DSLR and GoPro Safari Workshop
Mark Gillett and Rebecca Hart have teamed up under Suitcase Media to bring you a unique film and photography workshop of a lifetime! With Rebecca's wildlife experience and Mark's adventure work from around the world, the workshop will be an intensive, fun and action packed week of learning, filming, photographing and exploring Africa’s most iconic wildlife. This is your chance to join them on their quest to explore new and innovative ways of filming and photographing African wildlife using the latest in DSLR and HD GoPro technology, whilst they work to create a number of short films with varying themes!
THE FACTS
Dates New dates coming soon - email with your interest!
Duration (6 nights)
Location Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa
Limited Max 8 people per workshop
Cost £2950
Sign up info@suitcasemedia.net
Contact Mark +44 7973690087
Contact Rebecca +44 7824702327
WORKSHOP LEADERS
Mark Gillett is a highly knowledgeable and extremely well travelled filmmaker, photographer, explorer and adventurer. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has vast experience leading film and photography expeditions to some of the most extreme and challenging environments in the world - from the Middle East where he built a reputation for expeditions in the desert, to Asia, the Himalayas, Amazonia, Sierra Leone and Alaska … the list goes on!
Mark’s primary love is for the diverse cultures around the world and he takes a highly creative and philosophical approach to film and photography. With his extensive knowledge Mark will lead the workshop sessions and will also be focused on creating short music videos and a documentary throughout the duration of the Safari Workshop. Website: http://www.junglemoon.co.uk
Rebecca Hart is a wildlife filmmaker and photographer with a passion to use visual media to inspire and inform on environmental and conservation issues. Rebecca holds a BSc in Environmental Sciences and an MSc in Climate Change at the University of East Anglia and has travelled widely in South Africa over two years developing her filmmaking skills. Most recently spending six months living at The River Lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve and working for WildEarth Safari TV in the Sabi Sands were she gained an extensive number of hours filming and photographing African wildlife!
For the duration of the Safari Workshops Rebecca will be working on gathering footage to be used in a number of conservation films, which will include the highly topical rhino poaching issue in Africa. Website: http://www.rebeccahartmedia.photodeck.com
With Mark and Rebecca’s combined experience you can rest assure in the knowledge that you’re in safe hands allowing you to get the most out of this unique learning experience!
WHY THE DSLR SAFARI WORKSHOP?
Traditionally photographic safaris have been highly popular internationally for both professional and amateur photographers alike. However, times have changed and an exciting gap in the market has been revealed primarily as a result of advances in digital photographic camera technology with the inclusion of a video function on many new DSLRs. Greatly enhanced quality of consumer video technology in smaller handheld camcorders and the improved accessibility of High Definition along with the explosion in popularity of film in the online social media market including YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and Twitter.
The Suitcase Media Safari Workshop aims to utilise this gap in the market by providing a more inclusive ‘media’ safari workshop as opposed to the more traditional photographic safari. Some of the DSLR and GoPro Safari Workshop’s highlights are outlined below.
HIGHLIGHTS | FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY
- Unique opportunity to join and work alongside film and photography professionals
- Advice on a range of professional film and photographic equipment, including a number of different DSLRs and HD GoPro cameras
- Explore camera functions in a creative learning environment
- Learn new and improve existing camera techniques
HIGHLIGHTS | SAFARI
- Big 5 game viewing (lion, leopard, buffalo, white & black rhino, elephant) plus cheetah, hyena, hippo, crocodile, zebra, giraffe, various antelope species and masses of bird life
- 2 private - open roofed - game viewing vehicles with knowledgeable safari guides
- Maximum of 4 participants plus one leader per vehicle to allow for equipment space
- Chance of getting up close and personal on safari with a bush walk led by expert guides
- Luxury accommodation along the river bank in a stunningly wild African bush location
- Chance to follow highly topical real life stories and local issues
PERFECT FOR
- Film and photography enthusiasts looking for experience and a chance to build a portfolio
- Photographers wanting to explore the video function of their DSLRs
- Filmmakers looking for an opportunity to join a production team
- Anyone wanting to make a short documentary based on wildlife, environment, conservation and the local African community
- Wildlife enthusiasts and adventurists
- Anyone looking to explore ways of creative film making and photography
- Camera enthusiasts of all levels welcomed as we tailor workshops for individual needs
ACCOMMODATION
Khaya Ndlovu Manor House (1 night)
Blue Canyon Conservancy, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Khaya Ndlovu Manor House is set within the 15,000-hectare Blue Canyon Conservancy and is a unique development being located only 7 km from Hoedspruit. It gives guests the best of both worlds, in terms of a luxury bush experience and easy access to local amenities. The Sandspruit River winds its way through the reserve, which is home to white rhino, lion, elephant, leopard, hippo and all the charismatic plains game species indigenous to the area. With spectacular mountain views Khaya Ndlovu has a 4 star TGSA grading and a ‘superior’ AA grading. The house is equipped with wireless internet, and lounge with DSTV with HD TV, a study with a choice of books on wildlife and coffee stations throughout. Website: http://www.khayandlovu.co.za/en/
The River Lodge (5 nights)
Thornybush Game Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa
The River Lodge is situated in a secluded spot in the south of the 11,500 hectare Thornybush Private Game Reserve - one of South Africa’s premier wildlife destinations with spectacular game viewing including all the Big 5 plus cheetah, hyena, zebra, giraffe, various antelope species and masses of bird and plant life. River Lodge is an ultimate wildlife luxury lodge that gives a complete bushveld experience, animals are free to roam through camp so you need to remain aware when walking around! The lodge only has a high wire in order to stop the elephants from damaging the units. The River Lodge consists of five spacious 2-bed suites situated on the riverbank. Each of the suites has its own, kitchen and braai area swimming pool, lounge area and beautiful elevated decks over looking the river. There is an additional main unit with reception area, lounge, kitchen, braai area and decked pool area. The River Lodge is simply stunning and a wildlife heaven not to be missed. Website: http://www.jordanprops.co.za/
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Workshop 1 (4th Nov) | Workshop 2 (11th Nov)
Pick up from Johannesburg International Airport at 11:00am * Transfer (approx 4.5hrs) to Khaya Ndlovu Manor House, Blue Canyon Conservancy (stop for lunch included) * Introductions * Itinerary run though * Equipment check * Preparation for Safari Workshop * Welcome dinner *
Day 2 - Workshop 1 (5th Nov) | Workshop 2 (12th to 16th Nov)
Breakfast at Khaya Ndlovu * 10:00am Transfer (approx 1.5hrs) to The River Lodge, Thornybush Game Reserve * Orientation and unpack * 12:30 fall into typical day itinerary*
Day 3 to 6 – Workshop 1 (6th to 9th Nov) | Workshop 2 (13th to 16th Nov)
Typical day itinerary
05:30 - Meet @ The River Lodge Main Unit
06:00 - Game Drive (approx 3 hrs)
09:30 - Breakfast
10:30 - Workshop (approx 1.5hrs)
12:30 - Light Lunch
13:30 - Workshop (approx 2hrs)
16:00 - Game Drive (approx 3hrs)
20:30 - Dinner and Day Review
N.B One or two game drives may be substituted for a bush walk depending on the group’s wishes!
