Shem Compion - Insiders Guide: Top Wildlife Photography Spots in Botswana and Namibia

This book could not have been produced without the generous assistance of many people. Thank you to Hougaard Malan, Gerry van der Walt, Isak Pretorius, Greg du Toit and Andr Cloete for their knowledgeable input. Vernon Swanepoel, Grant Atkinson and Villiers Steyn assisted with much-needed data and information on certain areas, thank you. It is comforting to know that such a strong sense of community exists within the nature photography fraternity.

To my family Ruth and Sara, thank you for your constant support and love.

Thank you to Minette van den Berg who was instrumental in keeping my life organised while I worked on this book. She also worked tirelessly on editing the text, for which I am grateful.

Thank you to the Jacana team of Bridget Impey, Pete van der Woude, Kerrie Barlow and Megan Southey for your tireless dedication to making this book possible. You are all wonderful to work with.

To Zendr Lategan, your constant support and encouragement of my many endeavours, no matter how far away, is like a rock to me. Thank you.

The panhandle of the Okavango offers some brilliant carmine bee-eater photography.

Nature and wildlife photography has become so popular that cameras have become as commonplace on safaris as binoculars. Almost all tourists have a decent quality camera and most have become proficient in its use. It is thanks to improved camera technology that people have been able to capture their safari images in ways that were never possible before, which has been the real driving force behind the popularity of wildlife photography in Africa. Botswana and Namibia, for a variety of different reasons, offer some of the most magical wildlife and nature scenes in Africa, if not the world.

This book is a simple guide dedicated to revealing the best photographic highlights in both of these countries, and is written specifically for the wildlife photographer. There are so many places to visit and see in Botswana and Namibia, and this book covers the photographic highlights in each country and presents the information in an easy-to-use manner. This book is the ideal companion for the safari traveller who has an interest in improving their wildlife photography; the aspiring wildlife photographer; and photographers who need information on where to find specific wildlife and natural phenomena.

Using general locations for easy reference, each chapter focuses on a different area, giving you all the information you need to perfectly plan your photographic trip. I discuss the equipment you will need and why it will be useful for particular photographic situations. I offer tips on bird photography, suggest techniques to use when photographing specific subjects and consider animal behaviour that will allow you to get better images of your wildlife subjects.

In addition to being a guidebook, my intention in writing this book is to inspire people with the beauty of Botswanas and Namibias wildlife and scenery. These two countries are invaluable to Africas conservation efforts and, thanks to the steady increase in tourism, the conserved areas within their borders will be preserved for future generations. Wildlife and landscape photography is incredibly rewarding and this book aims to enrich the photographic experience.

Shoot straight.

Shem Compion
2011

Botswana is famed for its lion population, and rightly so! Here a male lion is charging another one.

A dune flight over the Namib will give you a stunning view of the lines, curves and shadows.

Preparing to go on safari in another country is a daunting task, and one that is made even more difficult if you are planning to make it a photographic holiday. This book will guide you through your preparations with ease. It tells you which seasons are best for visiting specific areas within Botswana and Namibia and what equipment will be best for photographing the available subjects. Even if you are forced to go on safari in the wrong season (is there ever a wrong season for the wildlife photographer?) this book details what you can expect to see and photograph. This will take you to the places where you will get the best results and make your hours of photography more productive. Ive placed a strong emphasis on making it as easy as possible for you to find what you want to photograph, allowing you to concentrate on getting great images, saving you a lot of physical and mental energy.

This book is best used in conjunction with field identification guides and maps of the areas you are visiting. Although I have detailed 10 main locations for photographing wildlife, I have also covered many of the smaller locations and local specialities. This will give you a clear idea of what to expect in each area in terms of wildlife and photographic opportunities.

The areas covered in the book must be viewed as the starting point for your own exploration of these vast countries and will hopefully guide you on your own personal journey with wildlife photography.

Side lighting adds depth and texture to an image that front lighting just cannot do.

The Okavango Delta offers open floodplains, termite-mound islands and water channels that make it one of the best wildlife destinations in the world.