More Of Pam & Cled's Adventures In India
17th January 2025
In: News, Members' Articles
On 6th December we gave a glimpse of Pam & Cled Lewis's Indian Safari.
This week we add some more photographs and not just of the wildlife.
We reiterate their travels and add Cled's views on the equipment he used.
Pam and I have just returned from India where we went on a number of Tiger Safaris during the two weeks that we were away.
To benefit from early entry to the game reserves we had to rise at 4.45 am every morning to be at the gate by 6 am.
The transport was a Jeep (Gipsy) which accommodated four passengers, a driver and guide. Although the roads were free of potholes the tracks in the reserves were hard going. It would appear that the tracks in the reserves, all connected, generally circle around patches of jungle because the tiger population are located in these areas and the guides are alerted to the location of the tigers by the alarm calls of the langur monkeys and sambar deer. Sometimes it involves driving around the thicket until the tiger emerges.
We were fortunate to see tigers on two occasions, the first occasion as we were about to leave the reserve and we had about twenty minutes to ourselves with the tigers.
Being confronted by a tiger at twenty yards is an experience not to be missed; almost emotional. But we were treated to three tigers, a brother and two sisters about two years old but even at two years they were BIG. Cled put his foot on the wheel arch for a better shot only for the guide to immediately whisper “Get back in”, which seemed like a good idea.
Last year I bought a secondhand Lumix GX8 to enable me to use Pam’s telephoto lens and I used the same kit this year.
Micro 4/3rds is an ideal format to take on these holidays and I wouldn’t dream of taking the M cameras.
I borrowed Pam’s 50mm - 200mm lens which we actually bought, again secondhand for my use last year and I preferred it to Pam’s usual 100mm to 400mm Leica / Panasonic lens which was fortunate really because we did not fight over lenses.
As much as I appreciated the suitability of the Panasonic combination and its superb quality I realised that I had not used this kit since our last trip to Africa.
Now we have returned home I enjoy using the M again and really this confirms that there is no “best camera” rather than the one most suitable for the occasion.
Do I miss autofocus, image stabilisation? Not really but I would have been hopeless without it on Safari.
Pam Lewis
Samba Deer - Pam Lewis
Pam Lewis
Cled Lewis
Cled Lewis
Cled Lewis
This week we add some more photographs and not just of the wildlife.
We reiterate their travels and add Cled's views on the equipment he used.
Pam and I have just returned from India where we went on a number of Tiger Safaris during the two weeks that we were away.
To benefit from early entry to the game reserves we had to rise at 4.45 am every morning to be at the gate by 6 am.
The transport was a Jeep (Gipsy) which accommodated four passengers, a driver and guide. Although the roads were free of potholes the tracks in the reserves were hard going. It would appear that the tracks in the reserves, all connected, generally circle around patches of jungle because the tiger population are located in these areas and the guides are alerted to the location of the tigers by the alarm calls of the langur monkeys and sambar deer. Sometimes it involves driving around the thicket until the tiger emerges.
We were fortunate to see tigers on two occasions, the first occasion as we were about to leave the reserve and we had about twenty minutes to ourselves with the tigers.
Being confronted by a tiger at twenty yards is an experience not to be missed; almost emotional. But we were treated to three tigers, a brother and two sisters about two years old but even at two years they were BIG. Cled put his foot on the wheel arch for a better shot only for the guide to immediately whisper “Get back in”, which seemed like a good idea.
Last year I bought a secondhand Lumix GX8 to enable me to use Pam’s telephoto lens and I used the same kit this year.
Micro 4/3rds is an ideal format to take on these holidays and I wouldn’t dream of taking the M cameras.
I borrowed Pam’s 50mm - 200mm lens which we actually bought, again secondhand for my use last year and I preferred it to Pam’s usual 100mm to 400mm Leica / Panasonic lens which was fortunate really because we did not fight over lenses.
As much as I appreciated the suitability of the Panasonic combination and its superb quality I realised that I had not used this kit since our last trip to Africa.
Now we have returned home I enjoy using the M again and really this confirms that there is no “best camera” rather than the one most suitable for the occasion.
Do I miss autofocus, image stabilisation? Not really but I would have been hopeless without it on Safari.
Pam Lewis
Samba Deer - Pam Lewis
Pam Lewis
Cled Lewis
Cled Lewis
Cled Lewis
Comments
By Dennis Steel: Superb article, I like your pictures and the description of the gear used. Well done By David Askham: Pam and Cled, Thank you for your second instalment of your travels in India last year. Most interesting! I fear that as I am unlikely to emulate your feat, I would welcome seeing some environmental portraits of wild animals you saw in the reserves, to show where they live and how they coexist with the many tourists who visit them. I fear that the nearest I am likely to get to dangerous animals is Longleat! By Alan Humphries: Pam and Cled ,Super images and I agree with Cled's remark about 4/3rds format being ideal; for trips where weight has to be a consideration. By Keith Walker: Memories that will last a lifetime! How nice to be able to take innocent pictures of children! Best image of set for me.