Thrown in deep waters... throw me buoys pls..

[sanj]

In just after two weeks I am going to a major wildlife lodge in Africa in the middle of migration - their busy season - for 10 days of Safari in exchange for teaching the staff and clients photography. I have faked my way as a photographer so far. Now I am in the deep end.
How do you think I should handle the situation? The staff there is expert and the the clients rich and from all over the world.
What do I teach them? How do I teach them? Am so nervous.
Things which come to my mind are: Back focus, exposure compensation, servo focus, selecting focus points, raw v/s jpeg. Pls pls add to this list with hints on teaching and techniques. THX

 

[Menace]

I'm sure you'll do alright. In no specific order...

Composition, Av/Tv/M modes, ISO, light i.e. morning light vs mid day vs afternoon/evening, Post processing, cropping, familiarity with one's equipment, tripod vs monopod vs hand held.

I'm sure other members will add more suggestions.

Cheers

 

[Casey]

It sounds like this is a full class and not safari specific. Think back to when you started.

Start with the golden triangle, iso/apeture/shutter speed. Have them do various tests with DOF at different apetures in AV mode, and then moving opjects at different speeds in TV mode.

Go over equipment, lenses and focal lenghts, filters, tripods

Then lighting. Go over different lights at different times and angles. Have them take photos of examples of front lighting, back lighting, side lighting, and diffused lighting.

Next, composition - golden rules, and compositional elements. Have them go out and look for S curves, symetry, etc.

Post processing - lightroom and photoshop.

After each class you have them bring in some examples to share and you critique them in the next class. 5 days of lessons/shooting examples, 5 days of critiques.

Next get into portraits, landscapes, night shooting, flash/fill flash, wildlife, etc. Since this is on Safari this should heavily aimed at wildlife - but things that can be brought home and adapted as well.

I hope that this is a useful start.

 

[paul13walnut5]

Back focus? You using a TV camera?

Times of day animals are active.

The right camera mode, focus mode.

How to track and shoot.

Perspective.

Position in frame / composition / framing

Good luck.

 

[tolusina]

In one of Jeff Cable's marvelous videos on the B&H YouTube channel, he goes on with raves about "back focusing", err, oops.
I'm pretty sure he meant "back button focusing", but that's not what he said.
I suggest you not make the same error.



.

 

[sanj]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement. Am making notes.
Yes, meant 'back button focusing'.

 

[GmwDarkroom]

So are you not Sanjay Gupta from the website in your sig or are you saying you've faked your way so far that the work shown on the website was pretty mic done by others and you managed to get a write-in credit for those movies, articles, and photos?

From what's on the website, I'd think you're qualified to certainly teach some tourists and safari staff the fundamentals of photography. Maybe your time with a DSLR isn't so high, but a few fill in concepts aside, you shouldn't be worried.

 

[distant.star]

.
I'm with GDark on this. You look eminently qualified to me -- at least with what you produce. Presentation skills may be another issue.

One thing I'll suggest that may be useful with animals is anticipation. The photographer should not simply watch and wait. As with good public photography, the photographer must constantly scan the scene and anticipate what will happen so as to be ready for that, let's call it a, "decisive moment."

Have fun. Relax! People will learn much from your experience!

Send us a post card.

So are you not Sanjay Gupta from the website in your sig or are you saying you've faked your way so far that the work shown on the website was pretty mic done by others and you managed to get a write-in credit for those movies, articles, and photos?

From what's on the website, I'd think you're qualified to certainly teach some tourists and safari staff the fundamentals of photography. Maybe your time with a DSLR isn't so high, but a few fill in concepts aside, you shouldn't be worried.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

In just after two weeks I am going to a major wildlife lodge in Africa in the middle of migration - their busy season - for 10 days of Safari in exchange for teaching the staff and clients photography. I have faked my way as a photographer so far. Now I am in the deep end.
How do you think I should handle the situation? The staff there is expert and the the clients rich and from all over the world.
What do I teach them? How do I teach them? Am so nervous.
Things which come to my mind are: Back focus, exposure compensation, servo focus, selecting focus points, raw v/s jpeg. Pls pls add to this list with hints on teaching and techniques. THX

1. You need to determine what you are going to teach them. That's critical, are you teaching them to use their equipment to photograph wild life?

You may find that they have different brands of equipment, Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc., so you need to be able to help them on all the brands and models of cameras, maybe even point and shoots or super zooms. Your lessons may have to cover the how to for popular models.I'd assume that they have some familiarity with their equipment, but not much. They mostly want to know the do's and don'ts of photographing wildlife, what lenses, tripods or monopods to use and how to use them.

Make up a lesson plan. You need to decide what skill level the persons you are teaching will likely be at, and plan accordingly. You might deviate from it a little depending on what you decide they need to learn, but you will still need to cover all your points that are needed to do the job.



The proper use of lens hoods, filters, and other auxiliary equipment

The proper camera settings typically used, when to use AV, TV, P, or manual.

Shutter speeds and apertures to select and why they should use them.

Finally, How to run really fast from a charging animal

 

[mwh1964]

Based on your web page you will do very well. Enjoy the interaction with the students... and the safari.

