Roho Ya Chui
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How to Photograph Maasai People
16/07/13 08:18 Filed in: Photo Tips
The Maasai people in Kenya and Tanzania are very beautiful and proud people. They live in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara and one can easily see them herding they cattle when being on a photographic safari, wildlife photography course or team building photographic safari. They make fantastic photographic “subjects” with their colorful traditional clothes, decorated with beautiful beadwork. But one should know that they want to be asked before you photograph them, otherwise it can get a bit nasty. And because they are quick learners, they adjusted to tourism and will ask for some money for being photographed. Usually the amount can be negotiated and they will be really patient with the photographer and helpful to get great shots. It is only a pity that the photographs will be posed and not spontaneous snap shots. However, they are impressive people and fabulous for photographers.
Happy travel snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
The Great Migration Has Started
15/07/13 09:32 Filed in: Photographic Safari
The Great Migration is one of the most spectacular nature events and prime time for photographic safaris, wildlife photography courses and team building photographic safaris. It is the time when the big herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in from the Serengeti on their search for food. On their way they have to cross the Mara River, with strong currents and crocodiles waiting. It is an amazing experience to witness these river crossings where drama unfolds, families stand together, panic arises and also happy herds enjoy feeding on the green grass of the Masai Mara, once they have made it.
This years Great Migration has just started. The first big herds of wildebeest have crossed the river. The spectacle is on.
If you ever consider doing a safari, this should be on top of your list.
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
ePhoto Book: Space
14/07/13 12:06 Filed in: Wildlife Photography Courses
Africa is space. It is a great experience to be on game drives during photographic safaris in Kenya, wildlife photography courses in Namibia and team building photographic safaris in Tanzania and look out over the endless plains with a variety of colors and patterns painted by the light of a storm or the sunlight shining on the savanna.
Get an impression with “Space” right here.
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
On Photo Safari: When is the Best Time to go
13/07/13 12:04 Filed in: Photographic Safari
Guests often ask when is the best time to go on photographic safari in South Africa, wildlife photography course in Kenya or team building photographic safari in Botswana. The answer is it depends on what you want to do and see.
If you want to see the Great Migration in the Masai Mara you need to go between the middle of July and the beginning of September. For the rest the Masai Mara offers throughout the year great wildlife sightings, only the vegetation will look different when going just after the rainy periods or just before. It will either be nice green or pretty dry, but both are very interesting for photography.
If you want to go to the Okavango Delta and to do water activities, you need to go during the time that there is enough water to do so. But also here the Okavango Delta is beautiful throughout the year.
If you think about going to South Africa you should know that the sightings in winter are often easier, because the grass is low and the animals gather around waterholes. In summer the bush is nice green and it is warm. It all depends on what is important for you and when you have the time to go.
In other words, always talk to the people you are booking your trip with to find out what the best would be for your interests and you will have a great photographic safari.
However, the bush is always amazing. You can let the bush surprise you with the beauty it offers at the time of your visit and you will go home with incredible photpographs.
Happy travelling and snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
What to Photograph This Summer
12/07/13 09:53 Filed in: Photo Tips
In the northern hemisphere summer is in full swing and in the southern hemisphere winter is very mild with the promise of great wildlife sightings. But there are not only on photographic safaris in South Africa, wildlife photography courses in Kenya and team building photographic safaris in Namibia great wildlife sightings and nature adventures, also the beautiful nature of the northern hemisphere has to offer great beauty to the photographer. The green of the forests with their beautiful light and shade compositions are wonderful photography subjects and so are the parks. The animals from your own pet to the deer and foxes of the woods are beautiful in this awesome light of summer.
And don’t forget the cities and villages you can visit with their summer flair and flowerbeds.
Actually anything is great in summer and the camera can just click away, capturing this lovely feeling of being outdoors and enjoying a warm summer day.
Enjoy yourself! Keep snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Realize Where You Are
11/07/13 09:26 Filed in: Phographic Safari Tips
Every time you go out to photograph, you need to tune in to the place where you are in order to get the best results with your photography. That applies to the simple walk in the park next to your house, the place of a friend, the holiday in France, the photographic safari in Kenya and South Africa, the wildlife photography courses in Botswana, the teambuilding photographic safaris in Tanzania, the visit to the museum, the birthday party of your niece and so on.
