Safari Photography Flashcards| Dear Somewhere

UNIVERSAL
SETTINGS

Set once · Never change

Setting 01 · Image Format

RAW + JPEG

Menu pathShoot → Image Quality

Set toRAW + L Fine

RAW = full editing control later. JPEG = shareable preview now. Always both on a trip like this.

Setting 02 · Sensitivity

AUTO ISO

Set max toISO 12800

Min shutter1/250

Light changes fast and shade, sun, cloud. Let the camera handle ISO while you focus on the animal.

Setting 03 · Autofocus

ANIMAL AF ON

AF menuSubject → Animal

AreaWhole Area

Your camera's superpower. Locks onto animal eyes automatically. Leave ON for all safari. Switch to People for portraits.

Setting 04 · Focus Mode

SERVO AF

SetAF Operation → Servo

NotOne-Shot

Servo tracks moving subjects continuously. One-Shot is for still people. Always Servo for animals.

Setting 05 · Stabilisation

IBIS ON

SetIS Settings → Enable

StopsUp to 7 stops

In-body stabilisation. Critical at dawn/dusk. Leave on always. Saves shots at low light.

Setting 06 · Metering

EVALUATIVE

SetMetering → Evaluative

Reads whole scene. Linked to AF point when Animal AF is on. Best all-rounder for safari. Don't change this.

Setting 07 · White Balance

AUTO WB

DefaultAWB (Auto)

SunsetSwitch to Cloudy

RAW lets you fix WB in editing anyway. Cloudy WB adds beautiful warmth during golden hour and use it then.

Setting 08 · Power

AUTO OFF 1 MIN

SetSetup → Power → 1 min

Saves battery on long drives. Half-press shutter to wake instantly. Wakes in under a second and no missed shots.

SCENE
SETTINGS

Copy exactly per situation

Scene · Fast Animal 🐆

CHEETAH / RUN

ModeTv

Shutter1/1000+

ISOAuto

DriveHigh Burst

Shoot many and keep the best. Birds, wildebeest, anything running.

Scene · Still Animal 🦁

LION / RESTING

ModeAv

Aperturef/5.6

ISOAuto

DriveSingle / Low

Blurs background beautifully. Eye AF locked on. Wait for the yawn.

Scene · Landscape 🌄

PLAINS / CRATER

ModeAv

Aperturef/8 to f/11

ISO100 to 400

DriveSingle

Focus 1/3 into scene. Everything sharp front to back.

Scene · Golden Hour 🌅

SUNRISE / DUSK

ModeAv

f/f/8

Exp Comp−1 to −2

WBCloudy

Underexpose to keep fire colours. Cloudy WB = warm tones.

Scene · Birds 🦩

BIRDS IN FLIGHT

ModeTv

Shutter1/2000+

AFBird AF

DriveHigh Burst

Bird AF setting is separate from Animal. Flamingos at Nakuru.

Scene · People 🧕

PORTRAITS

ModeAv

f/f/2.8 to f/4

AFFace + Eye

Min shutter1/200

Always ask first. Connection makes the photo.

Scene · Balloon 🎈

HOT AIR BALLOON

ModeTv

Shutter1/500

LensWide (18mm)

DriveBurst

Basket vibrates. Go wide and capture sky AND plains below.

Scene · Beach 🌊

ZANZIBAR OCEAN

ModeAv

f/f/8

ISO100

Exp Comp+1 (sand is bright)

⚠ No lens change on beach

COLOUR &
COMPOSITION

The art of the shot

Composition 01

RULE OF THIRDS

Imagine a 3×3 grid on your screen. Place the animal's eye at one of the 4 intersection points and never dead centre. Leave space in the direction the animal is looking. Activate grid: Menu → Display → Grid.

Composition 02

GET LOW

Rest camera on the window ledge. Shoot at the animal's eye level and not down at it. This single change makes photos look professional. Use the bean bag. Low angle also blurs the foreground beautifully.

Composition 03

STORY IN 3 SHOTS

For every scene shoot three:
① Wide and animal in its world
② Medium and animal + habitat
③ Tight and face / eye / detail
Three shots = one complete story.

Composition 04

CHASE THE LIGHT

Best: 6 to 8am 5 to 7pm
Harsh: 10am to 3pm

Sun BEHIND or BESIDE you and light falls on the animal's face. Never shoot into direct sun unless doing silhouette intentionally.

Composition 05

AFRICA COLOUR PALETTE

Look for these contrasts:
🟡 Gold grass + deep blue sky
🟠 Rust soil + grey elephant
🩷 Pink flamingos + still water
🌿 Green canopy + leopard spots
⬛ Black silhouette + orange sky

Composition 06

SILHOUETTES

Point at the bright sky, lock exposure (half-press), then reframe to include animal. The animal goes black. Works at sunset with acacia trees, elephants, giraffes. Exp Comp −2 to −3.

Composition 07

REFLECTIONS

Still water at Lake Manyara, Zanzibar, flamingo lakes. Place the horizon at the top or bottom third and not middle. The reflection doubles your composition. Early morning = stillest water.

Composition 08

USE FOREGROUND

Blurred grass or branches in the foreground adds depth and makes photos feel immersive and like you're hiding and watching. Set f/4 to 5.6 and let foreground blur naturally. Feels cinematic.

