With no guests in camp, Mombo Manager Megan Van Der Merwe had to find another way to keep herself busy. One way was taking advantage of the amazing Olympus cameras in camp. Megan learnt a new skill and we are delighted she did!
During lockdown the most incredible opportunity was presented to me after it became known I had started to take an interest in photography, and particularly using the Olympus OMD EM I MARK II camera, which is available for guests to use while at Wilderness Safaris Mombo Camp.
I had never used a DSLR in the past and had very basic photographic knowledge. The camera was surprisingly easy to use and through a bit of research and guidance from the kind folks at Olympus UK, I was able to get some useful tips on how to improve my images.
The camera has a number of pre-set modes that really help with beginners like me, and here are the ones that I really liked.
1. P – Programme mode: this is probably the most widely used mode I make use of, the reason being that the camera does just about everything automatically for you (except for a few critical bits, which I came to learn through using the camera). The camera will automatically set the ISO, White balance and f-stop, but it allows me as the operator to choose my exposure and focus points. I literally point and shoot and it produces the most incredible quality photos.
2. C2 – Mode: I like to capture birds in flight and this pre-set mode is fantastic if you are learning to shoot them, or just want a really fast frame rate. The camera does everything for you automatically and shoots a frame rate of up to 60fps. Not only is that impressive in its own right, it also buffers a few images in storage prior to pressing the shutter, making it very easy to choose which picture I want, and never missing that bird taking off or a beat of the wings in flight.
3. LIVE COMPOSITE: I had heard the guides talking about this feature on the camera and wow was I impressed! It is incredible for astrophotography… now remember I had never heard of aperture or f-stop, never mind astrophotography, until I picked up the camera a few weeks ago. This mode takes a baseline exposed picture and then any new highlights are added to the screen live. So it is fantastic for things like star trails, light painting and night photography – especially for beginners, it is very simple to use.
4. The compatibility, durability, the weatherproof characteristics and sheer size and weight of the camera really impress me; it is lightweight and in our dusty environment this camera really performs well.
5. I like to photograph insects and with no macro photography experience at all I was really impressed when I learnt how to do photo stacking through Claire Voyles’s (of Olympus UK) very comprehensive Zoom calls. The quality and detail are outstanding, and I love how, when you zoom in, it does not lose picture quality. I could even see the microscopic hairs on some grasshoppers I photographed. This was all without a macro lens.
As I am still at the beginner’s stage of photography, and am learning every day – and thoroughly enjoying every second that I get to use the camera. I hope you enjoy the 20 images I like the most …
Little bee-eater, Merops pusillus, is the world’s smallest bee-eater and a common resident in the Okavango Delta; they nest in holes dug into banks or old aardvark burrow ceilings
Studies suggest that animals yawn in anticipation of stimulation rather than as a result of boredom
With their long legs and necks, large eyes, enviable eyelashes, striking coat patterns, ambling gait and calm demeanour, these creatures are both weird and wonderful. Learn more about the fabulous giraffe in this article.
Darker, fuller manes indicate a healthy lion with plenty of testosterone. Black manes are perhaps the most telling status-symbol; manes darken with age, and thick dark hair indicates a well-fed lion.
As the waters of the Okavango Delta arrived, the elephants were seen frolicking in delight
Like the human tongue, the trunk is a muscular hydrostat – a boneless structure that allows for its excellent manoeuvrability
Characterized by large dish-like ears and grey-black markings, the bat-eared fox lives mainly in open savannah and grassy deserts
The relationship that the red-billed oxpecker has with giraffe is called mutualism. This bird eats mainly ticks but may also eat blood-sucking flies, fleas and lice off the host animal. Both animals benefit from this because the giraffe is getting rid of parasites that could harm it.
With the arrival of the inundation, wetland vegetation grows and many animals begin to concentrate in the vast floodplains. Read more about this wetland wonder here.
Macro photography is extreme close-up photography, usually of very small subjects and living organisms like insects, in which the size of the subject in the photograph is greater than life-size
The Motsumi Pack of African wild dogs have been seen recently near Letaka Pan, a short three-minute drive from Mombo Camp. See more of their antics here.
The praying mantis naturally attracts attention, its beautiful colour and graceful form commanding us to look and wonder
Mating season is an incredible time of year in the bush, hearing the roaring and deep growls of rutting impala males, as they chase each other around and fight for access to females
Lion cubs are born with blue eyes that change to amber or brown around the age of two to three months
The Olympus camera’s P mode has excellent zoom capabilities, as well as a stabilising feature that is very handy
Leopards have a proud history at Mombo, read more about the legendary Legadima here
Did you know that Africa’s lion population has almost halved in the past 25 years? Read more about the important work of the Lion Recovery Fund here.
Hyaenas are famous for their scavenging abilities, but the spotted hyaena is a strong hunter too
Most people visit Botswana to experience the pristine wilderness, and the Nile crocodile is always an attraction
The names terrapin, turtle, and tortoise can cause confusion. Turtles are sea chelonians, tortoises are land chelonians, and terrapins are freshwater chelonians that spend some time on land.
Written and photographed by Megan Van Der Merwe
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