OVERLANDING AFRICA BLOG
BIO…
I am born and bred New Zealander with a passion for Africa. From the age of 10 I had an interest in African animals and , to this day, don’t know what started it. In 2009 I made my first trip to the continent and am now planning my fourth visit in April. This visit will include a lion research project, a trek in Uganda to see the mountain gorillas and following the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara again.
Apart from the people, the countries and cultures, my major interest is wildlife photography. I have been involved in photography for around 30 years, mostly involving people and typically children. But since my first visit to Africa, that interest has swayed to wildlife and that is where my concentration lies. I have had an image chosen for publication which is fantastic. Wooohoooo !!
At home in NZ, I live a quiet life at the beach and have an interest in African drumming which I play in a group. I am also interested in video editing and am working on a short piece of the wildebeest crossing of the Mara River.
1. I don’t recall when I first picked up a camera as it was such a long time ago ( showing my age…NOT ). But I first started getting serious when my children brought their school class photos home and I thought I would like to give that a go. I had a different style which was embraced and ended up doing it for 13 years. That lead me into family portraits , weddings, social events , corporate branding amongst other things. Back then it was all film photography and now, with the advent of digital, it has become much easier . I still recall doing weddings on a Saturday and having to stress until the week to wait and see the images printed on paper before knowing if they had come out ( nope…still not showing my age )
2. At this point my focus is on African wildlife. But with my history of “ people photography “ , I still find a real pull to capture the characteristic features I see in African faces. I prefer to take natural images but am always mindful of the respect the people deserve when taking photos without their knowledge. If possible, I ask their permission beforehand.
3. Where I live I often go walking on the beach. Some days there isn’t a soul to be seen. I often walk with my head down noticing all the little things like the patterns in the sand, the way the water moves, the textures , the little insects that scurry when they see me ( am I that scary ? ). These are things that most likely a lot of people wouldn’t notice as they look at the bigger picture which is the scenery. These little things inspired me to make a short film and included in that were all the activities that people enjoy here. I entered it into a local competition and won ( High 5 !! )
4. The most important thing I’ve learnt in photography is to keep it natural. Along with the digital age came programs to manipulate images. Enhancement is one thing, but to change an image into something other than what was seen is a No-No in my book. Especially dealing with nature. Keep it simple….keep it natural….capture the magic of the moment. That’s what it’s all about. Good philosophy for life too I say.
5. My biggest pet peeve when photographing is when people looking on try to get the attention of whoever it is I’m trying to photograph and make them look away from the camera. AAGGHHhhhhh !!! So frustrating.
6. Although there are many locations throughout Africa that I love to take photos, my favourite would have to be the Maasai Mara in Kenya. It has wide, open spaces and such a wonderful feel about it. I don’t know why, but when I am there it feels like home. Was I a maasai in a past life I wonder ? I was there during the wildebeest migration in July / August 2012 and no words can describe the awe of that experience. No photos or video do it justice. But what I love most, about any of the places I have taken photos, is being privileged to be in the animals domain. It’s their space, not ours. It’s capturing nature and it’s environs that holds the magic.
7. The most unusual thing I’ve seen ( or did I ? ) was one of the antelope family but with antlers. I was travelling in an overlanding truck at the time so only got a fleeting glimpse. Later I tried to explain what I had seen to my guide and asked him what it was. He had no idea and looking through pictures of African animals, I have never seen anything that looked like what I saw. So, to this day, I have no idea what it was. At the time, it caught my eye simply for the reason I had never seen whatever it was I thought I saw ( confused ?? ) Yup…..me too.
8. There have been several occasions when I have been in dangerous situations although it wasn’t always possible to capture the moment in a photo.
