From NaturePixels.org

Tips On Overseas Bird Photography Trips

updated June 2008

Author & Editor

Author: Starrynight

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Photographs and article are copyright of starrynight

Introduction

I realized that bird photography tour is different from the ‘usual’ holiday. Bird photography tour has its own specific aim and hence special preparations as well as mindset will make a difference.

First and foremost, I will always prepare to enjoy what comes along. Rather than getting upset of what shots I have missed out or what birds I have not seen. This is important.

A dream holiday to Lake Nakuru, Kenya

I would like to share some of my experience:

Setting your goal

Every place will have some ‘normal’ birds and some ‘star’ birds. So when I am going for a bird photography trip, I will research on the birds that I want to see in that place. This will form a basis that I work around to plan the trip.

The bird ‘season’ is a single most important factor to consider. To maximize my chance and time, I will usually employ a local guide.

I will always be realistic and match my fitness to the destination as well as activities.

Photographer in National Park of Thailand. Shooting in dense forest could be humid and hot and may not be everyone's idea of 'holiday'.

Setting the journey

Once I settle on the destination, work and home arrangement, I will check out the air route and ticket. I will always consider the airline, route, stop over, country of transit and price. The price often is NOT everything. For example, an overnight stop over air ticket may cost more considering the hotel/land transport as well as the time wasted.

Another example is that budget airline may be cheaper but their luggage weight allowance is small and fussy about overweight. You may end up paying more for excess weight because of the heavy camera equipment.

I use MISA travel sometimes especially for the complex route and not so common destination. ( www.airfares.com.sg) / Tel: 65380318

Nowadays air tickets can be fully booked fairly early (like 2 months ahead!!) This can be frustrating. So what I normally do is that I will book it ASAP and change later.

Setting the stage

Next I will research on the season (for clothings n type of birds), climate, weather (for lighting n type of birds), people, language, culture, currency (estimate how much $ to change), electrical voltage (for charging battery) etc. I have a standard checklist that I will normally follow through.

Like I said before, I will engage a local guide to maximize my chance as well as my time. This will also provide a hassle free experience as well as for personal safety (don’t forget you may carry >$10k worth of equipment!!!). This is especially true for area that has high crime rate.

Of course some places like Australia and New Zealand are great to self drive, hence guide may not be necessary throughout the trip or can just engage local guide on ad hoc basis.

Japanese guide in Hokkaido. Although communication is a little tough but without him, it is not easy to find some of my 'target' like Stella Eagle. He tried his very best to help me along. And his wife's cooking is 'A' class!!!

I usually do this by searching on website or through friends recommendation. A few key points to note when searching for guide in the web:

1. Key in ‘bird photography tour’ and the destination. This is because I want to search for photography tour and NOT any holiday or birding tour. Those people who does photography tour will better suit our needs.

2. Engage a local agency. It is always cheaper. For example - don’t waste your time if you are going India and the website is "www.xxyyzz.co.uk".This agency is from UK and they will need to earn as well.

3. Those ‘photography workshop’ are instructional tour. They can be expensive unless you wanted to learn photographic skills from the tour.

4. Once I found these local agencies, I will email them about the tour and I will always specify that I am a serious amateur photographer. Through corresponding, I will get to know them better and pick one that is most consistent, systematic and responsive to my questions.

5. The agencies will usually wants some deposit if not the full cost before your departure. Check with the local authority or travel association or tourist board if your agency is a registered one with good reputation!

Other preparations

Shooting conditions

Find out from your guide / internet / trip report about shooting condition. Equipment preparation may be slightly different. If you are shooting mainly from vehicle, bean bag became an essential accessory. If you are shooting mainly in forest area, then flash and flash extender are important.

In this situation, photographer was shooting from boat. He modified the support by using a monopod. Taken in Myanmar.

