Enewsletter
November 2007

For this reason, MacLeod took advantage of that particular lens as often as possible. "The 17-50 is a great lens for photojournalism," he says. "It's very easy to carry around and to use. The wide-angle look you see in many travel magazines can easily be accomplished with the 17-50."

The 17-50's sharpness and 2.8 speed served MacLeod well. "I like the 2.8 aperture—it makes a big difference in low light," he says. "The sharpness and detail of this lens are also fantastic. I couldn't recommend a lens more. Several people have complimented the sharpness of my pictures taken with the 17-50."

MacLeod showed off this attention to detail in shots that included everything from smiling Ugandan children to a hardworking Gulu girl with a water container precariously perched on her head to an image that focuses on traditional societal roles. "Two hundred million hours are spent by women and young girls carrying water from often polluted sources," MacLeod explains. "I took this picture of a woman carrying water, while the man watched. I asked one of the men why they didn't help. 'If we help them, then the women would get lazy!' was his reply."

 

MacLeod's 28-300mm came into play when he found himself interacting with wildlife. "On safari, a zoom lens is a must," he says. "Even though they drive you right up to the animals at the Masai Mara game park, it's still good to have a bit of distance from a lion or a rhino! I used the 28-300 primarily at the game parks, with the exception of a few shots."

MacLeod tried to zero in on his majestic subjects by focusing on them, not on the background, as much as possible. "I would zoom all the way in and use the largest aperture possible," he explains. "Zoom makes the critical difference in blurring the background. I think it's important to have a tripod for these shots as well." He was able to show this effect in one shot of a pensive-looking baboon, where he zoomed all the way in to cut out the game-park backdrop.

 

MacLeod has mastered the art of African art, even though it's not always easy. Keeping his gear protected from the elements was just one challenge he faced. "That was very hard to do," he says. "I have a Lowepro photo backpack that I keep my lenses in, but dust is inevitable. I always make sure to keep the caps on, and I also carry along rain covers." When the light was not quite right, MacLeod was able to improvise. "A polarizer and an ND filter are a must," he says. "If you're going to be out in the sun, you need to have these accessories," he says. "I use the ND filter as needed, and polarizers are important for pulling out clouds, for example. I also shoot everything RAW. This helps a lot for changing white balance later. One trick I've learned is to shoot with a 'cloudy' white balance on a bright and sunny day. It really gives your pictures great color. Try it!"

 

His relationship with the landscape and his living subjects advise MacLeod when composing his shots. "I typically shoot a rule-of-thirds composition, but really, I just shoot what feels good," he says. "For every shot, I try and ask myself, 'What's the point of the shot? How are my settings going to affect depth-of-field, and hold it still? For portraits, I always try to make friends with the subject. I think that it is as important to have a connection with your subject as it is to have the right shutter speed and aperture." His expeditions have not been without their fair share of brushes with danger. "I was almost mugged in Uganda," he recalls. "A gentleman came up and told me to give him my camera. I told him no, but it was a close call. We were also once charged by a rhino. We were driving through a bit of woods when a rhino came out right next to our Jeep. The driver stepped on the gas and we narrowly escaped!"

 

But it's not just the resulting photos that drive MacLeod to endure the accompanying perils. "The best part of traveling to Africa and other parts of the world is being able to tell the stories of the people that I meet," he says. "By using photography and video production, I have been able to help raise thousands of dollars for those who otherwise would have no voice."

Tip Box

Tip 1:
Use a tripod. MacLeod wanted to focus on his subjects, and not the backgrounds. He would zoom all the way in and use the largest aperture. For this type of shooting he suggets using a tripod.

 

Tip 2:
A polarizer and ND filter are a must. When shooting out in the sun MacLeod recommends having these accessories. Use the ND filter as needed and the polarizers are important for pulling out clouds.

Tip 3:
A zoom lens is a must on safari. When interacting with wildlife it is always good to keep a safe distance between you and the subject. With the versatility and light weight of the 28-300, MacLeod was able to achieve some shots that would have been very difficult to get.