I was cage diving in South Africa amongst the great white sharks and had placed myself at the edge of the cage on purpose to get the best view. The crew would call from the boat when they could see a shark approaching and those in the cage would submerge to view them. On this occasion though, a massive shark leapt out of the water from beneath the boat, unseen by the crew, and I was facing it only centimetres away at face level with it’s mouth wide open and teeth glaring at me. It crashed against the cage where I was standing and scared the #@%* out of me. It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to capture the moment on my camera. But wow what an adrenaline rush . I’ve never forgotten it and was thankful the cage bars held up against it.
I was staying at a lodge in the Maasai Mara and saw vervet monkeys running around the grounds and up the trees. I grabbed my camera and went out to take some photos. Amongst them was a mother with her baby and , in hindsight a silly thing to do, I got down at ground level to get a good image. She was eyeing me intensively when suddenly, from out of the bushes behind me ,came some more monkeys. One of them rushed at me snarling and spitting and barring it’s teeth. I had to kick at it to keep it away and to stop it biting my leg ( note to self…rabies !! ) . A man walking down the pathway yelled at it and it looked to the side which gave me time to move away. Just a tad scary and I learnt my lesson. On this occasion I DID get the photo of the mother and baby only moments before the attack.
Later that evening , just on dusk when the light is dim, as I was walking to dinner I heard a rustling. The biggest baboon I had seen was just getting out of a tree right beside me. I was mindful not to run but , oh man, did it give me a fright.
I was doing volunteer research on a private reserve in South Africa and each day our group would go out on game drives collecting data. This particular morning the guide stopped the vehicle on the road in front of a large bull elephant. The bull raised his head and waved his trunk before ambling into the nearby bushes to relieve himself. Suddenly he turned and charged back onto the road and came directly at us. His ears were flapping and I had images of us all being somersaulted onto the road . He stopped right by my door. Needless to say, it happened so quick I didn’t get a photo. But if anyone had seen my face……….that would have been a priceless image!
At the same reserve, we were doing an afternoon game drive when the driver heard over the radio of a lion kill. We found 5 lions settling in the nearby bushes after feeding on a kudu. We stayed for quite some time observing them and they went back to the kudu and some began feeding again. I was sitting in the back seat of an open vehicle. The light was fading fast and I became rather unnerved at one of the lions sitting on the grass at the back of the vehicle….only a matter of metres away. Thoughts went through my head that , if it wanted to, it could just jump up and get me. I was relieved by the fact that it wasn’t hungry at that moment so it surely must be eyeing me out of curiosity. Another of the group was getting nervous so we asked the driver to leave. We were down in a dip and had to drive up the side of a bank. As we slowly inched up the side , the lion got up and started following. Bearing in mind, I am in the back of an open vehicle and now looking directly down on it in almost darkness…straining even to see it which only made it worse….I called out to the driver to go faster and as she did, the lion started to run. At this point I don’t think I have ever been so nervous on my travels. Luckily , the lion stopped to turn and see if the rest of the pride were following. They weren’t , so it stopped. Whew !!! I was totally relieved to get back to camp and away from the darkness . I can still recall the vivid memory of that lion looking at me in the near dark. Nope…no photo !
9. Because of photography, it has opened doors for me that , years ago, I would never have imagined possible. What started as a fascination of Africa is now a reality. At present I am focusing on building up followers on my Facebook wildlife photography page. Adding new photos each day and uploading to other sites to develop my profile. I have been told that I have a different style. I am not quite sure exactly what that style is or how I do it. For me it is just capturing what I see and doing what comes naturally. I am looking forward to getting back to Africa and expanding my photo library and concentrating on the finer points of getting better images. I always have the mindset that I can do better and am my own worst critic.
10. There are many sites to place photographic work online but, because I am relatively new to wildlife photography, I am concentrating on my Facebook profile and building that for now. I think it is better to do one thing well than lots of things half pie. Facebook pages have the ability to reach many thousands of people across the world and , indeed , I am already finding that out.
My advice to up and coming photographers would be that you don’t need to go out and spend heaps of money on buying expensive gear. It’s more about composition and timing and capture. The photo I had chosen for publication was not taken on an expensive camera. And practice, practice, practice. Learn by mistakes. Create your own style and don’t try to copy someone else. Be inspired.
