2013 Year In Review [Warning: Modem Buster]

Wow. What a year. I mean what-a-year. I spent more time away from home than I ever anticipated, but in that time away I had some amazing experiences, photographic opportunities and time with customers that are nothing short of amazing. So let’s jump into my year, which is going to be a modem buster of a blog entry, due to the large volume of images.

Camera Equipment

Before we get to the destinations and photographs, I need to say that 2013 was a huge year of change for me. Why? I sold off much of my Nikon 35mm gear in order to be more agnostic. I did this because I need to shoot with Canon and other systems, as I need and want to know exactly what the needs of my customers are. I sold off much of my Nikon system and only own a D800E, 24-70mm, 70-200mm and a 50mm. This means I have a huge gap to fill on each of my trips, which I fill by relying on the rental market. I use Borrowlenses.com exactly for this need. I just rent either a Canon or Nikon camera body and a ‘long’ lens, like a 300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/2.8 or 200-400mm f/4. Voila. Simple, easy and I accomplish the goal of knowing both platforms as best that I can.

I also shoot with Phase One medium format gear, and late this year I upgraded from a 60 megapixel IQ160 digital back to an 80 megapixel IQ280 digital back. After my first trip with the new IQ280 I am extremely happy with the upgrade, as I now have 10,300 pixels on the longest dimension to work with. These files are HUGE, I tell you. HUGE. And yes, I now need a new computer to process the files.

International Travel - Africa and Iceland

I spent much of the month of March in Iceland, as I co-led two workshop groups with friends Joshua Holko and Daniel Bergman. These workshops were winter workshops, primarily driven around snow, ice and the aurora borealis. Here are a few images from March:

Aurora Borealis, Lighthouse and Power Plant

Daniel, King of Ice

Workshop Group at Jökulsárlön

Reysnisdrangar near Vík

Near Stokksnes

Having a little fun at my expense. Funny people.

Joshua out on the ice

I also spent a ton of time in Africa, splitting my time between Tanzania (1 safari), Rwanda (1 safari), Kenya (3 safaris) and Botswana (3 safaris). I didn’t visit Africa until May, yet I managed to fit in so many game drives into the year I think I lost count. Here is a quick synopsis of my African travels, in order of where I guided my trips:

Mother and Baby Giraffe, Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania

Playing Cheetahs, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya

Cheetahs Chasing Their Lunch, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya

Welcome To My Office

Wink Wink, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya

Lion, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya

Giraffe and Clouds, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

I Am King, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Four Lions, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya

Silverback, Rwanda

Silverback, Rwanda

Silverback, Rwanda

Three Giraffe, Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania

Liftoff, Helicopter Aerial Flight over the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Our Mobile Shooting Platform, complete with custom brackets (and Andy Biggs Photo Safaris exclusive)

A Boat Cruise out on the Okavango Delta

Stretching Leopard, Okavango Delta, Botswana

North American destinations

Well, my year wouldn’t be complete without some trips to the American West and the Pacific Northwest, which I visited early on in the year, so here are a few images from Death Valley and the areas near Moab, Utah (Arches and Canyonlands National Parks):

The Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park

Juniper, Arches National Park

Eureka Dunes, Death Valley National Park

Valley Floor, Death Valley National Park

Valley Floor, Death Valley National Park

The truth is that my African travels were enough to fill up an entire year, but it didn’t end there. I guided 7 African safaris alone, and once you add in the Iceland trip and other North American trips I needed more time at home with my family, or at minimum more time with family out on vacation. Which leads me to……

Last, but not least, Leslie and I went on a no-kids vacation up to the Pacific Northwest. This was our first vacation away from kids in 3 years, and it was amazing. We spent time with friends and family in Seattle and Vancouver, and spent some time doing ‘research’ for my business at Sonora Resort, one of the most fabulous destinations I have ever been to. Seriously. If you are interested in a great balance of the outdoors, fine dining and pampering services this is the place for you. We went flyfishing, grizzly bear viewing, hiking, spa-ing and just about anything else outdoors, and I cannot wait to go back.

Sunset near Sonora Resort, British Columbia, Canada

To cap off this huge blog post, I thought it is worth noting that my kids have hearts of gold. During one of my trips to Africa, William had heard that there isn’t enough clean drinking water in Africa. So William took a bottle of water, wrapped it up and put it into the mailbox to send to me.

I look forward to another wonderful year in 2014, which will take me back to many of the same places in Africa, yet will add Antarctica, South Georgia and the Galápagos Islands to the mix. Bring ‘em on!

Safari Testimonial

I really appreciate everything you did to make our Botswana safari a success. It exceeded my expectations in every way. The organization was very well done and I could not be happier with the landscapes and animals we saw, and the help you, Grant and our guides gave us to achieve the objective of coming back with some amazing photos. Our following the elephant in the water from the boat was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. Having a great group of fellow travelers was a bonus and added another layer to the experience, especially with those who were in my vehicle each day.

-Traveler, November 2013 Botswana safari

Galápagos Islands on a Private Motor Yacht - June 2014

Galápagos Islands on a Private Motor Yacht

June 14-23, 2014

It’s time to announce yet another amazing photography trip! I have chartered a private motor yacht for a week-long cruise of the Galapagos Islands, limited to a group of 19 people plus myself. This will be my fourth time to lead a trip to the Galápagos archipelago, and I cannot wait to return to a place that yields such amazing photographs and experiences.

**update** The ship is already 50% booked, so please contact me if you are thinking of joining the trip. info@andybiggs.com.

Photo of the Day - Leopard In The Rain

Leopard In The Rain

Okavango Delta, Botwana. December 2013

Nikon D800E, 300mm f/2.8, 1/500 @ f/4.5, ISO 800

Photo of the Day - Stretching Leopard

Stretching Leopard

Okavango Delta, Botswana. November 2013

Phase One DF+, IQ280 80mp digital back, Schneider 240mm lens

As many of you know I have been working with digital medium format for a couple of years, and even though medium format digital equipment isn’t the most appropriate for much of my wildlife work it definitely has its place in my bag on those trips. Why? If you could see this image printed in person you would have that answer. The detail and crispness stand out in a way that no other capture device can do so.

I recently upgraded from a 60 megapixel digital back to an 80 megapixel back and I am very glad that I did so. The new dimensions are 10,300 x 7,760 pixels. Whoa. Yup. That’s a big file to deal with, but the results are astounding. My longest lens is a 240mm, which equates to around 155mm on a full frame 35mm camera. Since I photograph many subjects and not just wildlife, the new Phase One IQ280 on a Phase One DF+ camera will be in my bag on all of my trips going forward. For my wildlife trips I augment either Nikon or Canon gear, however for landscape trips I am 100% medium format.

I am heading back out to the bush tomorrow, and I hope to come home with another image or two from this new camera system.