GORILLA PHOTOGRAPHy, PORT LYMPNE WILD ANIMAL PARK, KENT
No Bars or Fences is Ideal for Fantastic Photos with Clean Backgrounds. VIP African Safari
There are two very large outdoor Gorilla enclosures at this wonderful 500 acre venue near Folkestone in Kent. They are constructed in such a way that we can photograph these amazing primates with nothing but fresh air between ourselves and our subjects.
Privileged Access to Gorillas
Photographers on Safari have arranged for you to have access to the wall of the moat that forms the enclosure boundary. This close-up access is not available to the general public. It means that you can photograph the gorillas little more than 20 to 30 feet away, and you will be looking directly into their eyes at that same level. A quite amazing experience.
Photograph Baby Gorillas
There are currently two tiny babies that the mothers carefully caresses in her huge hands. While the mothers are eating the babies cling tightly to their mothers' backs watching every movement and learning from everything she does. The mothers are so amazingly gentle with their babies which, compared to their mothers, are tiny. It is breathtaking just to witness the mothers delicately carrying them about in the enclosure, let alone to take stunning photographs. They truly are gentle giants. We have arranged a special feeding session with the mothers and babies in the morning.
Huge Silverbacks
The size and obvious power of the huge male gorillas at Port Lympne is awesome. They must be, pound for pound, one of the strongest animals in the world. At mid-day we will photograph the feeding of the male group from our privileged position just a few metres away. You cannot fail to be impressed by the obvious power and presence of these gentle giants. We will have a further session with these magnificent creatures at about 3pm.
Tips,Tuition & General Advice through the Day
Tips and Tuition will be offered throughout the day. One technique that really does help, particularly with the gorillas, is fill-in flash. Their eyebrows protrude quite some distance in front of their eyes, and it is their eyes that usually tend to be in shadow in natural light. All will be explained on the day.
VIP Off-road African Safari
We will take their specially constructed safari vehicle and go off-road for a VIP African Safari Experience. The vehicle has open sides and there are no windows to hinder your photography. This trip is quite different to the normal on road safari drive that the park operates. When we find an interesting subject we are able to spend time with them and are not rushed to move on. These animals' home is some 170 acres of quite rough terrain. It is in complete contrast to the normal flat fields of short grass that you find at many venues.
Wildebeest, Zebra, Ostrich, Giraffe, Black Rhino, Eland, Przewalski's Horses, Bison and various types of Deer
We will spend in excess of two hours photographing the above. You will have plenty of time to compose your photographs with uncluttered and natural backgrounds. There are 16 Black Rhino here at Port Lympne, which represents approx 8% of all these creatures in captivity worldwide.
Tapir & Colobus Monkeys
The potential for absolutely stunning shots of Colobus Monkeys jumping through the air is greater here than anywhere else I have ever come across. You are able to photograph them as the jump to and from their feeding table. They will be fed for us around 4pm and have a large open-topped enclosure that has been constructed in such a way that there are no fences directly between the animals and your camera. Our final subjects will be a pair of Tapirs. Fascinating animals with a long flexible snout. Unfortunately, the Red Pandas did not survive the winter period.
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This workshop is so much more than just Gorillas. Click here to view the gallery and see for yourself.
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Typical Itinerary
9.15 Meet and greet in main public car park.
9.30 Move together in cars to Mansion car park
9.40 Walk to Palace of the Apes
9.50 Safety briefing and brief session of group tuition prior to photographing special feed of family group of gorillas
10.45 Tea / coffees at mansion. Continue with group tuition.
11.10 to 12.30 Photograph Black Rhinos, Red River Hogs and two groups of Silverback Gorillas
12.30 to 1.45 African Safari in private vehicle, stopping and photographing wherever we find interesting subjects.
1.45 to 2.45 Lunch in the mansion
2.45 to 4.30 Second session with the Silverback gorillas plus Colobus monkeys, and Tapirs / Tigers.
4.30 to 5.00 On own in park
Workshop Dates for 2010;
sun aug. 22nd 2010 SOLD OUTmon aug. 30th 2010 9.30 - 5.00 £149.00 BANK hOLIDAYPlease note that most of the above dates have been arranged so that they can be combined with the Big Cats Workshops on consecutive days to save on travelling expenses. |
