This pic was shot in 2001 on the 3Mp (yes, 3 mega pixel) Canon D30 - Canon’s first DSLR that changed photography and began the transition to digital photography for me. In spite of its low pixel count and the age of the images, we still regularly sell stock D30 pics in our photo library. Canon D30 and 100 - 400mm lens. 1/18 at f5,6. ISO 100.

It took a while to get this photograph. The ox peckers were all over the impalas and the plan was to shoot one of the birds peering into an Impala’s ear - talking to it as it were. It’s been quite popular and it was a pic I went out to shoot - it didn’t just happen. Canon 1Ds MkII and 100 - 400mm lens. 1/60 sec at f9. ISO 200.

Different! We'd been working on our wild dog book and I'd shot a bazillion pics of dogs but what next? What else could I do? How else can I shoot them? Well, how about putting the camera on the ground... Canon 1Ds MkIII and 100 - 400mm lens. 1/125 sec at f8. ISO 400.

Don't rule out working in Kruger’s rest camps - the birds are quite habituated to human activity, which makes shooting them, even with modest telephoto lenses, very possible. Nikon D800 and 80 - 400mm lens. 1/800 sec at f5,6. ISO 200.

Long lenses make pretty good close up lenses - not quite macro, but getting there… And don’t be afraid to shoot into the light - it can be very effective. Nikon D7100 and 80 - 400mm lens. 1/640 sec at f7.1. ISO400

When shooting things like this, with deep shadown and bright 3/4 tones, you have to hold the brights in camera so that they’re not burnt out . Then bring out the darks in post, in this case in Lightroom. Panasonic GH5 and 12 - 35mm lens. 1/320 sec at f4,5. ISO 200.