People ,
As we embark on season 8 of tracks across africa and as I sit here in the office doing voiceovers for “Dark and Dangerous” that will be airing on the Outdoor Channel in april , I thought I would share a few screenshots from our footage that we are going through that highlight what an awesome job our camera crews do …thanks men for what you do to get great footage –

Truly it’s the quality of this footage that allows us to “take you on adventure” each week through our shows and also through our DVD productions and allows us to build the important platform from which I passionately push Conservation through Hunting , highlighting the value of hunters dollars to the wild areas and wildlife we all love so much …

Editor and superstar Christy Funke getting an interesting shot of an elephant bull !



Renz Palermo with some inquisitive massai !


Quintin Whitehead explains a leopard bait to renz


Andy Mac filming from a termite mound in lolkisale


getting ready to follow tracks


glassing the great plains ! Simon Elton doing a short piece – this is simons 18th year with me !!!!- poor guy !!!


Dan Catlin with his HUGE impala – (26) doing the after shot interviews with Simon


This is how we keep our cameras dry when filming in the rain (laughing)


Andy Mac watching the gutpile of a mountain nyala with his go pro set up hoping for some great vulture culture footage


Simon getting his ***lies wet for a cool shot of a delta crossing !

Ivan, thanks for sharing.

I love the rain cover. Well done.

Filming with a cameraman can be tough but the benefits far outweigh any negatives.

I was fortunate and had my 2011 and 2012 safaris filmed and the footage is priceless.

Your post brings back very fond and wonderful memories.

The cameraman adds a new dynamic and I have been there filming and being filmed where it was not right and we let an animal walk and it was tough but I don't regret it one bit.

Thanks for sharing.

Justin

Nice to see you have done a hunt in Ethopia. I will surely look for that one.

Ivan- Thank you for sharing this... I enjoy seeing the makings of it!!!

SAFE HUNTING ALWAYS to you and your crew!!!

Roland

Ivan - check you PMs.

Ivan,

I am embarking on my first safari in 5 months and have been fascinated how successful African hunts are with all the entourage in tow.
A hunter, guide, a couple of trackers and perhaps a government representative much less a cameraman.
That is a lot of movement, scent and noise to try and pull a sneak on any quarry.
Would your hunts be more successful with fewer folks on the trail?
I am just used to archery hunting and trying to get as close to your target as possible which is what appears typical in Africa. There would be no way to get close to hardly any species in North America with this much going on.
I will rely of my PH for guidance but is to much to ask that 1/2 the entourage lay back as you make a final approach on your quarry?
BTW; I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening in Dallas.

EZ

I cannot speak for Ivan hunting with Ivan, I hope to some day, but my trackers held back and it was just me, PH, and cameraman on the final approach. Never an issue. You don't really even know the cameraman is there.

Not trying to hijack a post to Ivan just giving my experience.

True professionals!

Ivan,
I gotta say I enjoyed the photography in the show where you had the gentleman WAY up in the tree blind while waiting for the lions. Shooting that footage must have been a bit dicey, especially during the night!
I really enjoyed the show.
LX

Always nice to see Africa in different settings.

Everyone has a specific job to do on a safari and as a cameraman we are to be ghosts and capture the shot. This may sound easy and I thought so myself when first starting out but it is a craft honed just like the PH's hone their skills at tracking and judging animals. We as cameramen have the privilege of being along on a clients hunt of a lifetime to capture those images for people to share for a lifetime. I consider myself lucky and honored every time a client hires me to film their safari.

David, it was truly a blessing having you to film my Kanana safari. We have a friendship that will last a lifetime. Thanks to AR for getting us together. I cannot wait to be on safari again with you; my friend.

Ivan…Thanks for letting us take a peek behind the lenses. Most of us will never have an opportunity to work with a producer and director, director of photography, camera men/women, editor(s), and post production staff.

Personally, in my limited experiences, I find it to be a very creative process. It is exciting and rewarding in many ways just as is the actual hunt itself. Without good tape it is impossible to create exciting productions. Good camera operators/editors are a cornerstone of the production.

Best always,
Shawn