Social Networks and RSS Feeds
Instagram Instagram
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.

 

 

 

Search
Friends

Entries in Galapagos (13)

Friday
Jun272014

Photo of the Day - Sea Lions

 

Rise Above The Rest

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Phase One DF+ camera, IQ280 80mp digital back, 75-150mm lens @ 80mm. 1/400 sec @ f/8, ISO 100

 

After many trips to the Galápagos Islands over the past decade, I have had great difficulty trying to anticipate and identify those unique moments that transcend anything more than a grab shot. I have to admit that it is a difficult place to photograph for me, as my visual storytelling ‘look’ or ‘style’ tends to be with wider angle lenses in an attempt to include the environment as much as the subject itself. On this day we spent our entire afternoon outing on a soft sand beach, and on this beach were about 75 individual sea lions. Sea lions primarily feed at night, and during the day they are typically inactive and usually sleeping. These sea lions were lying in a row, and I took some time to sit there and observe and enjoy the amazing light. This large male woke up, stretched his body and neck, and eventually found a new place to relax. Boom. Time to take a quick frame.

Thursday
Nov072013

Possible Galapagos Islands Trip in June 2014

I have numerous past travelers who would like for me to put together another Galapagos Islands trip in 2014, and if you would like to be notified of such a trip please drop me a line at info@andybiggs.com. I have guided a number of these trips in the past, and it is such a beautiful place to photograph. The Galapagos Islands should be on your bucket list of places to visit with a camera.

When I run my Galapagos Islands trips, I always charter my own private ship. I typically charter a 20-person vessel, which means we end up having two naturalists for 20 people. The Galapagos Islands National Park mandates a 16 to 1 ratio, but I think for the best photography we need to have smaller groups. My trips are casual, fun, filled with tons of photography and we are all out there to learn something and to have a good time. We get on shore at first light and we put the dining schedule as something secondary to our photography. I don’t mind if you bring tripods or monopods, either, as we are on shore before all of the other boats and there isn’t any competition for space. My trips are for 7 nights on board the ship, plus a night in Ecuador, which is the perfect amount of time to get great shots.

If you have a measurable interest, please let me know. I am looking into my favorite ships right now and would love to hear from you. My preference is to have at least 50% of the boat filled up prior to my cutting a huge check to secture the boat.

Saturday
Jan012011

Photo of the Day - Fernandina, Galapagos

 

Marine Iguana, Fernandina, Galapagos Islands
Nikon D300, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, 1/2000 @ f/4, ISO 500

2011 Galapagos Islands Photography Workshop, June 3-13, 2011 on a private motor yacht. Limited to 18 travelers

Friday
Dec312010

Photo of the Day - Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands

 

Giant Tortoise, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands. May 2010

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR + 1.4x TC, 1/500 @ f/4, ISO 1600

 

2011 Galapagos Islands Photography Workshop, June 3-13, 2011 on a private motor yacht. Limited to 18 travelers.

Thursday
Dec302010

Photo of the Day - Espaniola, Galapagos Islands

 

Marine Iguana, Espaniola Island, Galapagos

Nikon D300, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, 1/250 @ f/5.6, ISO 640

 

2011 Galapagos Islands Photography Workshop, June 3-13, 2011 on a private motor yacht. Limited to 18 travelers.

Tuesday
Dec282010

Photo of the Day - Espaniola, Galapagos Islands

 

Marine Iguana on Cliffs, Espaniola Island, Galapagos

Nikon D700, 24-70mm f/2.8, 1/160 @ f/8, ISO 800

 

2011 Galapagos Islands Photography Workshop, June 3-13, 2011 on a private motor yacht. Limited to 18 travelers.

Wednesday
Sep012010

Galapagos Islands trip announcement

 

Galapagos Islands Photo Workshop

June 3-13, 2011
Limited to 18 participants

Trip Leader: Randy Hanna

Come join us for an exciting photographic adventure to the Galapagos Islands. We have chartered a private 83-foot motor yacht for 20 people to this exciting location. We will visit many islands and will have the opportunity to photograph up close much of the wildlife on our 8 days and 7 nights aboard the M/Y Eric / Flamingo / Letty. We will have 2 naturalists on board and on shore for our group, which is an excellent naturalist-to-guest ratio! By park rules we are required to have 1 naturalist per 16 people, and we will have 1 per 10.

All other Galapagos trips miss the best light each day, but we will not. We will be on land in the best light, as this is a photography specific trip. This is an extremely important distinction between this trip and others. We also can take our time on our nature walks, allowing us to bring our tripods. Since we have a small and intimate group, we can take the time to get the shots that we need.

The cost of this trip is U.S. $5495, $5995 or $6395 per person depending on cabin level desired, double occupancy (but not inclusive of airfare to Guayaquil, Ecuador from your home). Refer to the boat diagram to determine which cabins will work best for your needs. The same rate applies for each participant regardless of whether they are doing photography and participating in the workshop, or not.

What's Included?

* Air transportation to and from the Galapagos islands from Guayaquil, Ecuador.
* 7 nights and 8 days aboard M/Y Eric / Flamingo / Letty
* Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee of $100
* 3 nights at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil at the beginning and end of islands visit.
* All meals and non-alcoholic drinks while on the ship
* Naturalists on board
* Snorkeling equipment

What is Not Included?

* Additional tips for staff such as guides
* International air to and from Ecuador and your home town
* Alcoholic beverages
* Laundry, phone and other items of a personal nature (yes we have laundry on board the vessel!)
* Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance (highly recommended)
* Meals not mentioned in itinerary (Guayaquil meals)
* Airport departure tax of $25

Click here to read comments from prior travelers and workshop participants.

Click here to read the day-by-day itinerary for this exciting trip, as well as the cabin layout.


What Do I Do Next?

Our groups are small, so space is limited. If this exciting trip has your name on it, if you're excited by the thought of becoming a member of this trip, then now is the time to register. Remember, there will be limited space available for this workshop. When they're spoken for, that's it. If you have any questions before registering, send us an e-mail with any inquiries to info@andybiggs.com.

Sunday
May232010

Photo of the Day - Galapagos Islands

 

The Mother Ship

Canon 20D, 24-105mm f/4 L IS, 1/60 @ f/4, ISO 400

Santiago, Galapagos Islands