Volunteer: Wildlife + Travel Photography in South Africa

About the role

The course you will be attending is with an environmental and media company who focus on bringing attention to environmental issues specific to Africa, always looking for unique and authentic perspectives in their work. They work with many different clients, ranging from broadcasters, corporations, non-governmental organizations, print media and online news outlets. Their work is not restricted to land-based work, and you can also get wet with their underwater photography component!

Responsibilities

• Gain hands-on experience working with an environmental and media company in South Africa
• Ideal for interns with an interest in developing their wildlife and travel photography and career
• Attend in the field trips (see below) with our staff
• Receive tuition in both basic and more advanced stills photography and in software: Lightroom and to a far lesser extent, photoshop and other applications
• Participate in professional shoots for clients, producing marketing material for advertising and social media campaigns
• Learn how to make money from photography, whilst experiencing incredible photographic platforms in Africa
• Learn how to break into the competitive world of photography
• Learn how to set up your own business; specifically how to ensure you can make enough money to startup and maintain your business; how to write a basic business plan and most importantly how to market yourself and build your income streams
• Receive practical training on setting up your own business; specifically how to ensure you can make enough money to startup and maintain your business; how to write a basic business plan and most importantly how to market yourself and build your income streams
• Receive practical experience and guide you, step by step through the process
• Open necessary profiles in the media industry to get you off to a flying start
• Enhance your career prospects
• Go on various expeditions which include:
• 5 day / 4 night trip to the Great Karoo to incredible private Mount Camdeboo private reserve and you may also get to view the scenic private reserves of Asante Sana and Samara on this fantastic trip
• 2 day / 1 night trip to Plettenberg Bay where we visit Jukani wildlife park, Birds of Eden and Monkeyland and spend a few hours at Tenikwa sanctuary
• 1 x trip to shoot local people: a project in conjunction with local organizations
• 1 x day trip to the Robinson pass, Cango Wildlife Ranch and the dramatic waterfalls of the Swartberg mountains ( not possible every month as is weather dependent)
• 1 x cage dive with local cage diving boat White Shark Africa (typically included, but not guaranteed due to weather)
• 2 x trips to shoot surfers/body boarders and/or skate boarders
• 1 or 2 x UW pool shooting trip to a heated pool but, if weather allows we do a rock pool shoot too
• Hiking morning with shoot of caves and slow shutter speeds of waves on the world famous St Blaize Trail
• Note: sometimes some of these trips are not possible, and the owners reserve the right to change trips.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18
• Minimum 1 month commitment
• Basic English language skills
• Necessary vaccinations
• Necessary flight & visas
• Full travel & medical insurance – full assistance provided in arranging everything you will need if you choose our Premium Support
• Anyone is welcome to join us, however it is recommend that you are;
• Current or graduated students enrolled in academic institutes and studying towards a journalism, conservation, photo, design major
• Aspirant photographers
• Photographers who want to improve

Qualifications

• Bring your own camera, lens’ and tripod
• Additional lenses supplied by us are for tutorial work only
• ‘Top-end” lens’ and camera bodies are available as rentals should a student require additional equipment
• Pre-book additional equipment to avoid disappointment
• Bring your own laptop. It must be pre-loaded with Adobe Lightroom and if possible Adobe Photoshop as we use these editing softwares, especially Lightroom, extensively on the course
• Bring CPL and ND filters for your own lenses
• If you have a shutter release mechanism, even a simple one, please bring it
• Bring a HD of at least 500GB but ideally 1 TB

Skills

• Photography
• Business planning
• Marketing
• Photographic gear management

Benefits

• Gain hands-on experience working with an environmental and media company in South Africa
• Ideal for interns with an interest in developing their wildlife and travel photography and career
• Keywords: travel expeditions, travel photography, wildlife photography, how to succeed as a young photographer, media career

Pay

$3,900 USD per month

Schedule

Start dates are each month, enquire with us when applying.

Costs

• $750 deposit to confirm your place
• All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
• For the latest currency conversions, check out xe.com

What’s Included:

• Transfer to and from the airport (only on the 1st of each month)
• Local transport to and from photographic platforms
• Dorm room accommodation (2-4 interns/room, gender separated). On request and a surcharge of $500 we can provide private accommodation
• Snorkeling equipment for all course expeditions
• Macro lenses on the macro tutorial practical
• All practical and theoretical training instruction
• All the trips listed in the Daily Life section (if available)
• Unlimited Internet (fast by South African standards – slow speed by international standards)

What’s Not Included

• Additional days accommodation
• All food
• Flights from your home country into and around RSA
• Optional photographic / tourism expeditions
• SCUBA diving training (i.e PADI Open water: R 6000)
• Top end dSLR Cameras and lenses rentals
• Laundry service
• Bank or PayPal charges for transfer of fees

Travel & Accommodation

You will need to fly into George Airport, Western Cape , South Africa.
The project is located in Mossel Bay, which is surrounded by the Outeniqua Mountains 400 kms east of Cape Town.
On the outskirts of Mossel Bay, lies the Aalwyndal community. Perched on the ridge overlooking the oceans is our student house, known as the Fly me to the moon guesthouse. This stunning guesthouse offers 8 bedrooms for students, living rooms, dining rooms, balconies and work offices.
You will be staying in self-catered accommodation. You will have access to a shared kitchen, and there are numerous options to purchase food nearby. You can expect to cook and eat with the other volunteers and staff each day

South Africa

Note: Map coordinates are approximate