While the black and white prints I developed in the high school darkroom are long lost, I still have the Canon A1 I bought new at the time and used for the photography classes. Even after becoming a “deliberate shooter”, so many photographs of my earlier adventures and living aboard fall into the landmark or selfie snapshot category. Sentimental to be sure, but not fit for print.

Fast forward several decades. After gentle encouragement from a dear friend (and very accomplished photographer), I finally took the step into contemporary digital photography in order to get closer to birds and wildlife. Since then, photography for me has evolved into something I do to complement an interest or activity. I'm not necessarily documenting it, rather, I'm adding to the enjoyment of being somewhere, doing or seeing something. As such, I also appreciate how an image often affords the opportunity to see something better than real-time perception. 

For me, black and white images frequently take it a step further. By applying technology artistically to strip away excess glare and the inherent distraction of color, I focus instead on the contrast, tone, and other qualities that are enhanced  in monochrome. At times, it allows me to experience the essence of something more intensely. Perhaps it is like putting on polarized sun glasses on bright sunny days to see a more clearly defined land or seascape. 

For camera people - Most of my travel gallery images were shot with a Sony A7IV or Sony A7CR, which I began using in the Everglades Gallery. To date, I use a Sony 200-600mm, often with a 1.4TC, and a Tamron 28-200mm do-all zoom lens. Sabi Sands and Chobe safari shots were taken with a Nikon Coolpix P950. Despite the smaller sensor and lower megapixel count, most of those images print very well up to 11x14. If you’re more of a bird and wildlife enthusiast than photographer and find yourself flying weight restricted bush planes and sharing safari vehicles with others, I suggest considering a superzoom bridge camera.

Cautionary Note: For safari-goers, as of 2026, Ethiopia is serious about their no binocular policy, even if you’re just transferring overnight in Addis via Ethiopian Air. You may be given the option to keep them in left luggage, but it’s a time consuming hassle. Regarding binocs, on a more personal note, I strongly recommend high quality compact 10x25 binocs, such as Zeiss Victory or Swarovski CL Pocket. I have also personally used the Athlon Midas 10x25 and highly recommend them as a more budget friendly alternative. The smaller size and weight are priceless in the field.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliations with any camera equipment manufacture, retailer, etc.