This is the second of a 4 part blog series on Safaris with a Purpose.
There are very few safari operators in Africa that cater to the discerning traveller and simultaneously guarantee award winning images to take away with you. This safari with a purpose is for any aspiring photographer wishing to fulfil their dream of taking ultimate iconic images.
Great Plains Conversation is just one of theses companies that offer guided photographic safaris to Kenya and Botswana from November – March every year. The experience is totally unique, creative and a whole heap of fun. We guarantee that guests will come away with images they are proud of to share with the rest of the world on social media.

Great Plains Wild Studio is an opportunity for all levels of photographic abilities to become published wildlife photographers.
NON-PHOTOGRAPHERS – Great Plains have designed the courses to accommodate non-photographers also, ideal for couples and families looking for different experiences.
PRIVATE TUITION OR IN GROUPS – Both workshop and tailored private tuition are provided in all their camps. The workshops may be as short as three days making them extremely accessible to all travellers.
SPECIALIST PHOTOGRAPHERS Professional photographers, who live in either Botswana or Kenya, will guide their photography guests through the technical aspects of photography, and then take them even further by developing meaningful portfolios which they will assist in publishing for guests.
UNIQUE WAY TO LEARN – Quite simply they work backwards! On day one we will design the contents page of the portfolio for a book, social media album, printed photos for your dining room wall or for a published calendar.
All we have is a one-page contents page as your destination, which will be the flexible guide for the rest of the workshop. The different phases could be birds in flight, soul of the elephant, zebras in action, the cats of the savannah. Allow your creativity to go wild.
OBJECTIVE FOCUSED PHOTOGRAPHY-The concept draws on the strategy used by professional and National Geographic photographers. Having a brief allows them to really hone your skills in a focused way rather than scouting the reserves randomly. It will help us produce better images.
THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS- Once they have an understanding of what you’d like to create you are taught the skills needed to create the vision.
The camera is not used to drive them but you are taught how it can be used to create our vision.
Your ‘image-capturing device’ can be a smartphone, GoPro, compact right up to the professional cameras. It does not matter as they can all capture an exposure of your subject to tell a story.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Choosing the right equipment and knowing what to bring is very important. They can work with your tour operator in assisting with all the right advice. They can also provide you with some hints and tips to get you started before you even leave home.
CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHY
Raising awareness about conserving our habitats through the medium of photography is at the core of Wild Studio. They look to create storytelling portfolios, which once published, can provide a broader and more fulfilling message.
By simply showing your friends and family your new photographic skills and the incredible sights you have seen goes to great lengths in raising awareness to protect our wilderness. They do this by helping you edit your images post trip so they can be developed in to as book digitally or to be printed on paper.
VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT
All their vehicles have been modified to provide camera supports and beanbags. Beanbags provide the most universal solution for the majority of our photographers but we can tailor the vehicles around anyone’s requirements including gimbal supports by using additional clamps.
EDITING AND PUBLISHING
The final product of the workshop will be to take home a fully edited portfolio ready for publishing, ultimately in an iBook for you to print yourself at home.
WORLD RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHIC DESTINATIONS
They provide the setting for some of the most iconic places to photographic on the planet. The Maasai Mara, coupled with Hemmingway’s famous Green Hills of Africa in the Kenyan Chyulus, with breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro and the mystical and pristine Okavango Delta with the hidden gem the Selinda Reserve in Botswana.
Diversity is key in providing a varied and interesting portfolio. We look to spend time with a wide range of wildlife rather then focusing on just key species, and our habitats provide that opportunity.
There are no fixed times during a Wild Studio workshop. In fact they are completely tailor made for you.