Wildlife Photography Workshops in Johannesburg

If you've been playing around with your digital camera for a while now, chances are you've taken a wildlife snap or two – maybe even considered getting into it a bit more seriously.

Wildlife is always a fantastic subject, though at times it can be frustrating waiting for the kudu to come out into a clearing, or sitting for hours just to catch a glimpse of a leopard.
The rewards, however, are worth it & you'll always have that magical photo to admire through the years.

A wildlife photography course (or workshop) can do wonders for your technique, & if you're set on taking the best photos, then it's a definite must.
It's important that you're very familiar with your camera before you go on one however, as most institutions don't really offer Wildlife Photography courses to complete beginners. You need to know what you're doing & how to do it within seconds - because if you're too busy fiddling with all those knobs, buttons & menus, you've already missed that magic shot!

So before you get your vellies & your safari hat out, you might want to consider doing a few introductory courses on photography if you haven't already.

There are plenty of places in Joburg to get familiar with your camera & learn how to take better photographs, so do your research before you commit financially. Any place can teach you the basics of photography, but not every place can pass on some of that creative magic that you need to take those amazing shots we all dream about.

Ask friends, family or work colleagues to recommend a photography school & check out their website to see the comments of previous students.

Also ensure that you go with a reputable institution that also gives you value for money – there's nothing like finding out you could've got the same thing, at half the price somewhere else!

A Wildlife Photography workshop can be a lot of fun & there are various options to chose from: some schools offer 1 day workshops where you drive out to a private game reserve not far from Joburg, learn some new skills from an expert in the field & then try your h& at taking some photos of the animals around you. This option is great for the busy individual or parent, who has a limited amount of time available on weekends.

Courses are normally concise, practical & relatively thorough – designed to equip you with the skills you need to improve your wildlife photography, so that you can apply the techniques learnt on your own.

Another option is a weekend workshop, where you travel to a location, stay overnight & do either a 1 to 1½ day's course, enjoying the magic of the reserve in the mornings & the evenings after learning new techniques. This is a fantastic way to combine a weekend getaway with something instructional, allowing you to relax, have some fun & learn something new at the same time.

Most schools also offer you the option of bringing along your non-photographer partner for the ride – which means they'll get a chance to relax too, for a fee sans the workshop cost.

The best (& most expensive) option is to go on a photography safari, which some schools offer. This is when you get to spend a good number of days with an expert in the field, learning as much as you can in the subject's environment. This option is a very thorough way to learn all there is about wildlife photography & will definitely set you on the path to semi-professionalism. It is, however, something you'll have to save up for as you'll be staying over for a few nights & doing plenty of game drives. The costs can rack up, so be sure that you're aware of what's included in the price in terms of food & services.

Once you've decided what type of course/workshop you want to attend, get to know the course outlines on offer & go with the one that sounds best to you.

It is, however, important to think about the following when you're deciding on which course to go on:

• Is it a course that focuses a lot on wildlife photography? - some courses will instruct you on photography in general, with a small focus on wildlife & a short opportunity to put the specifics of that subject into practice.


• Does it focus on the particular challenges & techniques specific to wildlife photography? - these are very important as the experts can give you some amazing & extremely helpful advice/techniques that are very specific to this subject.


• Is this an institution that is passionate about what they do? - a wildlife photographer is passionate about his subject & wants to share that passion. If you get the feeling that the course is more about making the school/individual money then you might be looking at the wrong course.

Phone the school & ask questions so that you can get a really good feel for what you're buying into as you want to make sure that you're getting value for your money.

After deciding on a school & course, the only thing left is to book it, pay for it & go for it!

Initially you should practice the techniques you learnt as often as possible, so that they remain fresh in your mind & not forgotten months done the line when you really need them.

Once you've done a Wildlife Photography course, you might want to see if the school offers advanced workshops in that field, which will give you an opportunity to look at developing it into more than just a hobby. They also might organise weekend photography safaris for students who have completed that course, which will be a great way to practice what you've learnt on a more regular basis.

No matter which option you go for, a Wildlife Photography Course is a fun & exciting experience that will bring a whole new aspect to your photography. So get searching & get snapping!

Tips:

Ask whether you'll receive a manual with workshop/course notes – its tough remembering the 101 instructions when you're in the Kruger Park 6 months later.

Find out the name of the instructor & do some online research to see whether you can find any of their photos or information about them – you want to ensure that you are paying for instruction from an expert in that field & not someone who's been snapping away for 8 months.
Check whether you must bring your own food or whether it's provided at the destination.

Take a hat, sunglasses, water & a high factor sunscreen that includes a mosquito repellent – though bear in mind that if you want to smell like a giant ball of Tabard, you might want to be downwind of the wildlife.
Check the group size for the course & make sure that there's at least one expert on hand for instructional guidelines during the practical part of the course. The bigger the group, the more experts need to be on hand to give instruction in the field.

Ensure that you have the necessary equipment needed for the course – like specific lens requirements, etc etc.

Some schools offer courses or workshops during weekday working hours – but this isn't as common as the weekend offerings.

Living & working in Johannesburg, South Africa