Richard Stupart

For an extended overland trip in Africa, particularly one made without the (relative) luxury of a 4×4, there is the inevitable question of what gear to take. While there remain a fair swarm of decisions still to be made about everything from a tent to a first aid kit, I have largely made my mind up about the key gear I intend to take to fulfill two of the most creative activities on the journey. Taking photographs to reflect the story of the journey to Cairo – and weaving together the words to bring out the rest. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time recently trying to get better at HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. Scientifically speaking, it’s where you take multiple exposures of a scene,  to make sure that you can expose correctly for the bright bits (sunlight, car lights, fire, neon lights at a strip mall) and the dark bits (shade, dark alleys and so on) and then combine them into one image spanning a full range of detail with no blown out highlights or black underexposed bits.  For those not prone to scientifically speaking, think of it as filling your camera with reality-affecting drugs and taking the photos that result.

Read the rest of this entry »

This coming week sees me in Grahamstown, working from decidedly more interesting and restful surroundings than the usual rush of stress and dirty air that characterises Johannesburg. Or at least the parts of it that exist when I am in my car. Which in Joburg is far too much of the overall experience. The onset of an expected (by everyone except me) cold front has made for some beautiful skies and clear days, perfect to try and get some photographs of the more interesting buildings and scenery here. Something which, thanks to some excellent advice from Dan and a pant wettingly-large hole being shot in my savings, is now possible with a spanking new camera.

Read the rest of this entry »