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'Stop!' Screech. 'What now?' 'Go back. A bit more, more, STOP! Too far.' Forward. 'Stop. Perfect. Turn off the engine.' By this time I seriously have NO idea what he saw. 'There on that branch!' or 'Under that bush!' Ah, got it. Beanbag arranged, lens organized. 'Damn, that leaf/branch/blade of grass/it moved.' Turning on the car, first steps repeated, feeling a bit ordered around by now 'Sorry, it's gone!'

I never say Damn!

Hey GP,

Have you been speaking to Jan?

I know that feeling!

But, what erks me even more is when you have that perfect photo opportunity and the photographer is so busy with the little knobs and levers on that grand camera, that by the time he is ready to take the photo ... the opportunity is long gone!

She accuses me of that too. But she want's to be in charge when we drive

I think it's a universal feeling. @ Imberbe - or stopping next to something I want to see like a lion or rhino and being told nonchalantly 'That's too close.' Then Guinea Pig feels like throwing tantrums

Try this.
Designated photographer's chauffeur and trying to get in some shots yourself

My suggestion is that if they are going to treat you like one of us guides then they should pay you. Freelance guides fees in this area (well trained patient ones such as yourselves) are set at around R55.00 per hour spent with the guests on the drive.

No You have it all wrong, Jeanus, we photographers are taken along so that when we get back home the driver can show off photos of what we saw to friends

ROTFLMAO! Now you've started something. Fortunately as Dave says, I benefit too in the end. My photographer wants the perfect pic so badly, he needs a driver, I get the holiday

What Bert says is actually correct.

If the driver is a photographer he/she knows what the other needs, and will position the car as needed. Only a little forward/backward movement may be needed then to get past that always present blade of grass or branch.

I've been in the car with Madach, him driver, me in the back, and he always (if possible) positions the car at an angle to the sighting, so both of us have a good view of it.

Handy having drivers!

In fact, since driving you around, I've started looking at sightings in a different light. I never knew you could be too close for a photo nor realized a blade of grass or a shadow falling incorrectly could ruin a photo. I had to start thinking like a photographer. Still learning.

If you see ever see bakkie tracks criss cross the road...again and again...backwards and forwards...and u turns...thats my wife with me on the backseat between the beanbags and lenses. We are a team and she knows most of the time exactly what I need.

At the end of a session both of us are tired and love the trip back without a card in a cameras.

In the evening, over a glass of wine, we pick and edit some pics on the laptop with care and love.

That's the best bit, JJ! I am just as excited to see the photos as soon as we're in camp, sometimes right there in the middle of the road

My DD has it down to perfection. Stop, wind window up half way, turn off engine, don't move.