Guide profile: Matt Meyer

May I introduce one of the coolest guides I have come in contact with. Well, we will use the term guide for simplicity's sake, even though they are referred to as rangers at Mala Mala. I met Matt Meyer back in April when I spent four nights at Mala Mala Main Camp, and my friend Al and I had a private vehicle during our stay. Matt was always entertaining, professional and one heck of a good guide. He knew what we were after before we even had to utter the word l-e-o-p-a-r-d to him.

Al Vinjamur and Ranger Matt Meyer. Mala Mala, South Africa, April 2008

If you make it to Mala Mala, be sure to punch Matt in the shoulder and tell him hello from me. Between my visit in April and another friend's trip in September, we have been able to get Matt into photography with a Canon 20D and a 28-300mm L lens. He is in the heart of excellent photography territory, and he is capturing some amazing images. He was shooting jpg when I met him, and is now in the thick of processing raw files.

I look forward to being back in Mala Mala when I return in August 2010 for my African Wildlife Photography Boot Camp. We will be visiting Mashatu for 4 nights in Botswana and also 4 nights at Rattray's at Mala Mala for 4 nights. We have exclusive use of these camps, which means we have all of their vehicles just for our group. Add in some charter air flights between all camps and Joburg, and you have over 180 pounds of weight allowance per person. Yes, that is kind of nuts, but it is the way the numbers worked out. Want to bring your spouse? No problem, as we have 4 spots for a non-photographing spouse for a whopping 50% discount.

Matt, see you at the African Wildlife Photography Boot Camp!

Safari Testimonial: Mark Dubovoy

"Dear Andy-

I am not an amateur photographer. My images are in the permanent collections of more than half a dozen major museums, as well as in numerous private collections and galleries. I am a contributing writer to PHOTO Techniques magazine as well as to The Luminous Landscape web site. I am a consultant, an advisor and beta tester to several large manufacturers.

I have traveled all around the world, and I had been to Africa a few times before I decided to join a workshop to Botswana organized by you.

Why did I decide to do this? The reason is simple, I know enough about adventure travel to realize that it is always good to be with someone that knows the territory and will make all the proper arrangements. Making the proper arrangements, and making sure that everything is done correctly is a difficult task, not to be underestimated, particularly in underdeveloped countries far from civilization.

You do a superb job of making absolutely first class arrangements, and of making sure that everything runs smoothly and flawlessly. I can state without hesitation that you are probably the best trip/workshop leader I have ever experienced.

Andy, you are a great photographer and your people skills are superior. You know when to advise, when to intervene and when to leave people alone. Furthermore, your charming personality and humor are a delight.

I heartily recommend to anyone, photographer or not, to join you in one of your exciting adventures. I am certainly looking forward to my next trip with you."

Here are a few images from our September 2008 Botswana trip together:

Photo of the Day

Buddies

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, November 2008

I am heading home today after a number of incredible days of photography here in the Churchill area. I am leaving with some wonderful experiences, and hopefully a few polar bear photos. SONY graciously loaned my workshop group a pair of A900 24.6 megapixel cameras to use, along with some excellent lenses. Their 300mm f/2.8 G was the most used, along with their 70-200mm f/2.8 G and 24-70mm f/2.8 Zeiss lenses. I will be posting my mini review of the A900 camera in the coming days. My overall impression is that SONY has entered the professional market with a very nice camera, and I look forward to seeing more from SONY in the coming years.

Photo of the Day

Polar Bears on the tundra, Churchill, Canada

Canon 1DsMkIII, 500mm f/4 + 1.4x, 1/2000 @ f/5.6, ISO 800

Just a quick shot from today's activities on the tundra. Our group is having a great time here, and the weather isn't too terribly cold. This is my first trip to Churchill, and now I know why the area is so popular with photographers. The bear viewing is excellent, and the overall experience is very rich. I am working on my Apple Macbook Air that seems to have lost its calibration on the screen, so I apologize if the image isn't up to snuff. It's like stabbing in the dark when one is working on an unprofiled laptop computer. I will replace the image when I return home with a better processed one.

