category in 2007.

I launched Gura Gear in 2008, in an attempt to deliver lightweight camera bags to the market. I was looking for a lightweight camera bag to hold all of my photographic gear, and there was nothing desirable on the market that suited my needs. After spending 2 years with many prototypes, the Gura Gear Kiboko bag was born. More products are now available on the Gura Gear web site.

 

 

 

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Entries by Andy Biggs (718)

Wednesday
Sep112013

Photo of the Day - Serengeti Giraffes

 

Serengeti Giraffes and Clouds

Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania. May 2013

Phase One DF, IQ160 digital back, Schneider 240mm. 1/320 @ f/11, ISO 100

Wednesday
Aug282013

Testimonial from Terrence Clifford

Karen and I love Africa and this is our fourth safari with Andy Biggs. There is a very important reason for our choice of safaris. If you ever get to watch the behind the scenes of a National Geographic production, you soon realize it takes a team of dedicated individuals to get those shots that are oh so good. This team is responsible for getting the photographer and his gear to the ideal location at the right time of day/night. You might think that this is an easy task but it takes extensive preparation and planning to make it seamless to the photographer whose only concern is to get the shots. This is what Andy Biggs and his team of passionate dedicated individuals do that sets them apart from the rest. Highly recommended.

You can see more of his wonderful photography at www.terrencecliffordphotography.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday
Jul062013

Gura Gear Pro Team

When I launched Gura Gear way back in 2008 I was hoping to sell a few dozen camera bags per month. Well, that was a long time ago and before Gura Gear had any customers. Gura Gear now has thousands of happy customers, and along with those customers are some working photographers who have come to rely on Gura Gear and all that the company stands for: durable, lightweight and well built camera bags for the traveling photographer. Gura Gear has recently announced the Pro Team, and you will recognize some names on the list!



 

Tuesday
Jun182013

Gura Gear Around The World: The Monarch Bataflae

I just got back from a superb triplet of safaris in east Africa, where I took our Gura Gear Monarch Bataflae on its maiden voyage. So what is the Monarch Bataflae you ask? The Monarch Bataflae is a Gura Gear 32L Bataflae camera bag, in grey, and it will be traveling around the world with different photographers as hosts. Since its inception, Gura Gear has focused its efforts on photography backpacks for the traveling photographer. The original bag featured a butterfly style opening. After many phases of design, the bag has evolved into what is now the Bataflae. The 26 and 32 liter Bataflae bags still retain the same butterfly style opening capability.

I had the Monarch Bataflae for 4 weeks in Africa, and it is heading to some new locations with Joshua Holko next. We want your help to get the bag to as many places in the world as possible. (Applications are now open! Click here to apply.) We will open up applications for anyone who wants to take the bag on a trip to wherever it is you go! You will also be able to sign your name inside the bag next to the pros you’ve always looked up to.

During my travels with the Monarch Bataflae, I carried the following gear inside:

 

  • Nikon D800
  • Nikon 400mm f/2.8 VR
  • Nikon 1.4x TC
  • Phase One DF camera with an IQ160 digital back
  • Phase One Schneider 240mm lens
  • Sony RX-100

 

 


The Monarch Bataflae


Tuesday
May072013

Talks At Google - From Silicon Valley to the Serengeti

Google recently invited me to give a talk on my African wildlife photography, my photo safari business and how I transformed my former life as a software consultant into what I do today. I called my presentation From Silicon Valley to the Serengeti. Enjoy!

Monday
May062013

Testimonial from Stephen Starkman

Stephen joined me in Iceland recently, and this is what he wrote to me:

Andy, what a terrific (and productive!) tour we had in Iceland with yourself, Josh Holko and Daniel Bergmann this March. I think we experienced every kind of weather (well, nothing a palm tree would feel comfortable in) shot in amazing locations and saw incredibly beautiful scenery. For me, shooting the northern lights was particularly memorable - a first in my photographic career. The tour was a great success! As before, when I travelled with you to Namibia, I was particularly impressed by your enthusiasm and dedication to each member, helping them achieve the best images they can. I for one am particularly pleased with some of the images I came away with, thank you once again!