The point is that only when you realize where you are, in other words when you are conscious where you are, you will be able to get the light right for your camera settings, you will see the beauty of the place and you will be able to capture its essence. If for some reason this is not the case, maybe because of a distraction or a jet lack or something other of this kind you will see it in your images. There will be some kind of “noise”, appearing e.g. as the image being too bright or too dark or the composition being hideous. When you notice that, take a step back, slow down and start feeling where you are. Then take your camera and start again. The images will show the difference.
Ready to go? Enjoy your photography!
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Weddings on Photo Safari
10/07/13 09:03 Filed in: Photographic Safari
It is very popular to choose exotic locations for weddings and a great whole in one is to get married during a photographic safari to South Africa or Kenya while having the honeymoon in the same package. One could even call it the team building photographic safari event for the family of a lifetime, everyone would remember forever. Or it could be at the same time the family present to the newly wed when making it a wildlife photography course as well.
It has many advantages to choose the bush for a wedding, if it wouldn’t be so far away for many people, yet it is worth considering it, especially when one loves photography. There is probably no better background for a wedding photo like the Great Plains or the Ngorongoro Crater or even a herd of elephants and no more romantic sundown shot than the newly wed couple on a 4x4 jeep looking out over a river with hippos popping up. Well, the opportunities are endless and every guest can be the photographer and most likely will be the photographer of the event, gathering memories of a lifetime, making the event very special one.
Don’t think now a wallpaper with hippos will do the job. The excitement of the real thing will be missing. The photo will tell.
Be inspired to create special moments to capture and keep forever.
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
What are edVenture Retreats?
09/07/13 11:49 Filed in: Photographic safari destination
For those who want to give their photographic safari in South Africa or the wildlife photography courses in Kenya or even the team building photographic safaris to Namibia an extra dimension can turn it into an edVenture Retreat. The word edVenture stands for “educational adventure” and deepens the experience by choosing very special locations for the events with additional meditations and exercises.
The purpose is to recalibrate and reconnect in order to achieve better results and to benefit even more from the photographic experience in the bush.
EdVenture Retreats are a comfortable experience in enchanting environments and make the attendees connect with their creative strength in a deep and long lasting way.
Ever thought of utilizing meditation or energy work to enhance your photography? You might not be conscious that you do it already. Yoga for example is a strong tool.
Happy learning and snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Learn from Edvard Munch
08/07/13 11:20 Filed in: Photo Tips
We probably all know Edvard Munch’s very famous painting “The Scream”. It shows his distinguished style, which makes it easily recognizable as his work. Earlier work shows that he tried different techniques. Some paintings look a lot like Monet or Van Gogh paintings, because he uses “their” style.
But then he goes beyond the styles of “others” and arrives at his own style of painting. The little dots that form the paintings of Monet become long dynamic lines in Munch’s paintings.
But what got that to do with your photography, with photographic safaris to South Africa, wildlife photography courses in Kenya and team building photographic safaris in Namibia? It tells something essential you always should keep in mind with any of the mentioned activities, find your own style, and have your own signature in photography.
When a safari vehicle with 6 people on it stands at a lion sighting with a lion lying in the grass not doing anything. One could be tempted to think that all photographs of all guests would be the same. If all guests on the vehicle have in mind the same image of a lion they saw in a magazine and photograph to match that image, their photos would pretty much look all the same. But if each of them looks at the lion in his/her own way, each photo will be different and one could easily say who photographed which image.
Find your own signature and you will find your place in photography.
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
ePhoto Book: Live
07/07/13 16:11 Filed in: Photographic Safari
Tsavo East is a huge national park in Kenya with a large elephant population. It is a popular destination for photographic safaris, wildlife photography courses and team building photographic safaris.
It is a special place with sometimes drama and sometimes joy.
View the ephoto book here.