TWiP interview now available

This past Friday I was interviewd by Scott Bourne, Alex Lindsay and the gang over at This Week in Photography, more commonly referred to as TWiP.

You can hear the interview in a few different ways:

1) Go to the TWiP website to locate podcast #55

2) Click on this link to be taken directly to the page

3) Subscribe to the This Week in Photography (TWiP) podcast in the iTunes Music Store and listen to podcast #55

The interview begins at about the 18:00 minute mark. We had a great time discussing various parts of my safari business, Gura Gear and my recent deal with Banana Republic.

Traveler Profile: Josh Li

Josh Li has traveled with me to Africa, as well as to Alaska. Josh had this to say recently:

"Andy,

Just wanted to thank you for the great experiences I had on our two safaris together. They were truly unique, world-class, and educational.

To most people, going to remote adventurous places like Africa and Alaska are once-in-a-lifetime, potentially stressful, events. You made everybody at ease, and basically did all the necessary work for us from start to finish. The detailed itinerary, packing list, recommended photographic equipment are tremendously helpful.

Most importantly, you helped every single member of the group with their photography. From the on-the-field tips to the post-processing work help you gave nightly at the tents / lodges, your passion for photography is contagious and helps everybody improve. Your hands-on teaching style is very helpful to photographers of all skill level, and you are never afraid to share pro tips.

Thanks for the memories and the great images. I look forward to going on another adventure with you soon!"

And here as some of Josh's images from Tanzania:

Gura Gear Launches!

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER ANDY BIGGS LAUNCHES LINE OF EXPERTLY DESIGNED PHOTO GEAR BAGS

CHICAGO (November 4, 2008)—Inspired by his extensive travel and career in wildlife photography, outdoor photographer Andy Biggs has launched Gura Gear; an innovative line of camera bags designed to help photographers get the perfect shot. Gura Gear will offer on-the-go photographers a lightweight and comfortable yet highly functional alternative to bulky photo gear currently available to photographers.

The Kiboko bag is the first design from the Gura Gear line. Weighing in at only 4 pounds, the Kiboko is the lightest bag in its class. Designed with the needs of the photographer in mind, the bag allows all photo gear to be safely stored and comfortably carried but also quickly accessed. The Kiboko bag is deep enough to accommodate a pro level SLR camera body, as well as medium format cameras. The bag will also hold up to a 500mm and 600mm lens simultaneously. The Kiboko bag is made from high-tech Dimension Polyant VX-21, a unique and durable water-shedding material made from the same process that is used on some of the fastest lightweight sailboats in the world. The outer materials are abrasion and tear resistant and the interior is well padded, ensuring that the bag and your equipment will hold up regardless of the terrain you’re photographing.

The Kiboko bag can be carried either as a backpack with a retractable, expertly engineered harness system or as a shoulder bag using ergonomically placed handles. The Kiboko also features a convenient butterfly flap access system, allowing the photographer to easily get to multiple bodies, lenses and all their photo accessories. The bag’s interior is also fully customizable to suit the photographers’ individual needs. The Kiboko’s harness system fully retracts for loading into airplanes and can be used as a carry on for most flights. Every detail of the Kiboko bag has been specifically designed, down to the zippers that can be handled even while wearing winter gloves.

Gone are the days where you have to decide whether weight or functionality is more important when transporting your photo gear. Gura Gear is a smart, new way of transporting equipment, designed for photographers by photographers. The innovative design, materials and technology that goes into each Gura Gear bag far exceeds any comparable camera bag on the market. For more information about Gura Gear and the Kiboko bag please visit visit www.guragear.com.

A friend needs your help

My friend Gloria Hopkins is a talented photographer and artist. Gloria had the misfortune of suffering a severe back injury and could use your help in keeping up with the mounting medical bills. If you are inclined, you may read the full description on Gloria’s web site, and also consider buying some of her art to help through this hard time.

Andy