Category Archives: Photography

The Zimanga 2025 Group Photo

Photo Adventures at Zimanga, 2025
Camera: Panasonic DC-G9M2 | Date: 18-06-2025 10:18 | Resolution: 4862 x 3039 | ISO: 800 | Exp. bias: 0 EV | Exp. Time: 1/1000s | Aperture: 10.0 | Focal Length: 12.0mm (~24.0mm) | Lens: LUMIX G VARIO 12-35/F2.8II

Although my "group panoramas" are a tradition, I am on this occasion frustrated, as on every night there’s less than half of group at dinner, between night hide slots and three of us staying at The Homestead, a separate accommodation block a few minutes’ drive away, with its own catering arrangements.

In the end Ann and I persuade everyone to line up for a group shot taken after breakfast on the last full day. Back row, from the left: David, Yasmin, Mark, Lee, Issa, Ann, Ray. Front row: yours truly, Mike, John, Martin, Ali, Sue, Colin, Chris.

1/10 to Lee, who could have shuffled along to the left to fill in the gap!

Technical Note

Regular readers will recognise two recurring scenarios regarding my relationship to tripods:

  • I have a tripod, but it gets used for a purpose definitely not listed on the manufacturer’s website
  • I have no tripod, and have to improvise camera support using an object to hand

This is a good example of the latter. Camera placed on the edge of the pool, pointing at the sofa, flip-out screen pointing up so I can check composition, albeit upside down (ground glass screen and cloth, anyone?) To adjust the yaw angle, fork from dining table wedged under the camera body providing exactly the right angle of inclination.

Personally I think all this nonsense about tripods is overblown.

View featured image in Album
Posted in Photography, Travel, Zimanga Travel Blog | Leave a comment

I Invoke the Dragon Gods

After the frustrations and ultimate disappointment of the previous night hide session, I demur from another and after lunch wave goodbye to John and Colin before joining another group, with Calvin as guide, for an afternoon game drive. I Discover Continue reading

Saturday, June 28, 2025 in Micro Four Thirds, Photography, Travel, Zimanga Travel Blog

Absence of Elephant

You don’t have to shoot Zimanga at 800mm! I call this “Absence of Elephant”. £4M please! (If Peter Lik can get away with it, why can’t I?) Oh, and about 5 minutes after shooting this scene, it disgorged a herd Continue reading

Monday, June 16, 2025 in Photography, Travel, Zimanga Travel Blog

(In)Correct Tripod Technique!

With Apologies to My Photography Tutors First, I’d like to apologise to all the authors, tutors, mentors and tour leaders who have tried to instil in me “correct” tripod technique. As they say, it’s not you, it’s me.I don’t particularly Continue reading

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 in Italy 2024, Photography, Thoughts on the World, Travel

A Curse Manifests

The Italy 2024 Blog I’m not sure I believe in curses as a general rule but I am starting to think that I have inadvertently offended a very particular deity and invoked their wrath. Every time I go on one Continue reading

Thursday, September 26, 2024 in Italy 2024, Micro Four Thirds, Photography, Travel

Picturing Zanzibar – Advice for Photographers

With my Zanzibar trip now firmly behind me, I’ve looked back and tried to condense what I experienced into guidance for future visitors and photographers. This was my first trip to East Africa, and I came away with a lot Continue reading

Friday, February 2, 2024 in Micro Four Thirds, Photography, Travel, Zanzibar

Jeepers!

One of the reasons we have not previously explored Capitol Reef is that although it’s an enormous, diverse park, it’s not particularly well served by either self-drive roads or shared transport like a shuttle service. You can drive through the Continue reading

Friday, October 27, 2023 in Photography, Travel, USA 2023

UK’s Strongest Man (And Woman!) 2023

Great sport at the UK’s Strongest Man 2023 / UK’s Strongest Woman 2023. However not impressed by the new (on the day, as far as I could work out) ban on “professional cameras” which meant the G9 had to remain Continue reading

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in Photography, Thoughts on the World

Splendidly Dodgy!

Welcome to a new sport, discovered on a visit to Burghley House and Park this weekend. Horse Boarding. Horse Boarding at Burghley Park (Show Details) Camera: Panasonic DC-G9 | Date: 28-05-2023 16:22 | Resolution: 1524 x 1524 | ISO: 200 Continue reading

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 in Photography, Thoughts on the World

Olympus TG6 – Does the T Really Stand for “Tough”?

I don’t do a lot of underwater photography, but I like to have an underwater-capable camera for snorkelling on holiday, and it’s also potentially a good option for working in very wet conditions above seal level. For the last 10 Continue reading

Saturday, May 13, 2023 in Barbados, Photography, Reviews, Travel

Getting High (But Not That High)!

Back in 2019 I was privileged to take what is a pretty unique airborne trip. Paul Nugent of Airsportsbarbados had one of only four two-seater microlight aircraft in the Caribbean, and at that time was running tours. To make it Continue reading

Monday, April 17, 2023 in Barbados, Photography, Thoughts on the World, Travel

The World’s Worst Panorama 2023

Here’s my “group panorama” from Richard Bernabe’s Feb 2023 trip to Patagonia. From the left: Gero, Nigel, Thomas, Karsten, Jörn, Lisa, Richard, Alejandro, Glenn, Alex, John, Pat, Yours Truly and JoAnne. Please don’t study the stitching too carefully, or complain Continue reading

Friday, February 24, 2023 in Patagonia, Photography, Travel