African Wildlife Cinematography Workshop with Abraham Joffe - June 2015
UPDATE: ALL PLACES ON THE JUNE 2015 WORKSHOP ARE NOW FILLED.
We are planning to run a similar workshop in 2017 and should you wish to register your interest in joining it, please send an email to:
denis@denisglennon.com or to abraham@untitledfilms.com.au
Highlights
Have you ever thought you might film elephants not more than three metres from your camera?
What about filming leopards not two meters from your lens?
If this kind of filming captures your attention, this workshop might be for you.
It is for both still and video photographers who want to learn the skills and techniques to capture and create powerful cinematic wildlife footage in the wild.
It will be presented by Abraham Joffe, Untitled Film Works, Sydney. Abraham is one of Australia’s foremost cinematographers and he has worked in Africa on a number of assignments for Iconic Images International, producing first rate films such as: An Elephant Bazaar, Balm for the Soul, Namibia with Iconic Images, Art Wolfe on Africa, Iconic East Africa with more films in production.
Abraham initially conceived the idea of the cinematography workshop being a one-day event in Sydney. Following discussion with Denis Glennon AO, owner of Iconic Images International, it transformed into an eight day workshop in Africa!
It is being held in one of the best locations to capture stunning footage of Africa’s largest mammals and superior predators – Mashatu in Botswana.
If you wish, you will also have assistance with your still photography when there; you will photograph alongside Denis Glennon AO.
We will teach you how to capture the expanse of the African landscape to the most minute details in wildlife. While you learn about wildlife filming techniques from Abraham & Denis’ approach to composing nature and wildlife will transform both your still and motion photography, not merely add to it.
A primary focus of the workshop is to give you every assistance to capture iconic footage of leopards, lions, cheetahs (with a little luck) and elephants up-close from our own underground hide. The first arrival of an elephant herd, whilst you are in the hide, will leave you speechless, awestruck and do not be surprised if you find yourself so overwhelmed you forget to use your camera!
To find out more about the camp we have selected for this workshop, click on Mashatu Main Camp.
Linger for a while on the uniqueness of this camp, imagining you were there. As on all Iconic Images photographic tours, you will immediately appreciate the extremely high standard of accommodation we select for our clients. You will experience one of the best of African lodges.
Be prepared to be pampered, more than a little.
To capture great video on safari you require unhindered space in your seat in the vehicle. To ensure you have this space you will have an entire seat row to yourself on every game drive – an extremely rare luxury on safari.
[The elephant image above was captured by Denis on his Iconic Images tour with Art Wolfe to Mashatu in Sept 2013].
Abraham Joffe
Abraham Joffe has established himself as one of Australia’s DSLR filmmakers and has recently been appointed as a Canon Master.
Having worked on a variety of television and film projects over the past 13 years, including working as a cameraman for the late, renowned wildlife man and filmmaker Malcolm Douglas, he has a passion for storytelling and filmmaking in the natural world.
Their trips through the Kimberley in Western Australia shooting stories on bush survival skills, extreme fishing, bush cooking and wildlife encounters speak for themselves.
This work lead to Abraham becoming the head cameraman for David Ireland’s “Wildlife Man” series travelling to many countries to film adventure stories. The show was distributed on Discovery channel in the US, Channel 9 in Australia and in over 20 other countries.
Abraham is an accomplished underwater cinematographer having shot underwater films in Christmas Island, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands and in every state of Australia. Filming shipwrecks is one of his great interests.
He was commissioned by Iconic Images to film the Namibia Self-Drive photographic safari in July 2012 and the Big Cats & Elephants Up Close with Art Wolfe in Botswana and South Africa in Sept 2013. He has also been commissioned to film the Iconic East Africa photographic safari in March 2014.
He owns and operates “Untitled Film Works”, one of the most successful wedding and corporate cinematography studios in Australia and has established himself as a leader in DSLR filmmaking running workshops and speaking regularly in Australia and internationally.
[The image of Abraham Joffe above is reproduced with the kind permission of Wayne Osborn]Workshop Content
It would be a challenge, anywhere in Africa, to match the photographic opportunities for filming of leopards, lions and elephants available at Mashatu, Botswana.
