Moderator: not sure if this post belongs here or in the African Hunting Forum, so please move if you deem appropriate. Thanks.

Just received the video with stills from my last trip, this one to South Africa. I have been to Zim three times previously and had a videographer all three times. I know many of you have a great eye for photographs and video, but #1 I am terrible at taking pictures, and #2 I would rather focus on the hunt and the experience. Before my first trip in 2011 a good friend who already had a few safaris under his belt, when I asked him if he thought a videographer was worth the $$$, told me in no uncertain terms that if he could turn the clock back and have his first trip video'd (his successive ones were) that he would, in so many words, sacrifice a very sensitive part of his anatomy. His advice was spot on, and after viewing the video from my last trip I am so glad (again) that I spent the $$$. IMHO if I had to chose between a video of the hunt or taxidermy I would choose the video. Just my $.02.

I couldn't agree more drj.
I've had a few of my bigger safaris vidoed in the past and have given copies to my kids and now my grandson is old enough to appreciate them.
I'm doing a full bag in Tanzania next year and have Dark Continent video productions lined up to take stills as well as video the hunt. I may not be successful with my cites permits but I can still bring those animals home via video.

Totally agree!

I had my buff huntin SA filmed. The memories are for a lifetime. I will do so next year, also.
Cal

Yup. I wish I had filmed more and done a lot less taxidermy.

I put on a camera on my rifle barrel for my last buff hunt, but the video wasn't all that great.

So far, the things most important to me about my safaris (all hunts for that matter) are not things you can capture on film.

If my memory starts failing, I will probably wish I had made videos of all my hunts. LOL

BH63

I have all my hunts in Africa filmed.I like mine to be more hunting than nature videos.If the hunt is successful,there is good rifle shooting and the hunter is in shape it can make for a great video,IMO.

You forget so many little things in such a short time, that's where a video is so valuable. Besides, you can't explain your hunt to other people and have them fully understand but if they watch your video, that brings the hunt to them.

Timely post for me. Headed to Zim next week and recently was asking myself if I should hire a videographer and spend less on taxidermy. I did hire a videographer and seeing opinions from you guys with more experience makes me glad I did. Still trying to wrap my mind around less taxidermy though, as I don't have African mounts up yet. Only my second trip over, with on trip last year. Probably have to go with video AND taxidermy for this trip

I have watched a couple of videos, that I am sure the hunter would rather have not been taped.

In one, I saw a hunter make a horrible shot on an elephant. The next scene showed him posing by a grossly bloated corpse of the elephant. Apparently the tracking and follow up did not go well. LOL

Another video showed a hunter wound a buffalo in really thick stuff. Rather than followup, the PH and company decided to leave and come back the next day (seemed like a lot of daylight left to me).

The next day, once again, there is a photo of a bloated dead buffalo.

BH63

Guess I better shoot straight!

Haven't done this thus far, but thought about it. The drone that follows the bracellete thing is interesting too.

There are many types of hunt videos.

The ones I am not too impressed with are those who start off with a script to make a hunting video.

These are the ones you see being offered commercially!

They alter the hunt to suit the script, with disastrous results.

Then there those who hunt and video what they hunt.

No script involved.

It is for their own personal use, as record of an enjoyable time they have spent with friends on safari.

A world of difference between the two.

Editing a hunt video should be done by a hunter, not just a video cameraman.

Or better still, by the hunter himself.

It is not that difficult today at all.

It can be done very quickly as long as one does not try to get all sorts of silly music and endless commentary.

I filmed a wedding yesterday with a drone from the air, and from the ground.

Delivered the finished video same evening.

All done on a laptop.

But you have untold hours of experience with the best cameras and also have a obvious professional talent. Even your stills are of the highest quality. Then there are us who still plod along. Experience takes time and practice, but there has to be present a native skill level.
Your point of scripting is spot on.

Had a Austrian friend who had his hunt videoed.

He took the tapes back home, and paid a professional editor to do it fir him.

He got a finished video that had been “sanitized “ of all hunting scenes!

He was hopping mad!

He brought the tapes with him, and we sat and did it together instead.

Just curious, I’m doing a leopard hunt next year and since most of it would be at night would it be worth it to have the hunt videoed?

Been on four safaris and had all them videoed. After Outfitter/PH selection and Rifle Selection I think the best money I spent was on a GOOD videographer. If I had to choose between taxidermy and a video I would choose video (although so far I have done both). Number four best investment was Tim Fallon's SAAM Shooting School (FTW).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Saeed:
It can be done very quickly as long as one does not try to get all sorts of silly music and endless commentary.
QUOTE]

The ruination of any hunting video, music and dumb commentary.
I enjoy Saeed's videos just for the overall quietness, crunching of leaves underfoot and other nature sounds. Walter's protestation and jokes are probably the loudest thing we hear on Saeed's videos and that is definitely fun to listen to.