| On safari-- wildlife and nature photos |
 | About Afrigalah |
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What's in a name? I came up with 'Afrigalah' after developing a passion for wildlife and nature photography, firstly in Africa, then in my own country, Australia
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| "Lifelong partners" Click to enlarge |
The name combines my love of African wildlife and my affection for the galah, the cockatoo whose sometimes clownish behaviour has etched its name in Australia's history of colloquialisms. My website has always carried this dictionary-style explanation: Galah (pron. guh LAH), ubiquitous Australian cockatoo, pink and grey, found in huge flocks or just pairs. Also (colloq.) a fool. Hence, Afrigalah, mad about Africa!
 | On safari in Africa (at left) can often involve long spells watching big cats doing nothing, but the rewards for patience are worth it; on safari in Australia (at right), again with patience, can sometimes mean up-close-and-personal experiences with the delightful creatures of the outback, in this case a central bearded dragon. I'm the one with the camera |   |
| Click to enlarge | Click to enlarge |
| Except for the Papua New Guinea images, the photographs in these pages have been taken since 1996, when I 'discovered' Africa and decided to end a 39-year career in the print and electronic news media. This website enables me to share my experiences of wildlife and to some extent wear my heart on my sleeve where animals are concerned; I celebrate the beauty and dignity of all non-human animals-- they are worth as much consideration as people, indeed more consideration than a great many people. The pages also feature images by Guest Photographers, friends who are as passionate about African wildlife as I am |
Here's the site's menu: click on a text link or a country name on the map
| My aim is to inform and entertain as much as it is to show my photographs. Many are for sale for publication or personal use, and most of those are displayed not only on the general pages but also special PORTFOLIO pages. Some images are included on the site only to illustrate-- to help tell a story, set a scene or to record. A couple of those which are for sale have done quite well in the Natural History Museum/BBC Wildlife magazine Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, while a few others have been published in books and magazines |
All the photographs are subject to copyright and may not be used without express permission. Email me to enquire
The cameras I started with in the late 90s were the Pentax Spotmatic, Z70 & Minolta 7000i. I now use the Canon EOS1n and EOS3 cameras, with Canon EF 300/2.8 IS L (with teleconverters), EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS, EF 135/f2 L, EF 24-105/f4 L IS, and EF 100/2.8 macro lenses, and a Fuji GS645S Wide 60 medium format camera. I often use fill flash, with the unit mounted off-camera using a Stroboframe flash bracket. I use warming filters frequently, both with the Fuji and the 300/2.8 lens, and sometimes polarisers with the Fuji and other lenses
I rarely handhold my cameras: I frequently walk with a monopod for stability with heavier lenses equipped with image stabilisers, and always use either a monopod or a beanbag in vehicles if a car window mount is not available. My window mounts are an inexpensive South African-made CamStedi, and a Finnish Ergo Rest, which doubles as a low-level or tabletop tripod. Out of vehicles, big lenses without IS require a tripod , and I almost always use a tripod for landscapes with wide angle lenses because of the frequent need for small apertures and slow shutter speeds. Landscape photos taken with the little Fuji feature in 'Sample all Pages', 'Introducing Linyanti', 'Outback', 'Adelaide Hills', 'River Murray', 'Victoria' and 'Zimbabwe' (and are denoted by *) and some are included in the slideshows
 | A useful accessory is a flash extender (Visual Echoes' Better Beamer), but in a jolting safari vehicle in rough, often trackless country, even its light weight can increase wear and tear on a flash unit if it's fitted to the unit for a long time. And it is fiddly and inconvenient to fit if needed in a hurry. To help overcome these handicaps, I've used a plastic Stofen Omni Bounce reflector (the model which fits my flash) as a quicker slip-on mount for the Better Beamer. I cut the front out of the reflector and secured it inside the Beamer's arms with Velcro |
My preferred slide films (rarely faster than 100 ISO) are Fuji Sensia, Velvia and Provia, and Kodak E100VS. My wife Yvonne, who contributes photos to this collection, is a digital camera fan. Her present cameras are the Canon EOS 1D Mark II, EOS 5D and EOS 40D
 | AT LEFT: An example of the best African safari vehicles-- the open vehicle (low sides, no glass, removable canopy-style roof) favoured by southern African safari companies and preferred by me and other photographers over closed vehicles with roof hatches. AT RIGHT: The hide or blind I use in the Australian bush |  |
| Click to enlarge | Click to enlarge |
My thanks to the organisations and individuals which have helped me get my images of wildlife and scenery:
In Africa- In Botswana, Brian & Jan Graham's Linyanti Explorations (Selinda Reserve 2000, 2002, 2004 & 2005), Kwando Wildlife Experience (Kwando Reserve 2005) & Wilderness Safaris (1996); in Zimbabwe, Leon Varley Walking Safaris (1998); in Kenya, Cheli & Peacock (1997)
Special thanks to the guides and managers we've had: Andy van Smeerdijk & Chloe Kurts (Botswana, Zimbabwe 1996); Craig Griffiths (Kenya 1997); Leon Varley & Stephen Maphosa (Zimbabwe 1998); John Van Den Berg, Gary & Michelle Hayter, & Mompati Aaron (Selinda, walking trails & Zibalianja 2000); Paul Moleseng (Selinda 2002); Kanawe Ntema & Barberton Mundu (Selinda 2004); Kanawe Ntema & Motsamai Morundu (Selinda & Zibalianja, 2005); and Obeletswe 'OB' Merafe & 'LT' (Kwando Lagoon 2005). Camp managers at Selinda and Zibalianja: Salome Wilke (Selinda 2000); Wade & Liezel Whitehead (Zibalianja 2000); Vaughan & Shirley Volker (Selinda 2002); Mark van Niekerk & Chantelle Minaar (Selinda 2004); Michael & Bastienne Schwarzer, and Kea Supang (Selinda 2005); and Sean Trietsch & Samantha Bouwer (Zibalianja 2005)
In Australia, African Wildlife Safaris, of Melbourne; Peter Lemon, of Peregrine Adventures, Melbourne; Dr Mike Bossley, of the Australian Dolphin Research Foundation in Adelaide; Beverley Langley, of Minton Farm Native Animal and Bird Refuge, Adelaide Hills; and Brenton & Nadene Newman of Saunders Gorge Sanctuary in the Mt. Lofty Ranges
Last but not least, thanks to my wife, Yvonne, and friends Geoff Gates, Mike Bailey, Mark Newton, Ian Stewart and Judith Price for their photographic contributions. Geoff and Mike are my special Guest photographers on this site, while Mark has been my 'guide' for much of my outback photography (go to my Links page to find Mark's Scorpion site)
This site in memory of:
© 1996-2007 Copyright photographs, graphics and text on all pages of this site: John Milbank, except where otherwise denoted
