Photography, when in Namibia, is of utmost importance. After all you need to capture the beauty of this picturesque country, be it with your cell phone or your camera with a 2000 mm lens. There are many wild and wonderful things in Namibia, so you should be fully prepared to have lots of space on your memory card, and your co-passengers should also have a full memory card of patience. You can repeat and relive so much of your trip when going through your photographs back home, but please refrain from boring your best friends with a slide show, keep it for your not so best friends/enemies.

Without going into too much detail, you unfortunately will need some sort of equipment, in this case a camera or cell phone (not a Tamagotchi), or both. The paraphernalia like lenses, tripods, flashes and beanbags can then be added to satisfy your specific needs. With a fancy camera, keep in mind that travelling and camping can get a bit dusty, so be prepared to protect your equipment. Extreme temperatures, condensation, water and vibration can also harm cameras and lenses.

For me, the wonderful thing about taking pictures with a cell phone (never done it myself!) is that it enables most users to take much better shots than your professional photographers. The other advantage is being ready in no time to take the ultimate picture, because the bigger the camera/lens, the longer it takes to get into position, get your settings right and find a suitable place to stabilise it. However, I do think that fortunately most of the basic rules applicable to a fancy camera and a cell phone are pretty much the same.

To take the most stunning and dramatic photographs, timing is of utmost importance. The golden hour during the day is plus minus two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. In Namibia, the light can be quite harsh during the middle of the day, resulting in rather flat pictures. Having said that, just do it whenever the opportunity arises. You can also ask the leopard to come back later when the light is better. Rather take your Mittag slaapie (midday nap) between 12h00 and 15h00.

When going into the bush there are rules/ ethics to adhere to. Respect for nature, wildlife and your fellow travellers. The old maxim to not leave anything behind, except footprints, not even tyre prints (off-road), and to take only pictures, is always applicable. Needless to say, be careful with any form of fire (matches, cigarettes, firearms). Please do not leave any garbage, rather take it with you and discard it at an appropriate place. Do not do any pruning to get a better photo. When in the company of other tourists/ friends, be considerate when taking pictures (even if you are so excited you want to jump all over the lion), they also want to see and take photos. When you drive in a park and see people in another car in front of you busy taking pictures, do not charge past, wait till they finish or indicate to you that you can proceed. When sitting at a waterhole, keep quiet! Allow the animals to get used to your presence. You will be surprised at the remarkable aspects of their private lives which they will reveal to you. Ethics is indeed a state of mind.

One of the best pieces of advice I got as a photographer, by well-known Namibian photographer Amy Schoeman: “Never let rules come between you and your photographs.” If we all use the same rules, we will end up taking pictures looking the same. In the end, being at the right place at the right time will be the ultimate moment to take the million- dollar picture. “We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are” ( Anaïs Nin). Remember, photography is like anything else in life, the more you practice the luckier you get. As with your fellow tourists, be patient. Patience is probably the best weapon in any photographer’s arsenal.

“You must do what you need to do before it is too late” (Johan Bakkes). If you do not go to Namibia – or when you have arrived and sit on the deck of your lodge drinking Gin and Tonic the whole day – you will miss out! TNN