I used to do commercial photography and lots of aerials, especially for construction companies and oil and gas. Totally agree about removing the doors and watching out for wind gusts. It can also get very shaky sometimes and I once had the front element of my Nikon 15mm lens vibrate lose and fall into the Houston Ship Channel. The world is very different and beautiful from up there!
EXQUISITE photos, really beautiful ... thank you ... brings back such memories! Gives wonderful perspective, but nothing quite beats the down-to-earth engagement/immersion of mokkorring thru the swamps, walking on the islands including Chief's Island panga in hand, sleeping in the open, watching out for hippo (so they don't tip the mokkoro) and lion (realizing that sometimes lions actually swim!) and wandering day after day in the wilderness from the shallow swamps to the deeper river courses!
It’s certainly one of the fun things to do in Okavango. I did it back in 2017. I used 24-120 on my Nikon D850 and 70-200 on my D 500 cropped sensor body. Auto ISO and f 8 with shutter speed 1/1000s or faster. Had good results.
Hi William! It's Fred here ..... hope you are fine. Back in the days I was fortunate to experience two scenic flights above the delta with a "Cessna-like" aircraft but it was almost impossible to stick the lens through the small top window-opening because of the windy conditions. Those pilots flew way too high and didn't give any advice. Helicopter flights were always on my bucket list at the end of a trip but every time my financial situation in the end just was not insufficient to book me one. What I noticed during these flights I experienced, that the companies that managed them decided what time of the day they flew out, most of the time a tourist routine job. Later on I became aware the weather and the season of the year were also decisive for photographing wildlife. One time I did a morning flight when it was still freezing cold and a flight on the hottest hour of the afternoon a few years later. In both of the situations the animals were hiding under trees and vegetation or even under water so just landscape images was the result. You need a little luck as well and a pilot that knows how too find animals to take good stuff. Have the quality of these flight providers improved and have helicopter flight prices risen after covid? Thanks in advance.....grtz Fred.
The helicopter is a very different experience to a small plan and a much more photo friendly platform. we tend to go out at first or last light. Its not cheap..nothing to do with flying is these days...but worth every penny!
I certainly hope the helicopter option will be available on my Chobe-Okavango-Kalahari trip beginning Nov 7 this year. I've shot video and stills from copter with doors off and did some amazing work in Arizona. Hope it can happen. Would plan to shoot with 2 Sony A1 bodies with Sony 20-70 G and 70-200 GM glass. And a GoPro 11.
hi, im booking a flight for end of September, really looking froward to it but I actually don't have any of those lenses you suggest, only a 10-18mm, 18-55, or 70-300, or 50mm, out of those which would you suggest would be best on a crop sensor camera? thankyou
Is this something you have tried or would consider trying?
Would definitely consider doing that
You definitely should!
Did it twice.... it's nothing but epic!
Definitely want to do this!!!
One word Brilliant ☺☺
Looks Amazing.
It certainly is!
It was great experience and beautiful to see the world from different angles! Thank you for your recommendation!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for bing part of it!
Beautiful view
You are really brilliant Will. Will always remember my trip on your boat.
Loved your video!
Thank you!!
I used to do commercial photography and lots of aerials, especially for construction companies and oil and gas. Totally agree about removing the doors and watching out for wind gusts. It can also get very shaky sometimes and I once had the front element of my Nikon 15mm lens vibrate lose and fall into the Houston Ship Channel. The world is very different and beautiful from up there!
Absolutely!
EXQUISITE photos, really beautiful ... thank you ... brings back such memories! Gives wonderful perspective, but nothing quite beats the down-to-earth engagement/immersion of mokkorring thru the swamps, walking on the islands including Chief's Island panga in hand, sleeping in the open, watching out for hippo (so they don't tip the mokkoro) and lion (realizing that sometimes lions actually swim!) and wandering day after day in the wilderness from the shallow swamps to the deeper river courses!
That was refreshing, enjoyed this one as it was different :) Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Will, we enjoyed the morning we spent with you in the Mara. Sorry you were sick the day we were supposed to be with you earlier in the week.
Awesome! Thanks so very much!
You're welcome!
It’s certainly one of the fun things to do in Okavango. I did it back in 2017. I used 24-120 on my Nikon D850 and 70-200 on my D 500 cropped sensor body. Auto ISO and f 8 with shutter speed 1/1000s or faster. Had good results.
Great stuff! Thank you.
Hi William!
It's Fred here ..... hope you are fine. Back in the days I was fortunate to experience two scenic flights above the delta with a "Cessna-like" aircraft but it was almost impossible to stick the lens through the small top window-opening because of the windy conditions. Those pilots flew way too high and didn't give any advice. Helicopter flights were always on my bucket list at the end of a trip but every time my financial situation in the end just was not insufficient to book me one.
What I noticed during these flights I experienced, that the companies that managed them decided what time of the day they flew out, most of the time a tourist routine job. Later on I became aware the weather and the season of the year were also decisive for photographing wildlife. One time I did a morning flight when it was still freezing cold and a flight on the hottest hour of the afternoon a few years later. In both of the situations the animals were hiding under trees and vegetation or even under water so just landscape images was the result. You need a little luck as well and a pilot that knows how too find animals to take good stuff. Have the quality of these flight providers improved and have helicopter flight prices risen after covid? Thanks in advance.....grtz Fred.
The helicopter is a very different experience to a small plan and a much more photo friendly platform. we tend to go out at first or last light. Its not cheap..nothing to do with flying is these days...but worth every penny!
Thank you, great video, do we need to use Image Stabilization when shooting at these higher shutter speeds?
Are helicopter rides available at Kanana?
I certainly hope the helicopter option will be available on my Chobe-Okavango-Kalahari trip beginning Nov 7 this year. I've shot video and stills from copter with doors off and did some amazing work in Arizona. Hope it can happen. Would plan to shoot with 2 Sony A1 bodies with Sony 20-70 G and 70-200 GM glass. And a GoPro 11.
Hi. Please chat to your safari planner and they can get it booked in for you. or you can book when you are at the camp
hi, im booking a flight for end of September, really looking froward to it but I actually don't have any of those lenses you suggest, only a 10-18mm, 18-55, or 70-300, or 50mm, out of those which would you suggest would be best on a crop sensor camera? thankyou
I tried "hands-off" photography while riding my motorcycle.
Didn't end well.
It was on side-stand and I fell off...
Brilliant!