Kenyan Encounters
Discussion
In October my wife and I went on a belated honeymoon - a Safari and beach holiday in Kenya.
I honestly can't recommend it enough - truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. There are a few things I'd do differently if I went again, but nothing that I'd really want to change about our holiday as it was.
I've already put a couple of these on the random photos thread, sorry for the duplication. All except the landscapes are shot with a Sigma 150-500, the exif is probably in them all. The landscapes were shot with a Sigma 10-20.
Hope you like these, feedback welcomed should you feel inclined! Sorry there are so many, I've got hundreds more but I don't want to be (even more) boring!
Fish Eagle:
Sable Antelope:
Giraffe:
Elephants parade:
Tsavo West Hills
Lots of elephants:
The view from our room in Ngulia Safari Lodge, Tsavo West National Park:
Water Buffallo
Leopard
Giraffe
Antelope
This was an interesting scene. Two adult jackals caught our attention as they were constantly barking at something we couldn't see:
We soon realised they were barking at a leopard, which was digging out their burrow trying to eat their babies:
The Leopard just took it's time, and must have eaten the lot, before sloping off into the bush:
Back to the cuddly stuff...
Baby zebra:
Mzima Springs - lots of hippo here, but they weren't playing and wouldn't pose for me...
The view from the bar at our lodge in Tsavo East National Park:
Lioness:
Lions, rar:
Elephant face off:
Finally, we stopped at a Masai tribe village, and got to see how they live - pretty grim by our standards but they all seemed quite happy with their lot.
This little chap was real trouble, wouldn't leave me alone!
And since it was so nice - the view from the bar in our main hotel:
And the pool. Paradise, wish I was there.
Thanks for looking!
I honestly can't recommend it enough - truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life. There are a few things I'd do differently if I went again, but nothing that I'd really want to change about our holiday as it was.
I've already put a couple of these on the random photos thread, sorry for the duplication. All except the landscapes are shot with a Sigma 150-500, the exif is probably in them all. The landscapes were shot with a Sigma 10-20.
Hope you like these, feedback welcomed should you feel inclined! Sorry there are so many, I've got hundreds more but I don't want to be (even more) boring!
Fish Eagle:
Sable Antelope:
Giraffe:
Elephants parade:
Tsavo West Hills
Lots of elephants:
The view from our room in Ngulia Safari Lodge, Tsavo West National Park:
Water Buffallo
Leopard
Giraffe
Antelope
This was an interesting scene. Two adult jackals caught our attention as they were constantly barking at something we couldn't see:
We soon realised they were barking at a leopard, which was digging out their burrow trying to eat their babies:
The Leopard just took it's time, and must have eaten the lot, before sloping off into the bush:
Back to the cuddly stuff...
Baby zebra:
Mzima Springs - lots of hippo here, but they weren't playing and wouldn't pose for me...
The view from the bar at our lodge in Tsavo East National Park:
Lioness:
Lions, rar:
Elephant face off:
Finally, we stopped at a Masai tribe village, and got to see how they live - pretty grim by our standards but they all seemed quite happy with their lot.
This little chap was real trouble, wouldn't leave me alone!
And since it was so nice - the view from the bar in our main hotel:
And the pool. Paradise, wish I was there.
Thanks for looking!
I fully intended to shoot RAW... When we arrived at the airport, the girl on the check in desk calmly informed me that my hand luggage was only allowed to weigh 5KG. As I was hitting the scale at 13KG, some frantic shifting of gear ensued. Anyway, in the melee, I somehow managed to lose my USB cable. Meaning my laptop was now just dead weight in the bag, since I couldn't use it to transfer photos.
This meant I was limited to my two CF cards, 8GB and 2GB. As such RAW was out of the question, I shot approx 3,000 photos in jpeg large/fine.
As far as PP goes, the Sigma 150-500 is lacking in contrast when compared to my other lenses, so these have had levels crunched and then most of them have been de-saturated a bit. A bit of cropping as well, then a resize/sharpen and that's pretty much it on all of them.
The 10mm shot from the bar of the lodge has a cokin hard grad on it.
This meant I was limited to my two CF cards, 8GB and 2GB. As such RAW was out of the question, I shot approx 3,000 photos in jpeg large/fine.
As far as PP goes, the Sigma 150-500 is lacking in contrast when compared to my other lenses, so these have had levels crunched and then most of them have been de-saturated a bit. A bit of cropping as well, then a resize/sharpen and that's pretty much it on all of them.
The 10mm shot from the bar of the lodge has a cokin hard grad on it.
I would say I was as happy, given what I spent on the lens. I'm certain it outperformed what I would have got with my 80-400VR, but I'm also certain that there are lenses out there that would have been better, given a sufficient budget.
