Bandipur – The land of Majestic Tigers

Capture 'O' Graphy brings you an opportunity to photograph birds and big mammals in Bandipur National Park, one of the richest wildlife parks in South India. Bandipur offers the best sightings and chance to photograph elephants, tigers, leopards as well as many other mammals and birdlife in the park. With an increasing population of tigers and frequently reported sightings with expert guidance from Naturalists and COG Photography Expert, chances of your coming back with beautiful images of wildlife in the park are fairly high.

Bandipur Tiger's frequently encountered with their little ones near the water-holes, gives you plenty of opportunity to capture various moods in the life of these giants. Besides the big cats and large mammals, we will also focus on seeing and photographing the diverse wildlife in Bandipur, such as Sambhar Deer's, Elephants, Indian Gaur's, Malabar Giant Squirrels, Stripe-necked Mongooses, Grey Jungle Fowls, Serpent and Hawk Eagles and Green Pigeons, to name just a few.

Day 1:

Arrive at Bandipur by 12:00pm.
Participants are free to take a walk/relax/talk/click and finish lunch by 2:00 pm.
We will have a discussion and introduction to wildlife photography at 2:00 pm.
The groups will leave for safari at 3:00 pm and be back around 6:00 pm.Go for coffee/ snacks. Parcel Dinner and head back to the room in Bandipur. The group will assemble and will have critique session of the images
Dinner will be served at 9:00 pm
Discussion and Learning Continues till 10:00Pm. Hit the bed

Day 2:

Wakeup call at 5:15am, fresh up and leave for safari at 6:00 am and return by 10:00 am.
Come back from Safari and head for Gundlupet for Breakfast.
The group will assemble at 11:00 am in the room and have discussion about the images clicked in the morning session.
A learning session is in store where you will learn practical tips about the art of wildlife photography from the experts.
Lunch will be served at 1:30 pm after which participants are free to take rest/talk (We should place the order earlier)
The groups will leave for safari at 3:00 pm and be back around 6:00 pm.Go for coffee/ snacks. Parcel Dinner and head back to the room in Bandipur. The group will assemble and will have critique session of the images
Dinner will be served at 9:00 pm
Discussion and Learning Continues till 10:00Pm. Hit the bed

Day 3:

Wakeup call at 5:45 am followed by coffee/tea leave for safari at 6:00am and return by 9 am Breakfast will be served at 9:30 am.
We will have a group photograph to commemorate the incredible tour and checkout by 11 am. 

Topics Covered
Manual and autofocus (focusing points, autofocus lock, single or continuous focus)
Manual exposure (ISO, shutter speeds, f/ stops and the light meter)
Metering modes (evaluative, matrix, spot metering)
Depth of field (shallow, deep, hyper focal distance)
Aperture priority, shutter speed priority and program modes White balance (pre-set and custom)
Composition (framing)
Lenses and perspective (the right choice of focal length)
Pre-visualization
Completing the story

Cost Terms:

  • Normal Registration - INR ……/-
  • COG Elite Members – INR…../-
  • Couple Registration - INR ……/-
(Participants who have attended at least 1 COG event in the past are considered as COG Elite members)

Inclusion:

  • 2 night non-ac accommodation on twin sharing basis
  • 4 jungle safaris (4-6 participants+ Mentor in 1 vehicle*)
  • All other park related costs
  • Tips & gratuities

Exclusions:

  • Any transfer expenses other than Safri Charges
  • Any kind of personal expenses
  • Breakfast, Meals and Coffee
  • Any kind of beverage (alcohol/ non-alcoholic), bottled water or soft drinks ordered.
  • Insurance, laundry and phone calls.
  • Camera fees - There is a camera fee of Rs. 1000/- for video camera/camcorders. Should there be a fee for still/ digital camera, the same will be communicated prior/ after to the safari, as instructions received from the Office.
  • Anything/ or any other service that is not included in the inclusions list.
Workshop begins and ends at Bandipur however, if you need travel assistance from Bangalore or any other origin, please do let us know upfront. Travel from your origin and back, will be an additional cost apart from the tour cost.

Cancellation Terms:

Cancellation for an event will be considered via verbal communication followed with a written mail to cog@captureography.com

Refund policy:

  • 50% fee to be refunded if cancellation is done 30 days prior to the event.
  • 30% fee to be refunded if cancellation is done between 15-30 days of the event.
  • No refund if cancellation is done between 0-14 days of the event

What to bring?

