Addo through the lens of Michael Price

Michael Price Photography

“Listen, I’m driving down Grass Ridge from Port Elizabeth towards Addo and I’ve just received a call from River Bend Lodge saying the Elephants are close to the Lodge. Come now! I’ll meet you there!”

Michael Price, a photographer amongst many talents, and I were due to meet at the local Wine Bar at 5pm. The fact that I got this call at all is incredible as I was sipping an afternoon cup of tea with my Addo friend, Stef and her daughter, and her area has virtually no reception. First good sign.

With dust clouds billowing behind me I arrived at the River Bend, which is situated in a conservancy of the Addo Elephant National Park, and jumped on the game viewer, camera in hand. Only to feel like the complete novice that I am next to Michael and his various sizeable pieces of photographic equipment! We bumped along to an area named Mpofu Plain’s and had the most beautiful Addo Elephant viewing. A little guy, trailing behind the herd, came running towards us to catch up to the herd. As we were in his path, he trumpeted, flapped his ears, eyed us without losing any pace and swerved around the vehicle to join his family. Some great shots were captured by Michael. Driving a little further, Michael brought me up to speed on Manual settings, ISO, shutter speeds, angles, fixed focal lenses and patience. The Elephants posed for the camera and were the perfect models.

Michael Price is Addo’s new hot-off-the-press photographer. His venture started in 1981 when he was in Ireland on a stud farm, Coolmore and bought a camera to record his travels. The realisation of a long held dream of becoming a proficient photographer came in the 90’s when his son, James Price, was selected for the St Andrew’s 1st Cricket 11. Michael’s uncle and godfather, John Bridgman, passed away and bequeathed him enough money to invest in his first DSLR - a Canon450D. A fortunate encounter on a Cricket Tour with his son to Johannesburg created an opportunity to try out a Canon 300mm f2.8 lens….and Michael, after becoming very frustrated with kit lenses…found the first key to getting ‘tack sharp’ images! One such image from that Tournament was used on the front cover of SA School Sports magazine. Through extra courses with Pine and Simon Pienaar, a Landscape Photography Course with renowned Hougaard Malan, a Photography Diploma done online with the Photography Institute and just recently a Food Photography Diploma (also the Photograohy Institute) and a Food Photography Course with well known and widely published Samantha Linsell and Russell Wasserfal Michael has increased his technical knowledge. This passion he has for Photography was evident as we sat enthralled by the spectacle of the magnificent Pachyderms around us.

Michael credits Stan Blumberg as his self appointed mentor, and along with Craig Chambers (another local Photographer) and the people mentioned above have been influential in setting him on a course which should hopefully culminate in a unique style! His own words of advice to me, collected from all his mentors, were preparation, planning, patience…and learn your subject. This was evident with the young elephant charging at us earlier!

Michael’s photographs are among my absolute favourite and the title names always intrigue me. Stan Blumberg once said to him that when he is photographing, he never presses the shutter until he has a name.

After showing me some of the photos from the game drive, his final comment was, “And that’s the quick part”. I shall leave him for the editing process and wait with baited breath for the finalised photo, and name.

For more information on Michael Price Photography:

FACEBOOK PAGE:
www.facebook.com/michaelpriceWineServicesandPhotography
WEBSITE: www.michaelpricephotos.co.za

(He is not to be confused with Michael I. Price, from USA. This Michael Price is our very own, from Addo!)

Elephants on Mpofu Plains, River Bend Lodge, in the evening. Experimented creatively (?) into the night.....
Canon 450D
Canon 24-70mm f2.8 IS USM
f2.8
1/250
ISO800

Michael Price, Addo photographer

"African Icon's Eye"
Canon 7D
f2.8
1/640
ISO400
Canon 300mm f2.8 IS USM
Canon 7D

This is taken about 800 metres from where I live and really special in that it conveys such a sense of perspective. The big male in the background is an Elephant Bull that was brought in to our Concession to increase the gene pool. His goes by the name of Konstalin...and is a 'bit of a character. No doubt more of him another time.

Lion Roaring in Early Light

"Love and Protection"....Mazda Wildlife Photography Competition Prizewinner.

Looking towards the village of Kirkwood, across Citrus groves, from the Lookout Restaurant. Kirkwood, Sunday's River Valley, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Since taking up this 'drug' that is Photography I have been given conflicting advice as to whether to 'stick to one genre' as opposed to 'exploring'. Andrew Aveley...at a recent Canon Presentation in Port Elizabeth gave, what I consider, the best advice (and most commonsensical) I have heard to date..."Explore as many as possible...you will learn from them all" You never know where you will end up!
So every now and then....I explore. Landscape this time.
Canon 7D
Canon 44-70mm f2.8 IS USM
ISO 400 (should have been 100)
f11
1/4