Photo By Suzi Eszterhas

By Bill Lockhart

When one considers attending a Photo Seminar, the first question one should ask is whether the person conducting the seminar is an accomplished photographic artist and whether their work has been published, or recognized for its excellence by a well-known organization.

When one reviews Suzi Eszterhas’s images and reviews her portfolio, one cannot escape saying “WOW!”  Few photographers have such a wide diversity of photographs done in some of the most remote regions of the earth:  Antarctica, Alaska, Africa, Borneo, Costa Rica, Madagascar.  And reading further, one finds that her work has graced the covers of many well-known publications such as Smithsonian, Time, Ranger Rick, and BBC Magazine.

Time Magazine Cover Photo by Suzi Eszterhas

Photo leader Suzi Eszterhas specializes in small group wildlife photography tours for serious photographers of all skill levels. Whereas a lot of photo leaders will take clients to locations that offer only mediocre photo ops in order to reduce costs, Suzi believes in taking clients to only the very best locations for wildlife photography. She also only leads small groups of ten or less, so that she can give each client the attention that they need.

There are many different kinds of photographers that travel with Suzi. Some are very beginners, needing a lot of her one-on-one attention. In her small group tours Suzi can take plenty of time with them in the field to give them the education they are looking for, whether it be camera technique, Photoshop, or anything else.

Other clients of Suzi’s are very advanced photographers that have photographed animals for decades all over the world. These advanced photographers travel with Suzi not because they want one-one-one attention, but because they know she will get them into the best shooting situations, at the best locations, at the best times.

Taking only small groups to only the best locations increases tour cost a bit, but the photos that photographers bring home are well worth it.

Few photographers in the world have such a portfolio or have ventured into so many regions.

Photo by Suzi Eszterhas

Suzi spends nine months of the year shooting a wide variety of wildlife in the field. In recent years, she has specialized in documenting family life and has become well known for her unprecedented work with newborn animals. Although Suzi works primarily in Africa, she has undertaken commissions and led instructional photography tours and workshops everywhere from Antarctica and the Arctic to Alaska and Montana.

Her photographs have been published in books, magazines and newspapers all over the world, including many front covers. Named Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year in 2008, she is a fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, and has won awards in many competitions, including the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, National Wildlife and Nature’s Best.

Photo by Suzi Eszterhas

Suzi spent a few years living and working on her own in the Masai Mara, spending every day from sunrise to sunset photographing enigmatic African plains wildlife. Her experiences in the Mara include spending nearly two years with five different cheetah families, four months with a lion pride, three and a half months at a hyena den, and five months at a jackal den. Her long hours observing and photographing wildlife have given her immense knowledge in wildlife behavior, which is critical in being a good wildlife photographer.

Since her time in Kenya Suzi has spent about nine months a year traveling the world to shoot many in-depth stories for Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, Ranger Rick and other magazines. Some of her past stories include: brown bears of Alaska, polar bear research in Canada, chimpanzees of Uganda, orangutans of Sumatra, mountain gorillas of Rwanda, wild dogs of Botswana, penguins of Antarctica, and many more.

Suzi brings her past experience, knowledge, and incredible stories of adventure to her tours, giving clients an experience in which they are immersed in photography and wildlife. Always working with the best local naturalist guides, her itineraries offer maximum time in the field during the best light.

Photo Travel Review Magazine has received comments and articles about her workshops from two of Suzi’s participants.  Both highly recommend her tours.

The articles will be published here during the first week of January.

Significantly, both reviewers have said that Suzi puts the participants first, meaning that if one attends one of her workshops one can expect exacting attention to one’s personal and photographic needs.  PTR believes that such testimony is at the heart of what makes a photo tour outstanding.

Some of her upcoming tours are:

Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda Photo Safari : August 13 – 22, 2011

Photograph the gentle mountain gorillas of Rwanda up close. While most tours only offer two gorilla treks, this tour offers FIVE gorilla treks to maximize photo opportunities. Each gorilla family is extremely habituated to human presence. This is Suzi’s most popular photo tour.

Wildlife of Borneo Photo Safari: September 25 – October 12, 2011

Photograph orangutans up close at world-renowned Camp Leakey, including rehabilitated orangutans now living in the forest, as well as truly wild ones. Thr group will also have a very special opportunity to visit a rehabilitation center for orphan orangutans. This center is normally closed to the public and photography is usually prohibited, Suzi’s group will have exclusive permission to photograph behind the scenes.  In addition, the tour explores the wildlife rich region of Sabah. Here, participants will visit a special sanctuary to photograph habituated proboscis monkeys, cruise rivers to photograph rare pygmy elephants, and wander tree canopy walkways to photograph gibbons, wild orangutans, leaf monkeys, flying squirrels, many gorgeous birds, frogs, butterflies and much more.

Monterey Bay Private Workshops: Scheduled throughout 2011 and 2012

Suzi teaches all levels of nature photography, from absolute beginner to serious advanced, in the Monterey Bay area. Here, Suzi’s extensive knowledge of local wildlife populations yields rare opportunities for world-class photography of sea otters, seals and sea lions and a variety of gorgeous birds. These are one-day courses, including lunch, for one or two people.

Wildlife of Costa Rica Photo Safari: February 13 -26, 2012

This safari takes you to the best locations to photograph scarlet macaws, toucans, parrots, four different species of monkeys, three-toed sloths, coatis, tapirs, anteaters, several species of brilliantly colored frogs, many gorgeous birds, and much more. The group is limited to only six participants and includes exclusive use of private bird blinds specifically constructed for photography.

Wildlife of India Photo Safari- April 2012

Photograph the exotic wildlife of India on elephant-back and by private jeep. This safari takes you to the best parks for photographing wild tigers, Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, leopards, water buffalo, swamp deer, chital, wild boars, langurs, macaques, gibbons, monitor lizards, a variety of gorgeous birds, and more.