The informative presentations and field practice will cover:
- DSLR overview – choosing optimum camera settings, profiles and configurations for wilderness filming as well as preferred lens choices.
- Stabilisation – maximising the benefits of tripods, sliders and glidecams, including hands-on training on each, particularly when filming from vehicles.
- Filming wildlife – how to approach different species, understanding animal and bird behaviour and practical information on anticipating the action. This session will also cover shooting effectively from vehicles.
- Working from a Hide – Mashatu is a fantastic workshop location as it has the underground elephant hide from which amazing and truly unique footage can be captured.
- High speed cinematography – there will be at least one high-speed camera at the workshop for capturing fast action.
- Audio – the optimum audio setups for recording atmospheric sound, interviews and on-camera options.
- Undertaking interviews – how to plan, light and shoot an effective interview.
- Time-lapse Photography – preparing for this exciting genre of photography plus practical shooting of nightscapes.
- Editing – how to construct an effective pictorial story. This will be towards the end of the workshop when participants will have captured their own material to edit.
Our aim is to ensure you come home with the best possible films and unforgettable memories of a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience photographing Africa’s magnificent animals with a small group of like-minded people.
Leopards are the most elusive and arguably the most beautiful of the African predators! They seem to choose who photographs or films them! Our experienced drivers/guides will amaze you at how well they can track them and with a little luck you will be astounded when you see how close we can get you to film these supreme predators.
Did you ever think you might film an elephant herd from a perspective similar to that lying on your stomach with the nearest elephant not more than five metres from your lens ?
When not attending presentations by Abraham, or filming in the underground hide, or in one of the bird hides, you will be on game drives each day. You will have very experienced drivers and expert animal trackers to give you the best opportunities of finding and filming a wide range of wildlife.
Whilst at the workshop, you are invited to participate in two special photography sessions: (i) “Tried & Tested Techniques for Capturing Outstanding Wildlife Images” and (ii) “Transforming your Wildlife Images into Photographic Art”.
You are also invited to participate in at least one Feedback Session where the professional photographers will offer constructive and supportive comments on some of your best images taken whilst you are there. The aim is to assist you turn great images into iconic ones. [These are NOT photo critique sessions like your camera club competitions].
THIS VIDEO WORKSHOP IS CONFINED TO A MAXIMUM OF TWELVE (12) PARTICIPANTS.
DATES & SUMMARY ITINERARY
The workshop commences with a pre-tour briefing, at 6.00pm, in the conference room of the Villa Sterne boutique hotel, Pretoria on 19 June 2015 and finishes at Johannesburg Airport on 27 June 2015, following road transfer from Mashatu Private Reserve in Botswana. Direct links to the Villa Sterne hotel and Mashatu Main Camp are provided below. Should you wish to arrive a day or so early, i.e. before 19 June 2015 and you require accommodation you might like to consider using the Villa Sterne hotel.
Iconic Images International has used this accommodation for pre and post photo tour short stays and finds it to be of a very suitable standard. It is approx. 35 mins. from J’burg Airport, depending on traffic.
Our World Travel (OWT), the travel agent for the workshop, can assist you with additional bookings if you wish.
Participants will be met at Johannesburg Airport on arrival and transferred to the Villa Sterne hotel, Pretoria.
| DATE | TRANSFER | ACCOMMODATION |
| 19 June 2015 | Arrive Johannesburg – overnight in Pretoria | Villa Sterne Boutique Hotel |
| 20 June 2015 | Transfer to Mashatu – start of workshop | Mashatu Main Camp – 7 nights |
| 27 June 2015 | Transfer to J’burg Airport – end of workshop | NA |
The workshop is preceded by a short briefing at 6.00pm in the conference room of the Villa Sterne hotel, Pretoria. We have an early morning (6.00am) departure from the Villa Sterne hotel for the drive into Botswana on 20th June.
OWT, the booking agent for the workshop can assist you with booking this accommodation. Should you decide to arrive a day or so early or leave Africa a little later, OWT can also assist you with additional bookings at the Villa Sterne hotel, if you wish.
