Sun Destinations

Leading cameraman and experienced guide, Warren Samuels, is about to embark on yet another intrepid adventure into the undiscovered bushveld. The destination : Botswana ! Home to an abundance of wildlife and plenty of uncharted territories, there’s certainly not going to be a shortage of photographic and filming opportunities. Captured in Africa Exclusive Safaris are pleased to announce that Warren will be leading a professional photographic expedition. Two camps, Tuskers Bush Camp and Camp Savuti will be the base for his company’s latest exclusive photographic safari in June 2018 called “Predators of Botswana”. Read our interview and get to know Warren Samuels, the man behind the lens.

Two of our camps, Tuskers Bush Camp and Camp Savuti will be the base for his company’s latest exclusive photographic safari in June 2018 called “Predators of Botswana”. Let’s get to know Warren and delve deep into the heart of what makes hime tick and discover his roots. Curious? Read our interview and get to know Warren Samuels, leader of your photographic journey.

 

What was it like growing up in Kenya?

It was an absolute privilege growing up in a country with such diverse landscapes, from ice capped mountains, montane forests, savannahs, deserts to sandy white beaches and beautiful coral reefs,  who could ask for a anything more for a  young person looking for a sense of adventure.

What were you before you were a celebrated wildlife photographer and documentary cameraman?

I was a field guide/ranger, wildlife conservation officer and lodge manager, working at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa from 1980-1986.

What is your favourite photography subject?

Big cats, Elephants and flying Raptors.

Where is your dream photography destination?

There are a number of very special photographic destinations that I really enjoy going to. In Kenya, Samburu national reserve and close encounters with elephants, Tsavo national park searching for iconic big tusker elephant bulls, Masai Mara for big cats. Tanzania – Selous game reserve for big cats and waterbirds. Serengeti for the wildebeest calving. Botswana – elephants, big cats, water birds and Wilderness.

What has been your most hair-raising encounter out in the field?

Tracking a mother leopard with small cubs on foot. Together with my Shangaan tracker, we set out to track and find a mother leopard with 2 x 1 month old cubs, to show to our international clients. Photographing baby leopard cubs are probably any photographers “dreams come true” moments. My tracker, khimbian mnisi and I, stood up to a full blown charge by the mother in defence of her cubs. Khimbian got behind me as I faced the very angry leopard. He guided me backwards up a rocky gully whilst the mother leopard advanced on us growling with a swishing tail. The cat finally backed down once she knew she had us in retreat. I have never been so scared and so relieved to have escaped unscathed from a potentially very dangerous situation.

And your most memorable moment caught on camera, when all the patience practiced was well and truly worth it?

There were many memorable moments, some exciting, some emotionally charged, and some unique and revealing. From filming cheetahs doing a 100m dash in 4 secs, 10,000 wildebeest crossing a river over a 10 hour period, to filming 3 x3 month old baby elephants being swept down a flooded river with their mothers desperately trying to save them by reaching out to them with their trunks.

What did you learn about filming wildlife during the Big Cat Diary series?

Patience and more patience is need to be a successful wildlife cameraman. I learnt better use depth of field when filming cheetahs running and pulling focus quickly. Following an animal thru a film lens running at 75mph is no easy feat.

Have you lost any valuable equipment while out at work in the wild? If so, what’s the story?

Not lost a camera or lens yet touch wood.

What is your favourite camera angle/setting/lens for wildlife photography?

Definitely the low angle. The lower the camera the larger and more dramatic the subject looks. I particularly like backlighting or rim lighting animals especially animals with furry coats. I find this camera position allows for very moody and atmospheric lighting. Fast shutter speeds of 2-3000 secs for photographing flying Raptors and wide open apertures of f2.8 or 5.6 looking for minimum depth of field for doing animal portraiture.

Do you prefer photo or film?

I like both. Film with moving images enables one to capture interesting animal behaviour. Photo stills enables one to capture and freeze frame a particular moment in time.

What is the greatest conservation achievement you could wish to see in your lifetime?

The establishing and development of more community run wildlife  conservancies and partnerships between the tourism operators and local landowners. Long term sustainability of wildlife areas is directly dependant on the local people that live there, and  receiving tangible benefits in the form of employment, and income from leasing their land.

On your upcoming Botswana photographic safari, are you most looking forward to the world-renowned Savute, or the unchartered Kwatale Conservancy?

Both actually. The world renowned Savuti concession is famous for its large numbers of elephants and lions. I am really looking forward to getting up close and personal and achieving some great low angle, close up photographic images of both. The Kwatale concession is a great sell as an exclusive wilderness area and it is here that I look forward to enjoying some great hide photography with elephants drinking at waterholes and pans. Opportunities to see and photograph wild dogs and cheetahs too, is exciting, but most of all is the experience of being a part of a unique African Wilderness far from the madding crowds.

Are you a happy camper, or a comfort-seeker? If you’re a camper, what is your key to comfortable camping in Africa?

Both really. A camper, when I head out to enjoy expiring the Wilderness and doing a little soul searching. A comfort seeker, when working hard on film or photographic projects where after a long hard days work, I really do appreciate a hot shower, good food and a comfortable bed. This means I can rise early the next day, feeling totally rejuvenated, and ready to start creatively composing images.

The elements: Are you better in the icy cold, or the searing heat?

Definitely the heat. Having grown up in Africa, I am more adaptable to coping with heat. I once did a reality TV shoot in England, mid Feb on Dartmoor and operating cameras in a -25 degree Celsius wind chill was no fun at all!

What is the best time of day?

For photography, 6am to 8am in the morning, and 4-7pm in the afternoon. Lower angled sunlight is softer on the subjects, shows up more light and shadow (depth and textures), and is very atmospheric.

Who are your greatest inspirations?

Film makers Alan Root, Derek Joubert, photographers frans lansing and Jonathan Scott.

What gadget/gear/kit item would you recommend as a secret weapon for the aspiring photographers joining you on safari at Camp Savuti and Tuskers Bush Camp?

A camera body that shoots large RAW files at a minimum of 6-7 frames/sec. A 70-200 image stabilised lens for composing shots of full bodied elephants at close up to medium distances from camera. A 100-400mm image stabilised lens with a 1.4 converter for good long lens wildlife photography, and for those strong enough to hold it, a 200-400 mm IS lens with 1.4 converter to eyeball your wildlife subjects and get all those big close up and intimate shots. Landscape photography, a wide angle 10-55 mm lens. Go pro hero cameras for planting at strategic spots on waterholes for those amazing low angle shots.

Below are a few photos taken by Warren Samuels.