CAMERA
CARE

Protect your investment

Care · Never ❌

DO NOT DO THIS

❌ Change lens in open vehicle
❌ Touch the camera sensor
❌ Wipe dusty lens with dry cloth
❌ Leave in direct vehicle sun
❌ Go straight into AC after heat

Care · Always ✅

ALWAYS DO THIS

✔ Lens cap on between shots
✔ Blower first, then wipe lens
✔ Camera in bag when moving
✔ Backup photos every evening
✔ Charge batteries every night

Care · Cleaning 🧹

LENS CLEANING

Step 1: Air blower and 3 to 4 puffs to remove loose dust
Step 2: Breathe gently on glass
Step 3: Microfibre and circular, centre out
Never press hard. Never skip Step 1.

Care · Routine ☀️

DAILY ROUTINE

Morning: Fresh battery, empty card, blower check
Game drive: Cap on when moving, bag in dust
Evening: Backup photos → charge batteries → dust brush body

Care · Zanzibar 🌊

SALT + SAND

Salt air corrodes electronics. After beach sessions wipe body with slightly damp cloth. Never change lenses on the beach. Keep camera in dry bag near water. Most mirrorless cameras are weather sealed but not waterproof.

Care · Travel ✈️

PACKING RULES

NEVER check camera gear
Camera, lenses, memory cards, batteries and all carry-on. Airlines ban Li batteries in checked bags. Power adapter: Type G (UK plug) for Tanzania + Kenya.

ACCESSORIES
TO BUY

Before you leave home

Accessory · MUST HAVE 🔋

SPARE BATTERIES ×2

Canon LP-E6NH
770 shots per charge using screen. Burst shooting drains fast. Bring 3 batteries total. Lodges can have unreliable power. ~$30 to 60 each

Accessory · MUST HAVE 💾

MEMORY CARDS ×3

128GB UHS-II
SanDisk Extreme Pro
Sony TOUGH
3 cards × 128GB = ~9,000+ RAW photos. Swap and keep shooting. ~$25 to 35 each

Accessory · MUST HAVE 🪣

BEAN BAG

Sits on vehicle window ledge. Replaces tripod entirely and tripods don't work on safari. Buy fillable type and fill with rice or beans locally. Single biggest improvement to shot sharpness. ~$15 to 30

Accessory · MUST HAVE 🧹

CLEANING KIT

Must include: air blower, microfibre cloths, lens cleaning solution. VSGO kit Altura Photo kit
Dust in Africa is relentless. This kit saves photos. ~$15 to 25

Accessory · MUST HAVE 👜

CAMERA BAG (SLING)

Holds: camera + lens, 2 spare batteries, 3 cards, cleaning kit. Sling style = fastest access in game drive. Padded = dust protected. Lowepro Slingshot
~$40 to 80

Accessory · SHOULD HAVE 💻

PORTABLE SSD 1TB

Back up every night before deleting anything. One lost card = lost memories. Samsung T7 Shield SanDisk Extreme
Shockproof + fast. ~$70 to 100

Accessory · SHOULD HAVE 🛡️

UV FILTER

Screws onto lens front. Protects glass from scratches and dust. Much cheaper than replacing a lens. Check lens barrel for ⌀ size (e.g. ⌀67mm) before ordering. Hoya Tiffen ~$15 to 30

Accessory · SHOULD HAVE 🎽

PEAK DESIGN STRAP

Sling style distributes weight across chest. Detaches in 1 second. Saves neck pain on long drives. Peak Design Slide
~$50 to 80 · Worth every cent.

BUSH PLANE
PACKING

Arusha → Serengeti

Bush Plane · Rules ✈️

WEIGHT LIMIT

Bush plane limit is typically 15kg total per person including hand luggage. Soft bags only and no hard shells or wheelie cases. Use a duffel or soft backpack. Camera bag counts in your total.

Bush Plane · Camera Bag 📷

CAMERA BAG LIST

✔ Camera body (with lens on)
✔ 3× batteries (2 spare charged)
✔ 3× memory cards 128GB
✔ Cleaning kit (blower + cloth)
✔ UV filter if not on lens
✔ Bean bag (empty and fill there)

Bush Plane · Backpack 🎒

BACKPACK LIST

✔ Portable SSD for backups
✔ USB-C charging cable
✔ Type G power adapter
✔ Sunscreen + bug spray
✔ Warm layer (mornings are cold)
✔ Water bottle (collapsible)
✔ These flashcards 😊

Bush Plane · Leave Behind 🚫

DON'T BRING

❌ Hard/rigid luggage
❌ Tripod (useless on safari)
❌ Extra lens you won't need
❌ Laptop (use phone for backup)
❌ Hairdryer / heavy toiletries
❌ More shoes than you need

Bush Plane · Clothing 👕

WHAT TO WEAR

Neutral colours only on safari and no white or bright colours (disturbs animals). Khaki Olive Brown Grey
Layer up and 5am game drives are cold even in summer. Zanzibar = light cotton.

GOLDEN
RULES

More important than settings

Rule 01

EYES SHARP. ALWAYS.

If only one thing is in focus, it must be the eye. A blurry eye ruins a photo. Everything else can be soft. Use Animal Eye AF and trust it. This rule forgives almost everything else.

Rule 02

WAIT FOR THE MOMENT

Turn engine off. Sit still. Watch the animal. The yawn comes. The cub stumbles. The bird takes off. Be ready and half-press shutter to keep AF tracking. Patience makes extraordinary photos.

Rule 03

SHOOT MANY KEEP FEW

30 burst shots of a cheetah sprint may give you 1 perfect one. That's normal. Use burst freely. Keep a lot on the drive, delete ruthlessly each evening. Bring enough cards for 3,000+ RAW shots.

Rule 04

PUT IT DOWN SOMETIMES

The best photos come from being present. Watch with your eyes first. Feel the Serengeti. Smell the air. Then pick up the camera and and you'll already know the shot is worth taking.