Big Cat Photography Day

BIG CAT Photography Day

The Big Cat Sanctuary, Smarden, Kent U.K.

Prepare for an upcoming Safari:

Itinerary & Camera Advice

Itinerary:

• Arrival 10.00 a.m. Welcome drink & Lunch menu

• Presentations; H&S Guidance & Camera settings/advice

• 12.00: lunch provided – Please advise of any dietary requirements

• 12.45: On Site – Testing camera settings advice. Meeting Big & Small Cats within the stand-off areas

• 2.45: Return to Education Centre for a critique & collect equipment.

• 3.30: End of the Photography Day.

• 4.00 *Depart BCS. Shop visit before 4.00pm if required

*Gate will open automatically on approach to exit

Alma Leaper

Follow H&S instructions

BCS H&S reminders at each standoff:

- Do not call out or attempt to touch any cat

- Do not touch the mesh

- Step back to check images away from the mesh

- Step back to adjust settings

- Be aware of uneven ground

- Do not walk whilst checking images

Alma Leaper

H&S: Keep your distance from mesh when moving inside stand-off area

Alma Leaper

H&S:Do not touch the mesh !! particularly when getting up from eye level

Alma Leaper

H&S: Check exposure away from the mesh:

Alma Leaper

Do not try to distract Cats. Sight/Sound

Alma Leaper

Patience:

Alma Leaper

Basic Camera Settings

• Recommended Lenses: 70-200; 80-400; 24-70 or similar

• Start with Aperture Priority (AV) – f/5.6 (if not fully manual)

• Autofocus

• ISO adjust throughout the day

• Single point focus/spot metering

• WB: Nikon: Cloudy or Daylight - Canon/Sony/Olympus: Daylight

• Continuous focus – Canon: Al Servo (moving subjects)..Nikon AF-C

• Shutter speed priority (Canon:TV) recommended with cats (Caracal; Rusty-Spotted; Jungle Cat; serval etc.).. As advised

• Raw or Jpeg fine according to preference.

Alma Leaper

Exposure compensation: + 1.3 +2.0 (to help avoid mesh/silhouette-effect)

Alma Leaper

Over-exposing

Alma Leaper

Over-exposing

Alma Leaper

Under exposing

Alma Leaper

Looking for those dark backgrounds:

Alma Leaper

Composition:

Alma Leaper

Composition: allow space

Alma Leaper

Composition:

Alma Leaper

Patience:

Alma Leaper

Up close:

Alma Leaper

Eye contact: single point focus/spot metering

Alma Leaper

Tell a story:

Alma Leaper

Stay Safe & Enjoy

Cat Welfare comes first.

Please follow: -

All H&S Instructions

Alma Leaper

Our gardens are amazing too!

Thank You !