Madagascar Lemurs and Reptiles- October 2012

Photograph some of the most unique and endangered wildlife in the world as we explore the amazing country of Madagascar. The group will photograph a variety of lemurs and reptiles, including ring-tailed lemurs, aye-ayes, indri, sifakas, chameleons, geckos, and many more.

Her offerings are distinctly different from those offered by other vendors.  Rwanda, Borneo, and Madagascar are not typical places one might visit.  Let’s just say that her offerings are at the edge, that is, opportunities one never anticipated in one’s lifetime.

I can see me now in a jungle environment of Borneo, fascinated with what the sounds and the images might impress upon my mind.  Exotic, different, remote, and full of what the earth is really about.

No doubt I will give very serious consideration to flying half way around the world to explore what Suzi has found in some of the most remote and fascinating places on the earth.

PTR Magazine highly recommends the tours offered by Suzi Eszterhas.  She has earned our five star rating (✭✭✭✭✭).

Suzi Eszterhas

To learn more, please visit her website.

by PTR Team Member Bill Lockhart

Photographs courtesy of Andy Biggs, copyright © all rights reserved.

This is the first in a series of recommended photographic seminars by the editors of Photo Travel Review Magazine.

Our purpose is to provide you with opportunities for photography and travel, ones which the editors of PTR believe are among the best offered.

We begin with Africa.  Africa, the ultimate dream of all photographers, whether it is opportunities for incredible wildlife photographs, or landscapes that fill the imagination.

So, what seminar is the best of the best?

The PTR editors have chosen Andy Biggs. When it comes to Africa, there is no other seminar provider who is better.

A photographic holiday in Africa is the ultimate dream of many photographers.  It is a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.  When one spends lots of money to experience the dream of a lifetime, one should only consider the best.

Andy Biggs is an avid adventurer, conservationist, teacher, and outdoor photographer whose photography celebrates the African landscape and its rich wildlife, people, and culture. With a deep respect and understanding for African wildlife, Andy unfolds the world of the Serengeti onto our doorstep with striking emotional depth. His photographic safaris allow the traveler to not only enhance their understanding of photography, lighting, and wildlife, but to develop a life-long admiration for Africa ‘s beauty and culture.

In 2008, Banana Republic used thirteen of Andy’s photographs as the cornerstone of their Urban Safari campaign, and his images were seen in all 750 stores around the globe, as well as in their billboards, catalogs and annual report. Andy was also the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the ‘Wild Places’ category in 2008.

Andy offers you lots of different locations and opportunities for photography, all the while staying in camp sites that are among the best in Africa.

A photographic safari should be about freedom for one to shoot without worrying about how many other photographers are crammed in the same vehicle.  One of the single largest mistakes that many photographers make when going to Africa is booking travel with inexperienced operators who pack many photographers into an ill-equipped vehicle, go to the same spots that all others have photographed repeatedly, and then take one to an inferior campsite.  Not so with Andy Biggs.

Andy knows what a photographer wants and needs.  Each participant has a full seat row with the ability to move from one side of a vehicle to another.  Moreover, he brings along equipment that allows photographers to recharge batteries, view their shots of the day, and clean equipment for the next day’s shoot.  As an avid photographer himself, Andy knows what to expect in harsh field conditions.  He does all he can possible to make certain that your adventure is fulfilled.

It goes well beyond the basics of what a photographic holiday is about.  The big difference with Andy’s seminars is that he seeks locations off the beaten path.  There is nothing more frustrating on a photographic safari in Africa than to find yourself surrounded with other vehicles and an assembly of dozens of tour operators all vying for space while trying to photograph a single animal.

Andy offers seminars in Tanzania, Namibia, and Botswana.  Each destination planned superbly, with outstanding tour guides and accommodations that excel beyond what one might expect on such a sojourn.

One only needs to read the testimonials from his participants to understand just how well appreciated his offerings are.

My own experiences with Andy have been extremely positive.  Through the years as associates at Nature Scapes Net, and through numerous e-mails and telephone conversations, I have found Andy to be the consummate professional.  Friendly, helpful, positive, encouraging — all describe Andy.

Bottom line.  If you have always desired to go to Africa on a wildlife safari, there is only one person you should consider going with.  Andy Biggs is that person.

What will it cost?

It depends on where you go and when.

Currently, a 12-day safari to Tanzania will cost you $8,990 per person.

What does it include?

- All Game Park fees
- All accommodations, based on double occupancy
- All meals inclusive of restaurant staff tips
- Services of guides and drivers
- Land transportation in safari Land Rovers. Each of the three rear seat passengers has a complete seat to themselves, including access to windows on both sides of the vehicle and empty seats for photographic equipment.
- Airport transfers to and from hotels
- Internal airfare from Serengeti to Arusha
- Bottled water at all times
- $30 Tanzanian Airport departure tax, if KLM / NW ticket purchased through Andy Biggs.

What is not included?

- Additional tips for staff such as guides and camp staff
- Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, and insurance
- Hot air balloon flight of $475
- Alcoholic beverages while on safari
- Laundry, phone and other items of a personal nature
- Cost of hospitalization and evacuation if necessary

If you are concerned about the costs, consider that it cost me $9,000 per person to go to Tanzania in 2005!  And I did not go with Andy.

I met many others at camps who asked about my private vehicle.  Seems they were paying $7,500 per person and found themselves in cramped vehicles with guides who only wanted to rush from one spot to another.  I considered myself fortunate.  My entire trip was privately planned and executed.

I should have gone with Andy.

Next time I will.

Photo Travel Review Magazine Five Star Rating:  Andy Biggs

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