Should you require help with flight bookings for this workshop please contact Nick Missikos at the OWT office for professional travel help. In the event you intend booking flights yourself, using your frequent flyer points or other means, Nick has offered his assistance to all participants in Icionic Images’ tours, to ensure they get best available/most cost effective flights for their desired routing.
You should also download the more comprehensive itinerary by clicking the DOWNLOAD ITINERARY button in the sidebar on the right as this contains important information on travel insurance requirements, cancellation policy, health considerations, etc.
Costs, Terms of Payment & How To Register
COST
The cost is: US$7,750.00 per person, or the equivalent in AU$ at the time of payment, twin share, excluding international airfares between Australia and Johannesburg, South Africa.
All Iconic Images’ photographic journeys and international workshops are priced in US dollars . For your convenience and to minimize currency exchange risks, payments should only be made (in US dollars) to the US dollar bank account of the travel agent, Our World Travel.
For details of this account please contact either Janet or Nick Missikos on +61 8 9221 9977 or send an email to janet@owt.com.au or nick@owtravel.com.au
Should you wish to use your credit card for payment in US dollars please check with your bank or financial institution to determine the most cost effective way to do so.
Excluding airfares from the cost of the workshop allows participants to take advantage of the numerous “special fares” offered frequently by Qantas, South African Airlines, etc., on this route.
TERMS OF PAYMENT
Terms of Payment are as follows:
1. A non-refundable first deposit of US$1,250.00, or the equivalent in AU$ at the time of payment, together with a completed Registration Form, on or before Friday 28th November 2014.
2. A non-refundable second deposit of US$2,500.00, or the equivalent in AU$ at the time of payment, on or before Friday 27th February 2015.
3. A final payment of US$4,000.00, or the equivalent in AU$ at the time of payment, on or before Friday 24th April 2015.
As the workshop is limited to twelve (12) participants, registrations will be accepted strictly in the order received.
HOW TO REGISTER
To register please click the REGISTRATION FORM button in the sidebar, download the Registration Form, complete same and follow the instructions regaring the return of the form.
To discuss any aspect of international flights for the workshop or travel insurance, please contact the Australian booking agent:
Our World Travel,
Shop 1/113 Royal Street, East Perth,
Western Australia 6004
Telephone:+61 (0)8 9221 9977
Fax:+61 (0)8 92215577
Email: Nick@owtravel.com.au and request to speak to Mr Nick Missikos.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the photo safari, before making a decision to join us, please contact:
Denis Glennon AO on 0418 923 103 or denis@denisglennon.com, or
Abraham Joffe on 02 8920 3906 or abraham@untitledfilms.com.au
If this workshop is not for you, perhaps you might consider forwarding the information to a friend, who may like to know about it.
QUERIES & CONTACTS
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this cworkshop, before making a decision to join us, please contact either:
Denis Glennon AO on 0418 923 103 or denis@denisglennon.com, or Abraham Joffe on 02 8920 3906 or abraham@untitledfilms.com.au
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Download the PDF containing full details on payment terms and registration, the itinerary, what is/is not included, cancellation policy and fees, compulsory travel insurance, health considerations, responsibility, liability, and packing camera gear for travel.
Download: Detailed Itinerary & Other Important Information (Printable PDF)
REGISTRATION FORM
To reserve a place, download, complete and return the form to Our World Travel.
Download: REGISTRATION FORM (PrintablePDF)
AFFILIATIONS
Iconic Images is the exclusive representative/agent for C4 Photo Safaris, South Africa, in Australia & New Zealand.
C4 Photo Safaris provides the on-ground logistics for Iconic Images' photo safaris/tours in Africa and is a SATSA member. The SATSA logo signifies that C4 Photo Safaris offers services that are of the highest quality and the company is deemed to be a credible and reliable provider of services to the tourism industry in South Africa. These services are independently audited on an annual basis. SATSA members are bonded, providing a financial guarantee of deposits held against the involuntary liquidation of a SATSA member.
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