Shooting condition can be challenging and requires preparation. In this case, water proofing of tripod leg may be necessary as the photographer waded into water. Taken in the shore of Thailand

Medical

Vaccinations

Prevention is better than cure!! Certain places will require vaccinations and this need to be done at least 2weeks to a month before departure. Tan Tock Seng Hospital (tel 63572222) and Changi hospital ( 6850 3685/ 6850 3333) have traveler’s clinic, not forgetting that some GP give good advice too. Do call up before you turn up in the clinic.

Don’t save on vaccinations … it is important and most of these vaccinations will last a long time i.e. 1 to 10 years!

Medical condition

Understand your medical condition and match your activities. Do consult your usual doctor if uncertain.

Preventive medications

Malaria prophylaxis is essential for some places. One need to take a week before, during the trip and 4 weeks after the trip. There are different types and 1 tablet is about S$3-5. Do consult GP or traveler’s clinic. However, do bear in mind that malaria tablet is NOT 100%. You will still need to use insect repellent / body cover etc.

Oh.. remember to bring along sun screen as well.

First aid kit

Pack a simple first aid kit. This should include bandages, gauze, antiseptic solution, panadol, charcoal pills (for diarrhea), anti-vomiting, anti-diarrhea, for constipation etc. Ask your GP or doctor friends for help.

Documents

Photocopy your passport and safe keep it.

Check if Visa is necessary (can do so with travel agency).

Exit permit for Singapore males (if needed).

Your credit card numbers, emergency phones for credit card and family members.

Driving license (Some places will need an international driving license. You can get it from AA).

Insurance

Do get travel insurance. If u do travel more than 3 weeks a year, it may be worthwhile getting a full year type. For AIA is about $300 for a year.

Currency

The Indian foreign exchange shop near to the taxi stand at Parkway Parade gives a not too bad exchange rate. Remember to prepare some loose change for tips. It is almost 'compulsary' or 'cultural' in certain country, so check before you leave for the country!

I personally feel that traveler’s cheque is very troublesome. Credit card became my back up. The POSB ATM card (the newer one with all the ‘cirrus’, ‘maestro’ sign) can draw $ from overseas ATM. Just make sure you get a machine that speaks English!

US dollars is the most versatile currency.

If I am going on a long trip and carry quite a bit of cash, I will have a belt that has a zip pocket on the reverse side to put away some rolled up $$. Sports connection sells one for S$7 but mine spoilt after 1 trip. I got myself one custom made in India instead.

Equipment

Well, this is the painful and difficult part. I am always torn between the weight issue and possibility of using the equipment later.

Equipment can be heavy and may take up 80% of your load. Taken in Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Camera equipment

• Camera and flash

Advisable to bring 2. If one plan for a fantastic trip but found the camera spoilt when one arrive in the destination can be suicidal!!

• Batteries

Recommanded to have at least 2 sets of batteries for each camera. Don’t forget the charger and the power socket adaptor (for foreign country).

• Memory card

At least a few 1GB. Bring a portable storage device if u shooting in raw or on a long trip. I am using PD70X. It is battery operated and fast speed. So far I have no problem with that. One with a 80GB HDD cost about $300 plus.

• Tripod n head

This will need to check in as they are not allow to hand carry onto the plane. Proper protection is needed to prevent any unnecessary damages. Packing them into a hard case will prevent demage as heavy weight may be loaded onto them during transfer in cargo space.

• Cleaning equipment

Important especially on long trip. Mine consist of a blower, a small painting brush (to brush the external part of camera n lens), and a lens cleaning pen.

• Protective cover

This is not only important for rain protection but also dust. Imagine if you sit on a jeep and chase after a rare bird …. By the time u got the shot, both u and camera will be covered with dust!! And when dust get into little gaps around the equipment, it can be very difficult to clean.

Others

• Equipment protection

I personally like to bring trash bags, zip lock bag (big ones can be bought at Beach road army market), shower caps (Use to cover the camera body and the connection between lens and body when drizzling so that I can still continue to take pics) and plastic wrap. All these are light weight, easy to use, cheap, disposable and DIFFICULT to buy when in the jungle! Also rubber bands may come in handy.