Day 7 – Workshop 1 (10th Nov) | Workshop 2 (17th Nov)
Last game drive as a whole group (shortened) * Leave The River Lodge at 10:00hrs * Transfer to Johannesburg International Airport via the Three Rondavels, an iconic local landmark (stop for lunch included) * Estimated arrival 16:00hrs at Johannesburg International Airport *
ONE MONTH LATER
Mark and Rebecca will offer advice and support in the subsequent month following the Safari Workshop in order to allow participants to process images and footage, and create a photo portfolio and short film if desired. A review session of material produced on the Safari Workshop will be organised at a convenient date a month after the workshop where participants will be given the opportunity to share and showcase their work. Further details outlined in workshop content.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
This photographic and film workshop will give you an unique experience in one of the worlds most beautiful wildlife arenas. You will follow the recently formed team of Mark Gillett and Rebecca Hart as they document and film in one of Africa’s wildest locations but also with the comfort of luxury lodgings to make the workshop a fun, exciting and beautiful adventure. They will be using a collection of equipment from small HD GoPro units to DSLR’s filming and photographing to produce a body of work for the lodge, and for public online viewing.
You will have the opportunity to work alongside them whilst creating your own body of work with their advice along the way. Workshops will be held each day of the 5 days you are on location to further your knowledge, answer questions and develop new skills.
The workshop style is unique. You will not be told how to do it but you will discover how to be more creative in your approach, which in turn will lead to a better understanding and willingness to develop your skills. This will be an adventure where you will discover “stuff” about yourself, produce a portfolio of images and one or two short films (If you choose to do so). You will learn how important the basics are, much about your camera and how to get the best from it. Essentially you will learn about the creative photographer inside you and how to get it out...
Each day will comprise of two game drives or bush walks for photography and filming. Workshops will take place on return from drives/walks with a pre-drive/walk briefing.
WORKSHOP CONTENT
The initial session on arrival at the lodge will be a familiarisation workshop where we find out what you know, what you want to know, what you have already done, (portfolios etc) and an overview of the week ahead. The speed and content of the workshop will then depend much on our findings after this first session together. Our aim is to allow individuals to work at their own pace and expand on and work towards individual goals set in this session.
General topics discussed will be:
- Equipment and basic functions
- Using your DSLR for photography and for video
- Photographic assignments and achieving your goals
- Selection and editing your images
- Light
- Composition and rules... When and how to break them
OVERRIDING THEME
Our approach to photography (which includes film making) is the key to how we develop as photographers. Not your equipment. We will spend time looking at this using Mark’s approach to assignments he has gained around the world.
COSTS
£2,950 based on shared accommodation, couples welcomed.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Accommodation on a shared basis
- Travel between Johannesburg and workshop location
- 2x media professionals leading the trip (Mark Gillett and Rebecca Hart)
- All safari and workshop activities
- 2x Private game drive vehicles with expert safari guides
- Services of the lodge staff
- All meals
- Laundry service
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- International airfare and/or other transportation between your home and Johannesburg
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Personal purchases including curios and additional soft drinks and alcoholic beverages etc
Journey to Tambakha, Sierra Leone from Suitcase Media & Productions on Vimeo.
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A TASTE OF THE RIVER LODGE !
Safari Diary | Leopard comes face to face with buffalo bull | South Africa from Rebecca Hart Media on Vimeo.
Launched in 2012, Suitcase Media & Productions is a group of freelance creatives who love adventure, photography and filmmaking. They work with events, corporates or individuals to supply beautiful video shorts for web use or social media presence. Suitcase Media & Productions specialise in great imagery and edits on location, their work includes; short films, music videos, YouTube, DailyMotion and Vimeo productions, social media amplifications, advertising and branding production. They have some of the best creatives in the online world and are driven by adventure and living life to the full. Ultimately Suitcase Media & Production’s mission is to provide the best edits online in short films and video productions.
Suitcase Media & Productions contact details:
(m) 07973690087 (e) info@suitcasemedia.net (w) https://www.facebook.com/SuitcaseMedia