“We tend to be drawn to an animal’s eyes first – so always make sure if there’s one thing that’s in focus, it’s the eyes. When done right, you get that beautiful catch light…” – Andy Lowe, Zimbabwean wildlife and bird photographer.
Andy has a few photographic gems up his sleeve and shared them with us on his recent visit to Changa Safari Camp. Much-longed for rains have arrived in Zimbabwe and the Matusadona National Park is lit up in vivid greens and brilliant blues, providing a magnificent backdrop for birding and photographic enthusiasts. A flurry of activity accompanies every green season, including the arrival of migrant birds to the area, perfect photogenic subjects along with celebrated residents like the African Fish Eagle.
Andy Lowe Photography 
Andy Lowe Photography
To capture the perfect bird shot, you need a lens with a decent zoom. Andy’s go-to lens is a 400mm f/2.8 with image stabilization. He uses aperture priority mode to set the widest aperture possible for the lens and the situation, if not f/2.8, then f/4.0. ISO should be around 400 to allow a faster shutter speed of 1/1000 to 1/5000 for a sharp image. “In low light, I may push the ISO as high as 1600, but this all depends on the camera and if it can handle it without too much noise.” We sat quietly early one morning with Andy, when the light was soft and faintly golden, a perfect time to take pictures. Our sights were set on an African Paradise Flycatcher, which to my untrained eye was just a flash of chestnut as it flitted from tree to tree. “Birds are erratic and move quickly, so don’t be afraid to take more photos than you think you need.” I snapped away and our patience was rewarded – the prize, Andy’s glorious image of the long-tailed beauty…
The focus on Matusadona has intensified lately with the exciting arrival of successful conservation NGO, African Parks. In partnership with ZimParks, African Parks will manage Matusadona, with the aim to rebuild infrastructure and reintroduce iconic species, including the black rhino. Back in 2013 and along with Spurwing Island, Changa formed the Matusadona Anti-Poaching Project (MAPP), which does some outstanding anti-poaching and conservation work in the park. Now, with African Parks’ added investment and resources, we look forward to a truly phenomenal future for this corner of the country that Changa calls home. “Matusadona is a very special place for Zimbabwe and has a lot of potential for tourism and socio-economic development.” Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and President of African Parks.
Contact Changa Safari Camp
Web. www.changasafaricamp.com
Email. reservations@changasafaricamp.com
Tel. +263 778 731 567 or +263 242 498835/6