AF was great except in really really low light - but I have no idea if that was the lens or the body. Faster than the 80-400 and also much, much quieter
For the money, on a Nikon body, I can't see how I could possibly have done better at a 500mm focal length, which was what mattered to me when I bought the lens in the first place.
I've been looking at 100% crops of photos and I was originally thinking they weren't great - then I remembered I was looking at subjects often 100's of metres away, on a hazy hot day. Bearing that in mind, I think the lens is as good as I could have hoped.
That being said - I can't see me ever using it again. With a new house purchase coming up, expensive holidays are a thing of the past...
Here are a couple of examples, not great photos but to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
This baboon was abuot 20 metres away when it took this:
This is a 100% crop:
These elephants on the other hand were about 400 metres away
And this is a 100% crop:
My favourite lens in the world is my Nikkor 28-70 f/2.8, which cost nearly double what the Sigma 150-500 set me back. 100% crops from that crap on these from a great height - BUT - that lens would never have got me these photos.
Not sure if this helps you or not!
AF was great except in really really low light - but I have no idea if that was the lens or the body. Faster than the 80-400 and also much, much quieter
For the money, on a Nikon body, I can't see how I could possibly have done better at a 500mm focal length, which was what mattered to me when I bought the lens in the first place.
I've been looking at 100% crops of photos and I was originally thinking they weren't great - then I remembered I was looking at subjects often 100's of metres away, on a hazy hot day. Bearing that in mind, I think the lens is as good as I could have hoped.
That being said - I can't see me ever using it again. With a new house purchase coming up, expensive holidays are a thing of the past...
Here are a couple of examples, not great photos but to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.
This baboon was abuot 20 metres away when it took this:
This is a 100% crop:
These elephants on the other hand were about 400 metres away
And this is a 100% crop:
My favourite lens in the world is my Nikkor 28-70 f/2.8, which cost nearly double what the Sigma 150-500 set me back. 100% crops from that crap on these from a great height - BUT - that lens would never have got me these photos.
Not sure if this helps you or not!
Edited by _dobbo_ on Saturday 7th November 21:49
Fantastic pictures dobbo! :tu
I have the sigma 80-400 with optical stabilisation, which I purchased especially for a trip to Kenya.
I would echo your comments about it being an incredible experience. I had been worried about work and nearly decided to cancel at the last minute, but I'm glad I didn't! It's something I'd recommend to anyone. The variety and numbers of wildlife are just staggering.
You mentioned the 5kg weight limit. Can I ask which airline you flew with? I flew with BA business, the whole hand-baggage and liquids restrictions thing blew up (pardon the pun) when I was in Kenya (August 2006). I was following the news trying to find out what was allowed. Most people (especially those traveling on to USA) were not allowed ANY hand luggage, so I had re-packed everything, fitting the sock-wrapped camera gear into my check-in luggage.
Got to the check-in desk and the lady said "oh, you're business class, the restrictions don't apply"
Cue frantic re-packing again.
I went to the Nairobi & Nakuru parks and the Masai Mara game reserve. A sobering experience seeing the poverty in the villages, but everyone is in good spirits!
I'd love to go back there, thanks for the photos, they bring back good memories.
I have the sigma 80-400 with optical stabilisation, which I purchased especially for a trip to Kenya.
I would echo your comments about it being an incredible experience. I had been worried about work and nearly decided to cancel at the last minute, but I'm glad I didn't! It's something I'd recommend to anyone. The variety and numbers of wildlife are just staggering.
You mentioned the 5kg weight limit. Can I ask which airline you flew with? I flew with BA business, the whole hand-baggage and liquids restrictions thing blew up (pardon the pun) when I was in Kenya (August 2006). I was following the news trying to find out what was allowed. Most people (especially those traveling on to USA) were not allowed ANY hand luggage, so I had re-packed everything, fitting the sock-wrapped camera gear into my check-in luggage.
Got to the check-in desk and the lady said "oh, you're business class, the restrictions don't apply"
Cue frantic re-packing again. I went to the Nairobi & Nakuru parks and the Masai Mara game reserve. A sobering experience seeing the poverty in the villages, but everyone is in good spirits!
I'd love to go back there, thanks for the photos, they bring back good memories.
Edited by Rofly Lollers on Sunday 8th November 18:56
wow...good pics and you managed to see a lot at Tsavo...which can be quite rare, as it is not as good as Masai Mara and have heard of a lot of people being disapointed by going there...but seems like you saw a lot, so glad you enjoyed it and got to see some great game.
which hotel did you stay at in Mombasa
which hotel did you stay at in Mombasa
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