 

[unfocused]

So are you not Sanjay Gupta from the website in your sig or are you saying you've faked your way so far that the work shown on the website was pretty mic done by others and you managed to get a write-in credit for those movies, articles, and photos?

From what's on the website, I'd think you're qualified to certainly teach some tourists and safari staff the fundamentals of photography. Maybe your time with a DSLR isn't so high, but a few fill in concepts aside, you shouldn't be worried.

Exactly. Don't worry about anything. That, of course, doesn't mean don't take it seriously, just don't freak out.

First thing – ask your students what they want to learn. Once you know their expectations, it will be easy to meet or exceed them.

Second thing – when you get there ask the staff to brief you on the behavior/ habits of the local wildlife. Tell them that this is an exchange. You can teach them photography skills, but they need to teach you about the local wildlife.

Last thing – remember you are not there to take pictures. You are there to help others take pictures. Kind of a bummer really, but you need to focus on your students.

 

[sanj]

So are you not Sanjay Gupta from the website in your sig or are you saying you've faked your way so far that the work shown on the website was pretty mic done by others and you managed to get a write-in credit for those movies, articles, and photos?

From what's on the website, I'd think you're qualified to certainly teach some tourists and safari staff the fundamentals of photography. Maybe your time with a DSLR isn't so high, but a few fill in concepts aside, you shouldn't be worried.

When all alone without a client, photography is much easier. I can struggle with setting while shooting. Struggle with edit in post. No one watches and eventually I manage results. That is what I meant by faking.
Thanks for your encouragement.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

So are you not Sanjay Gupta from the website in your sig or are you saying you've faked your way so far that the work shown on the website was pretty mic done by others and you managed to get a write-in credit for those movies, articles, and photos?

From what's on the website, I'd think you're qualified to certainly teach some tourists and safari staff the fundamentals of photography. Maybe your time with a DSLR isn't so high, but a few fill in concepts aside, you shouldn't be worried.

When all alone without a client, photography is much easier. I can struggle with setting while shooting. Struggle with edit in post. No one watches and eventually I manage results. That is what I meant by faking.
Thanks for your encouragement.

I agree with you. Being a good photographer and being a good teacher are two different skills. Obviously, you have a good start with your experience, so its more a matter of being organized to lead the group in a logical manner.

 

[sanj]

Unfocused: Good tips, thank you! But I will sneak in my own photos or else what would be the point of going there....

mwh1964: Yes!

 

[sanj]

Spokane: I am making notes here and reading up stuff. 5 days before I leave I will make my own .pdf and print it out. I have download various different manuals. Great tips...

Distant Star: Yes, I am bit conscious of my Indian accent. It is not over the top, I have travelled the world and interacted with foreign crew members but still the fear of not sounding perfect to the Brit, Americans etc. I will be on the watch out for the 'moments'.

 

[sanj]

I think I will take 'advantage' of all you people here and prepare the .pdf soon enough and post it here for you all to modify it. That will be a super help. Ya.....!!!!

 

[rpt]

Sanj, who are you kidding? You are a cinematographer. You can teach them stuff till the wildebeest come home!

 

[sanj]

Sanj, who are you kidding? You are a cinematographer. You can teach them stuff till the wildebeest come home!

hahahahhaha. BUT still photography has its own processes. Besides on a set I work with over 6 assistant and 15 lighting guys. Here I will be alone. What if they ask me a question I do not know the answer to? Eiks!

 

[rpt]

Sanj, who are you kidding? You are a cinematographer. You can teach them stuff till the wildebeest come home!

hahahahhaha. BUT still photography has its own processes. Besides on a set I work with over 6 assistant and 15 lighting guys. Here I will be alone. What if they ask me a question I do not know the answer to? Eiks!

So look at it for what it is. You are able to set a scene with 15 off-camera light sources! Work from your strengths. Acknowledge your fears but don't let them control you.

Enough talk. Best of luck. Go break a 200-400L

 

[Valvebounce]

Sanj, who are you kidding? You are a cinematographer. You can teach them stuff till the wildebeest come home!

hahahahhaha. BUT still photography has its own processes. Besides on a set I work with over 6 assistant and 15 lighting guys. Here I will be alone. What if they ask me a question I do not know the answer to? Eiks!

Sanj, who are you kidding? You are a cinematographer. You can teach them stuff till the wildebeest come home!

hahahahhaha. BUT still photography has its own processes. Besides on a set I work with over 6 assistant and 15 lighting guys. Here I will be alone. What if they ask me a question I do not know the answer to? Eiks!

Hi Sanj
My expertise is classic cars and I run technical sessions to teach car club members (some friends, others just clients) the finer points of working on cars.
From this experience I would say the answer is I don't know but I will try to find out for you, don't blather and make it up they will know from your change in demeanour.
As for an accent if they don't care to be taught by some one who has English as a second language? or just has an accent different from their own, they are not worthy of your expertise.
I have no idea how good yor spoken English is or how broad your accent, If you are worried they may not understand you make it clear that they should ask you to repeat anything they are uncertain about.
I think you should be ok, the Indian friends I had at school all seemed to have a much better grasp of English than many English students.

Good luck.