I am enthusiastic about this passion of mine and look forward to lots more adventures and experiences along the way.
Africa is calling…
Meet Robyn Preston, a born and bred New Zealander with a passion for Africa and photography. Since she was 10 years old, Robyn can remember having a particular interest in African animals and, in 2009, made her first trip to the continent.
Having been involved in photography for roughly 30 years, Robyn’s passion sways towards wildlife photography, although capturing people, countries and cultures also fuels her fire.
Living a creative life, if you don’t find Robyn at the beach or playing African drums in a group jam, you’ll probably find her dabbling in video editing…. that’s if she’s not planning her next trip to Kenya.
Interview with Robyn Preston below
1. When did you first pick up a camera?
I don’t recall when I first picked up a camera as it was such a long time ago ( showing my age…NOT ). But I first started getting serious when my children brought their school class photos home and I thought I would like to give that a go. I had a different style which was embraced and ended up doing it for 13 years. That lead me into family portraits, weddings, social events, corporate branding amongst other things. Back then it was all film photography and now, with the advent of digital, it has become much easier. I still recall doing weddings on a Saturday and having to stress until the week to wait and see the images printed on paper before knowing if they had come out (nope…still not showing my age).
Above: A young cheetah staring into the distance
2. What kind of photography do you most enjoy?
At this point my focus is on African wildlife, but with my history of “people photography” , I still find a real pull to capture the characteristic features I see in African faces. I prefer to take natural images but am always mindful of the respect the people deserve when taking photos without their knowledge. If possible, I ask their permission beforehand.
Above: A female wearing African traditional jewellery
3. What is the simplest thing that has ever inspired you?
Where I live in New Zealand, I often go walking on the beach. Some days there isn’t a soul to be seen. I often walk with my head down noticing all the little things like the patterns in the sand, the way the water moves, the textures, the little insects that scurry when they see me (am I that scary?). These are things that, most likely, a lot of people wouldn’t notice as they look at the bigger picture, which is the overall scenery. These little things inspired me to make a short film and included in that were all the activities that people enjoy here. I entered it into a local competition and won (high 5!).
Above: 3 giraffes gathering
4. What is the most important thing you’ve learned through photography?
Keep it natural! Along with the digital age came programs to manipulate images. Enhancement is one thing, but to change an image into something other than what was seen is a No-No in my book. Especially dealing with nature. Keep it simple….keep it natural….capture the magic of the moment. That’s what it’s all about. Good philosophy for life too I say.
Above: A zebra attacking another zebra
5. What is your biggest pet-peeve as a photographer?
My biggest pet peeve when photographing is when others around me try to get the attention of whoever it is I’m trying to photograph and make them look away from the camera. AAGGHHhhhhh!!! So frustrating.
Above: A cheetah gazes into the distance as the African sun sets
6. If there was one location in Africa you could go to take photographs, where would it be?
My first choice would have to be the Masai Mara in Kenya. It has wide, open spaces and such a wonderful feel about it. I don’t know why, but when I am there it feels like home. Was I a Masai in a past life I wonder?
I was there on an overland trip during the wildebeest migration in July/August 2012 and no words can describe the awe of that experience. No photos or videos do it justice. But what I love most, about any of the places I have taken photos, is being privileged to be in each animal’s domain. It’s their space, not ours. It’s capturing nature and it’s environs that hold the magic.
Above: A leopard relaxing in a tree
7. What is the most unusual thing you have seen and wanted to photograph?
The most unusual thing I’ve seen (or did I?) was one of the antelope family, but with antlers. I was travelling in an overlanding truck at the time, so only got a fleeting glimpse. Later I tried to explain what I had seen to my guide and asked him what it was. He had no idea and looking through pictures of African animals, I have never seen anything that looked like what I saw. So, to this day, I have no idea what it was. At the time, it caught my eye simply for the reason I had never seen whatever it was I thought I saw ( confused ?? ) Yup…..me too.
