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Panning with Wildebeest

Techniques | Posted on March 29, 2018
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I have become a bit of a sucker for panning shots these days – all part of that continuous process of re-evaluating personal style, avoiding repetitive photography (and therefore folders of very similar images) and what you might simply call a desire to develop a few more skills and ideas in my mental locker to be able to be pulled out when circumstances demanding a bit more creativity arise. One of the absolute best places to work on such a technique is the Maasai Mara during the height of the migration: with a vehicle parked in the right place (usually through a little anticipation and, more often than not, nowhere near a crossing point and so very often completely alone) a long line of wildebeest trotting or running past can go on for ages which gives a repetitive subject in a similar setting – the ideal scenario for learning and experimenting. The specifics of this image ISO 100, f16, 1/25 and a steady hand throughout the pan. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea (most creative images have a real hint of marmite in terms of loving or hating them) but away from the beauty of the big cats that we will find pretty much every day, the drama of a crossing (less frequently but a truly dramatic sight when we do) and the sheer thrill that seeing a sadly increasing rare Black rhino always brings, the hidden benefit of our Migration photo safari is the chance to really take your time in learning and improving some of your creative techniques too.

Mark

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One thought on “Panning with Wildebeest

  1. Liz Cutting

    Thanks Mark. I certainly think I could be more creative so thanks for planting at least the vaguest germ of an idea.

    Reply

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