Equipment: Your camera and extra batteries with memory cards, and space in it of course. Your laptop/ extended hard drives for back up and image processing. Your bean bags, tripod/ monopods, chargers etc. Clothing & toiletries: Subtle forest friendly clothing, Shades of Brown, Grey,Green or camouflage clothing, Caps optional. You're insect repellent if you're used to. No strong deodorants or talcum powders.

What will be the key take away for me from an photo tour?

A team of highly committed professionals who live their lives out there on the field, the NW team has the hands on knowledge from a wildlife and photography perspective to make the most of your wildlife trip. As an amateur photographer, you come back with a better understanding on camera handling and on-field shooting tips as our team constantly keeps an eye on your shooting techniques and gives you the necessary on field guidance to mature to the next level.Even if you have been shooting in the field regularly, the group interactions around photography and wildlife are an enriching experience.

Who should participate in this Tour? Are there any eligibility criteria?

Anybody with an interest in nature, wildlife and/or photography and is above the age of 18, unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian, is welcome to join the Tour. Although the Tour is optimized for photographers, non-photographers are most welcome all the same.

I am a newbie in nature photography. Am I eligible?

Absolutely! This Tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold's eminent Skippers. In fact if you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away! However, in order to make the most of this Tour photographically, we recommend you be familiar with at least the basics of digital photography. If you're not, we suggest you join a Beginner and Intermediate Photography workshop before the Tour.

I do not possess the adequate equipments to shoot wildlife. Can I still be a part of an photo tour?

Equipments can't restrict you from participating in our photo tour. You can touch base with the NW team for possible equipment rental options and we would try to equip you adequately based on the nature of the program you are enrolling for.

How sure are you about photographing wildlife on this Tour?

Considering the meticulous attention to timing we pay while scheduling Tours and the local expertise we leverage, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our sightings and photography were unsatisfactory. Of all the southern Indian parks, Kabini and Bandipur offer the best opportunity to photograph a variety of wildlife. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment, we do not claim that sightings - especially of big cats - are guaranteed.

Why aren't onward and return journeys included on this Tour?

Since participants of our Tours travel from various parts of the country by different modes (road, rail and air) as per their individual preferences, it works best to originate Tours from the destinations. We, however, provide all the assistance you need in arranging your logistics.

What equipment do you suggest on this Tour?

Kabini and Bandipur offer equal opportunity for bird and mammal photography. For bird photography, a lens with a focal length of around 400mm is essential. For mammals a telephoto zoom lens in the range of 70 to 300mm or 100 to 400mm works very well, although lenses of longer focal length can be used to good effect, especially on 'full-frame' bodies. A wide-angle or normal zoom to capture landscapes or creative perspectives of wildlife is recommended. And since the light conditions in southern-Indian jungles can often be challenging, an image-stabilized lens and a camera body that performs well at high sensitivities are boons. However, if you do not have appropriate equipment, there is no need to fret.

How different are your Photo Tours from ordinary tours?

Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven't even experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of one or more professional photographers. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focused.

Testimonial

Veda VS   Immigration Specialist, IBM
It was a great experience for me, Capture 'O' Graphy gave me the right start towards photography. Great fun, Talks from experts gave it another level of experience. ppl interested in wildlife photography got great buddies here... :P
Yathiraju N, Manager, Capgemini
A very big Thanks for Kiran and his team for conducting and sharing the knowledge on Photography, Activities are well placed and phased for a beginner to understand the photography skills and techniques. Looking forward for your next workshop.....Cheers!!
Catherine Parson  Managing Director of Principle Selection Ltd, London
I have used twice the services of Capture 'O' Graphy and was really impressed with 1- the professional approach; 2- the quality of the pictures. Kiran spent very valuable time with me to understand exactly what I needed; I didn't have to correct anything as the results were better than what I expected. We had to do lots of external pictures on top of the internal ones. Kiran is not just any photographer; he is someone who is passionate about life and how to capture the essence of it.
Kiran H T, Sr.Software Engineer, LG India
I liked the way Kiran transferred his knowledge about photography to the people around him. I can now very confidently tell that I have a decent knowledge on camera parts and how to use it and about the technicalities. I recommend this workshop to guys who want to get good hold on photography. Looking forward for your next workshop...Kudos to C'O'G...Cheers!!