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
On Photo Safari: Say Stop When You See Something
06/07/13 15:56 Filed in: Phographic Safari Tips
When guests are going on photographic safari, team building photographic safari or wildlife photography course for the first time, they often hesitate to come out for themselves with regards to the photos they want to take. It can be intimidating to sit on the game vehicle for the first time with a ranger in command of driving and explaining and often a tracker in charge of finding the animals. And now you, the newbee wants to say stop, where the ranger didn’t show any sign that there would be anything interesting. But you should. Nobody sees what you see and it is not important that nobody else sees it. Its your photo, you saw something worth photographing and you want to capture it. And if the ranger doesn’t stop quickly enough to get the shot you saw, ask to reverse, that you still get your lovely photo.
The photo needs to appeal to you and when it appeals also to others, that is even nicer, but in the first place, it’s your photo.
Trust your eye. Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Exhibit Your Photographs Online
05/07/13 10:34 Filed in: Photo Tips
As an emerging talent in photography it is not easy to find galleries exhibiting your work and with the numbers of photographers trying to get their attention, you better try it independently online.
There are great platforms like Behance and Foundfolios where you can show your art projects and Flipboard and Flowboard to present your work in a beautiful way. And don’t forget the opportunity to create ibooks and even sell them in the itunes store. All tools are available online and give you the chance to make your way into the galleries. Use them.
And for the wildlife photography lovers and photographic safari, wildlife photography course and team building photographic safari travelers are the lodges gearing up to make sure you can share your collections straight away from the bush. No gallery can beat that.
Show your work and keep creating.
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
What is Painting with Light
04/07/13 17:28 Filed in: Photography & Art
There has been a great hype about light painting recently and people try to invent constantly new ways of applying this technique. But what is at the bottom of all that? What is light painting?
Photography comes from the Greek and means light drawing. The artist is not using a pen, the camera is the pen with which he/she captures/draws what he/she sees. And it is only a small step from light drawing to light painting. Photography is painting with light and it needs no new techniques to do it, the camera is enough.
But if you like to try the new techniques, do it. Make yourself a painter, creating with one line amazing animals in the darkness of the bush and add an extra dimension to your photographic safari, wildlife photography course or team building photographic safari.
Keep playing!
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Learn from Van Gogh
03/07/13 17:26 Filed in: Photography & Art
Vincent van Gogh put all his passion in his paintings, all he felt when seeing beauty in nature, people and anything else that touched him. He did not restrain emotion, he let it all come out and express itself in his paintings.
How would he have experienced what so many people are doing nowadays, the photographic safaris they go on, the team building photographic safaris companies do and the wildlife photography courses people attend. He most likely would have loved the light and the incredible colors and genuineness of the savannah.
Let your images show your awe and your emotions. Don’t be shy, dare to express yourself.
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Learn from Picasso
02/07/13 17:25 Filed in: Wildlife Photography Courses
Picasso was a master of keeping it simple, painting the essence in simple lines. His way of painting can be found in abstract lines in nature and animals.
The best way to experience that is to do a hot air balloon ride or small aircraft flight while being on a photographic safari, wildlife photography course or team building photographic safari. From your bird view position you will see patterns in the savanna or desert, structures in the landscape and roads forming lines and paintings in the grass. Also zebras are the perfect animals to photograph like abstract paintings. Look out for lines, contrasts and patterns also in other animals. Zoom in on the skin and see the painting.
Inspired? Happy painting!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com
Learn from Peter Beard
01/07/13 17:24 Filed in: Wildlife Photography Courses
Peter Beard is a great artist to learn from in wildlife photography. He went on photographic safaris when this expression didn’t even exist and nobody thought there would be one day team building photographic safaris and wildlife photography courses.
His art can be inspiration for photographers in many ways, yet the probably most inspiring is the genuine way he photographed the bush. A blur lion is no problem and neither are blurred leaves in the foreground of an image. It is never disturbing, only enhancing the expression of the image and the essence he capture with it.
Only looking at his pictures is teaching so much. Enjoy it and be inspired.
Happy snapping!
Ute Sonnenberg for www.rohoyachui.com