>Vetting and filtering the thousands of photographs from my most recent trip to Tanzania is an extremely tedious task and I can't wait to select 15 or so of most memorable photographs. The main challenge as I've discussed with many friends is what to photograph after so many trips to Africa since I've already photographed the obvious and not so obvious: lions in trees? Check. Leopards eating their prey in a tree? Check. Birds in flight? Check. Stunning landscapes? Check. Local people? Check.
>I have admittedly amassed a comprehensive inventory of wildlife pictures from Africa. So why do I continue to go back? Two main reasons: first, with each trip, I become increasingly more attuned to the wildlife that I am photographing. This enhanced "field intelligence" allows me, with the help of my guides, to be in a better/optimal "photography" position. This in turn increases the possibility of capturing something that I don't already have, or better yet, improve on something that I do already have. Remember, wilderness photography is the definition of "serendipitous photography" since you have no control over your subjects, your light, movement, and the environment as a whole.
>Creativity is the second reason I like to go back. All wildlife can be photographed "normally" - i.e. see my Mara, Tsavo and Serengeti collections. So while trying to improve on existing pictures, as a photographer, you have a great opportunity to try something different! The lines and colors are wonderful out there, and they are begging to be taken out of context or simply photographed differently.
> The collection should be out soon [EDIT: it is now available] and I can only hope that the photographs convey all that I have seen and felt while in Tanzania.
Focused and hungry