• Personal protection

For rain/cold etc, including rain coat or warm clothing. Certain area although tropical, can be chilly in mountain area. Also ‘quick dry’ material clothing are highly recommended. The usually branded ones are expensive. ‘Sport connections’ do have similar ‘quick dry’ clothing but at a cheaper price. A pair of good walking shoes is also important.

• GPS, Compass n torch light

For navigation purposes. GPS is extremely helpful if one is going to self drive or self tracking in forest.

• Writing material

Especially to fill in immigration card!

• Tool kit or Swiss knife

Remember to put in check in luggage!

• Visual aids

Sun glasses (especially if you plan to drive or destination has snow or hot sun!) and binoculars.

• Dehumifying stuff

Some places are very humid e.g. Costa Rica. I was very nervous about lens getting fungus. So do bring some silica gel beads or even a small ‘hungry hippo’ … Even if it doesn’t help, at least it put your mind at ease!

Packing

Because lots of the equipment are fragile and one may have to carry as hand luggage. Airline rules had been changing since September 11 and they are stricter. One may have to check with the respective airlines and airport.

Packing equipment must be a conscious effort and weight issue is real! One of the trick is to put some in the coat / outer wear to reduce the carry on luggage weight. Another piece of advise which I learnt from painful experience. Compartmentalize your things and put it back immediately after you have used it. Losing even something small in the field can spoil your whole trip!

Here is a little checklist which might be useful

Documents n procedures

1. Tour guide contact details

2. Credit card details and number

3. Change Foreign Currency

4. Exit permit (For NS men)

5. Spouse’s or parent's permit plus blessing - very very important!!!

6. Air Ticket

7. Copy of passport

8. VISA

9. Travel insurance

10. Emergency contact details

11. Passport

12. Driver license

MEDICAL

1. Vaccinations

2. Hepatitis A

3. Hepatitis B

4. Typhoid

5. Chlorea

6. Tetanus

7. Yellow fever (for Africa)

8. Mosquito repellent

9. First aid kit

10. Medications

11. Sunscreen

12. Vitamins

PERSONAL ITEM

1. Toiletries (Soap, Shampoo, Toothpaste and Toothbrush)

2. Shaver

3. Clothings (Tops, Pants, Sleeping attire, Underwear, Socks, Rain n warm clothing, Shorts)

4. Hat

5. Slipper

6. Sunglasses

7. Towel

8. Tissue paper / Wet wipes

9. Moisturizer

10. Torchlight

11. Tool kit

12. Small sewing kit

13. Binoculars

14. Writing material

15. Washing detergent

16. Alarm Clock

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

1. Body A (Main body)

2. Body B (Backup body if any)

3. Long lens

4. Shorter lens

5. Wide angle

6. Macro lens

7. Flash

8. Tripod

9. Tripodhead

10. Flash bracket (if any)

11. CF cards

12. Extension cord

13. Remote control

14. Batteries for flash

15. Batteries for body A

16. Batteries for body B

17. Flash extender

18. Charger for battery A

19. Charger for battery B

20. Charger for flash batteries (Usually AA)

21. Storage device + any necessary cables

22. Charger for storage device (if yours is using proprietary batteries)

23. Power point adapter (aka travellers adapter)

24. Lens protective cover

25. Lens rain cover

26. Lens cleaner

27. Brush for external cleaning

28. Dust blower

29. Ziplock bag

30. Dehumidifier

31. Trash bags

32. Bean bag

33. Plastic bags

Other things to take note:

1. Hard disc if it is battery operated will be useful in places where electricity is limited

2. Umbrella plastic bag for tripod legs

3. All battery to be fully charged before departure!

4. Mobile hide can comes in handy for elusive species.

This list is not exhaustive … items will be added as and when when I remember/recall …

Safety

When you arrived at the destination, no matter how safe it is, one must not take it for granted. "Low crime is not NO crime" !! Common sense do apply ... like lock the car door when one get into car, do not flash your equipment in the city area, do not leave things unattended ... and so on ...

Last but not least, pack in some humour! It will take you a long way …

Relax and enjoy the wilderness ... it is a holiday afterall!!!

Bon voyage!