Above: Elephants walking off into the distance as the sun sets
8. Have you ever been in an unsafe place or situation to snag a brilliant photo?
I was staying at a lodge in the Maasai Mara and saw vervet monkeys running around the grounds and up the trees. I grabbed my camera and went out to take some photos. Amongst them was a mother with her baby and in hindsight a silly thing to do, I got down at ground level to get a good image. She was eyeing me intensively when suddenly, from out of the bushes behind me, came some more monkeys. One of them rushed at me snarling and spitting and barring its teeth. I had to kick at it to keep it away and to stop it biting my leg (note to self…rabies!). A man walking down the pathway yelled at it and it looked to the side which gave me time to move away. Just a tad scary and I learnt my lesson. On this occasion I DID get the photo of the mother and baby only moments before the attack.
Above: The lion is arguably the most fierce of the Big Five
9. Ever missed a brilliant shot?
There have been several occasions when I have been in dangerous situations and haven’t managed to capture the moment. Like when I was shark cage diving in South Africa and missed a massive shark breach. Centimetres away at face level, its mouth wide open and teeth glaring at me. It just happened so fast. In another instance, after relieving itself in the bushes, a bull elephant charged directly at us, but stopped at my door. It happened so quickly I didn’t get a photo. If anyone had seen my face… that would have been a priceless image!
Then, in the same reserve, we found five lions settling in the nearby bushes after feeding on a kudu. As we started to drive away the lion got up and started following. I called out to the driver to go faster and as she did, the lion started to run. Luckily, the lion stopped to turn and see if the rest of the pride were following. They weren’t, so it stopped. Whew!!! I can still recall the vivid memory of that lion looking at me in the near dark. Nope…no photo!
10. Complete this sentence: Because of photography…
… doors have opened for me that, years ago, I would never have imagined possible. What started as a fascination of Africa, is now a reality. At present I am focusing on building up followers on my Facebook wildlife photography page. Adding new photos each day and uploading to other sites to develop my profile. I have been told that I have a different style. I am not quite sure exactly what that style is or how I do it. For me it is just capturing what I see and doing what comes naturally. I am looking forward to getting back to Africa and expanding my photo library and concentrating on the finer points of getting better images. I always have the mindset that I can do better and am my own worst critic.
Above: A mother and her cheetahs cubs stay close
11. Where do you find are good places for aspiring and pro-photographers to place their work online?
There are many sites to place photographic work online but, because I am relatively new to wildlife photography, I am concentrating on my Facebook profile and building that for now. I think it is better to do one thing well than lots of things half pie. Facebook pages have the ability to reach many thousands of people across the world and, indeed, I am already finding that out.
My advice to up and coming photographers would be that you don’t need to go out and spend heaps of money on buying expensive gear. It’s more about composition, timing and capture. The photo I had chosen for publication was not taken on an expensive camera. Remember: Practice, practice, practice. Learn by mistakes. Create your own style and don’t try to copy someone else. Be inspired.
I am enthusiastic about this passion of mine and look forward to lots more adventures and experiences along the way.
Africa is calling…
Featured Photographer Robyn Preston
Above: Robyn Preston
Robyn’s next visit to Africa is scheduled for April, an adventure which will include a lion research project, Uganda gorilla trekking and following the Great Migration in the Masai Mara… again.
Above: Photography students at the 3 Witches peaks below Sentinel in the Drakensberg, South Africa.
Above: Two men rowing on the Zambezi River at Sioma Falls, Zambia.
Above: The M2 highway in Johannesburg at night, Gauteng.
Above: Durban International Convention Centre at twilight, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Above: Two bulls sparring each other at Thanda Game Reserve, 
Above: The Tree Aloe (Aloe barberae)
Above: Three Basotho herders in the Drakensberg, South Africa.