A B O U T M E
"Hi, my name's Sam and I'm a professional wildlife photographer looking to develop skills in others and share experiences in all things photography and wildlife!
... oh, and with gin!"
I've been a professional wildlife photographer for over a decade, photographing the flora and fauna of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa - a country I consider as a second home.
I spent four years living in the Limpopo province of South Africa amidst the wildlife and on the doorstep of the famous Kruger National Park, teaching international guests the specifics of wildlife photography and aiding conservation initiatives.
Over the years I've seen my photography and writing published across various platform through the likes of National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Travel Africa, Wildcard Magazine, Africa Geographic, Getaway Magazine, Nature TTL, Tracks4Africa and more locally in the Limpopo-based publications of the Klaserie Chronicle and the Hoedspruit Explorer magazines
I love being creative and photography is a fantastic outlet for showcasing one's artistic sensibilities. However, I truly feel that with nature and wildlife - it should be more about what's in front of the camera and less about the person behind it. As much as I put my own creative stamp on my imagery, it's also important to me that my work truthfully and honestly reflects and the wildlife and scenery that was in front of me.
P U B L I C A T I O N S I N
J O I N M E O N S A F A R I
I run a company called RAW Photographic, where we host photographic safaris and workshops across southern and eastern Africa. These trips, whilst giving incredible experiences and photographic tuition to our guests, also provide support to local conservation groups and assist in the development of up and coming photographers looking for experience in the field.
If you're looking to experience the African wilderness in an authetnic and ethical, yet experiential and intimate way - please consider visiting out our website and checking out what we have to offer. I'd love to host you on safari and share my knowledge and expertise with you!
WHAT'S IN MY CAMERA BAG
CANON EOS R5
MIRRORLESS DIGITAL CAMERA BODY
The EOS R5 is Canon's flagship full-frame mirrorless camera in 2020. It features an all-new, Canon-developed 45MP CMOS sensor with in-body image stabilization that can reduce shake by up to 8 stops. The camera uses the Dual Pixel AF II system, which has 1053 AF points across the entire frame. The advanced autofocus system uses Deep Learning to track both people and animals. The R5 is capable of shooting bursts at 20 fps with its electronic shutter and 12 fps with the mechanical shutter, both with continuous AF.
The R5 can shoot 8K video at 30p and 24p, saved as either Raw or H.265 footage. It's also capable of capturing oversampled 4K footage at up to 120p. C-Log and HDR PQ are supported.
The SLR-styled R5 has a solid build and is weather-sealed. Its OLED electronic viewfinder has 5.76 million dots and a magnification of 0.76x. Its fully articulating LCD has 2.1 million dots and its touch-sensitive. The camera also features dual memory card slots: one for SD, another for CFexpress. It offers dual-band Wi-Fi with support for real-time FTP transfer.
CANON RF 100 - 500mm
F4.5 - 7.1 L IS USM LENS
The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is a tele-zoom for the company's full-frame mirrorless system. The lens can reduce shake by up to 5 stops, and up to 6 stops when attached to an EOS R5 or R6. It has dual nano USM motors, even driving their own focus group. Special elements included super UD and UD glass. The minimum focus distance is approximately 0.9m (just under 3ft). Despite having a rotational zoom, the lens is sealed against dust and moisture. The lens supports Canon's RF 1.4x and 2x teleconverters for additional reach.
CANON RF 24 - 70mm
F2.8 L IS USM LENS
The Canon RF 24-70 F2.8L IS USM is a standard zoom lens for the company's full-frame mirrorless system. It has a whopping 21 elements, including 3 aspherical and 3 UD elements. It uses a Nano USM motor to drive the focus group quickly and quietly. The minimum focus distance of the lens is 21cm at wide-angle and 38cm at telephoto. The 24-70's image stabilizer can reduce shake by up to 5 stops, according to Canon. The lens weighs in at 900 grams and, like all 'L' lenses, is rugged and weather-sealed.
CANON BG - R10
BATTERY GRIP
Two of LP-E6NH, LP-E6N or LP-E6 batteries can be used together to extend shooting time. The grip also has a duplicate set of camera controls – including an AF point selection joystick – that is positioned to replicate the layout of the camera’s own buttons and dials. They fall instinctively under the right fingers and thumbs when the camera is held vertically. The BG-R10 is built to the same exacting standards as the EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras, with the same level of resistance to dust and moisture.
DELKIN CFEXPRESS (TYPE B)
127GB MEMORY CARD X4
Blending robust build quality, dependability and enhanced performance, the Delkin Devices 128GB Power CFexpress Type B Memory Card offers a versatile 128GB storage capacity. This CFexpress Type B card is designed for professional photographers, videographers and cinematic creators who work with the latest digital cameras and pro video cameras.
+ external card reader to attach to laptop
SAMSUNG SSD T7 SHIELD
4TB PORTABLE HARD DRIVE
Supremely tough, fast, and compact, the new T7 Shield gives superior performance on the go, even in challenging environmental conditions. Super-speed on the inside with durable protection outside, it keeps work flowing wherever you are.
MACBOOK PRO M1 MAX
16" APPLE LAPTOP
With the blazing-fast M1 Pro or M1 Max chip — the first Apple silicon designed for pros — you get groundbreaking performance and amazing battery life. Add to that a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, the best camera and audio ever in a Mac notebook, and all the ports you need.