Wildlife Photography Tours & UK Hide Workshops | Captivating Nature

I just wanted to pass on my thanks to you and Dan for a most memorable trip.

I was not sure of the benefits of a photography-based Safari as opposed to the family ones I have made in the past. Those benefits though, quickly became very clear when you began searching out specific shots that would only be possible with your considerable experience of these adventures; selecting a spot to view animals on the horizon line of the rising sun; picking a bright morning to view Hippos with their breath vaporising against the rising sun; positioning the vehicle perfectly for some very close portrait shots including low angle views where circumstances permitted; some stunning landscapes at sunset; a very amenable Masai guide in beautiful traditional costume, willing to pose for us whenever we saw the opportunity.

Additionally, I learned a great deal on photo techniques from you both with shots I have never tried before, such as how to make a perfectly spherical rising sun image.

The quality of your drivers was exceptional, and the value of an accredited Masai Silver Badge guide was clear with near perfect positioning of our vehicles, often anticipating with pin point accuracy where a stalking Leopard would appear, or leaving behind a Cheetah when the shot was already amazing to find a few yards away an even more amazing Jackal attacking an enormous Rock Python.

Whilst in the past I have enjoyed Sundowner drinks whilst parked up somewhere, I now realise that a G&T, whilst very pleasant, missed some amazing photographic opportunities at one of the best times of the day.

Also, very important to me is going away with people I can have some fun with after the camera has been put away, and having followed Dan’s YouTube channel from the start, I was confident that he and Stuart would be great fun to be with, and that was certainly the case.

I would very much welcome the opportunity of being invited to next year’s Mara-Amboseli trip, please.

What a fantastic trip, and its title is spot on. Dozens of species of birds, insects, mammals, invertebrates – so many that the task of identifying them was relegated to post-trip.

The first half of the trip – in cloud forests to the west of Quito was good. But the trip came alive for me when we explored at 13,000 feet (ending my 25-year wait to see a condor), and we then moved into the Amazonian rainforest, which was simply stunning.

Photographically, the trip posed new challenges. High-speed flash, macro on night walks, high contrast, low light, sky-high ISO, fast-moving subjects… all part of the learning experience. But out of the 20,000 images I took, I’m pretty happy with some of the results.

Accommodation and food were both excellent, and the organisation, local knowledge, and leadership were faultless. My only complaint? Should have been longer!