Here are some absolutely superb photos from Stephen from our Iceland trip:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday
Apr292013

Namibia Overland Photographic Journey, April 2014

Namibia Overland Photographic Journey
March 29 - April 7, 2014
and
April 8 - 17, 2014

 

Deadvlei

 

I will be co-leading a group with Joshua Holko to the Namibia desert in Namibia, Africa. The goal of this safari is to photograph the breathtaking desert landscapes of Namibia in a different way than how I have offered my Namibia trips in the past: in an overland fashion. This will be an overland photographic journey, and we have complete flexibility to stop to take photographs at any time along the way. We wanted to put this trip together that has a good balance between flexibility, photographic opportunities and comfortable accommodations. This approach will also enable us to carry more than enough amount of camera baggage, so bring what you need!

On the South Western Coast of Africa, where the icy Atlantic ocean meets the world’s oldest desert lies a place that is known for its landscapes as much as the Serengeti is known for its abundant wildlife. The unique combination of desert, grassland and cold ocean current form a one-of-a-kind terrain found only here. For this reason landscape photographers from all over the world flock to the Namib Desert to try and capture its ethereal beauty.

In this captivating region of Namibia lies a maze of mountainous valleys that look like they were carpeted from slope to slope by ivory colored grass, criss-crossed by ancient riverbeds and dotted with a collection of photogenic acacia trees. The final unique touch is added by the large snake like dunes that rise from the grasslands like the roof of some subterranean world. These stark and compelling landscapes are something to behold with the human eye, but when it’s sweeping meadows, barren mountains and blood red dunes are captured and transformed into a two dimensional image, it becomes obvious why this place is so beautifully addictive to photographers.

Highlights

– This private overland safari covers fascinating attractions in Namibia while enjoying a relaxed pace along the way.

– We will enjoy four amazing destinations in central and southern Namibia: Sossusvlei, the Namib Rand, the deserted mining town of Kolmanskop and the ancient quiver tree forest near Keetmanshoop.

– The Namib Desert may well be the world’s oldest desert. The apricot-colored dunes at Sossusvlei are some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. Herds gemsbok and springbok roam the area.

– In all the locations you will have the opportunity to spend quality photographic time.

– Finish on a high note in the magnificent sand dunes of Sossusvlei.

– Limited to only 10 participants.

The cost of this all-inclusive trip is U.S. $7,950 per person (but not inclusive of airfare to Windhoek, Namibia). The same rate applies for each participant regardless of whether they are doing photography and participating in the workshop, or not. This fee includes all in-country ground and air transportation as well as hotel accommodation (double occupancy) and all meals.

A 30% deposit of U.S. $2,325 (per person) will be required when you register. A second payment of $1,500 will be due on October 1, 2013 and the balance of $3,925 will be due no later than  February 1, 2014. If we have to cancel the trip for any reason you will receive a full refund of all monies paid to that date.

Please note: This trip is designed for photographers. Though non-photographer spouses are of course welcome, and alternate activities will be scheduled if possible, our primary emphasis will be traveling to the best locations for the best light, and this will often mean long days of both travel and shooting.

You should therefore only consider joining this expedition if you are a passionate photographer willing to put yourself out a bit. This is not a vacation sightseeing trip, but rather is a trip designed for those who’ll go the extra mile (or kilometer) to get the images they’ve been dreaming about.

Please contact me at info@andybiggs.com. You can see the entire day by day itinerary:

Namibia Overland Photographic Journey 2014

 

Kolmanskop

 

The Namib Rand

Monday
Apr082013

Nik Software bundle is now only $149

 

Some great news while I was away in Iceland. Nik Software’s budle is now only $149, which used to be $499. Now we get everything included with the $149 price, whether you want the plugins for Lightroom, Aperture or Photoshop. This is awesome news. I use Nik Software’s plugins on most of my images, and I usually use Viveza 2, Color Efex Pro 4 and Silver Efex Pro 2 as my main ones. If you have purchased only 1 of the plugins in the past, you are now eligible to upgrade to all of the entire suite for free. Very cool.

Nik Collection is now $149