12/19/09
FEBRUARY 2ND IS THE DAY!!!!!! I booked a flight yesterday out of Logan February 2nd with a return for November 10th! After New Year's I've got to really get my equipment together and start packin'. I still have a TON of stuff to get, but I have to wait until I get my first grant payment. I need external hard drives, a 100-400mm zoom lens, shot gun microphone, binoculars, gps, etc. etc.....not to mention a TRUCK when I get to Tanzania! 44 days and counting....I will be a busy, busy lady!!
12/14/09
READY, SET, GOOOO!!!!!!
So I FINALLY got word from the Tanzanian Embassy that I can make plans to travel!!! I have been held up for 3 months waiting for 2 permits...one that I applied for back in July!! I shelled out all the money for my permits and I put off my grant for this long... I apparently complained enough that the Embassy decided to let me in! So now I have to find the right plane ticket, have it approved, buy it, apply for a Visa, figure out my bank accounts for my grant money (!!!!) and send in alllll my paperwork!! I am looking at flight the 1st week of February, so that gives me 4 weeks after Xmas to rreeeally get my stuff together and GO! woo!
11/10/09
I'm stiiillll heeerreeee.....
Okay, I haven't posted in so long because I am stuck here, on Cape Cod! I am STILL waiting on my Costech research permit, but I just found out that in order to get a Costech permit, I need to apply for another Tawiri (Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute) permit that will run me $1,800!!!! I have no idea why I need such an expensive permit...a Tawiri permit is for researchers doing projects in highly protected areas or parks. The KERCP camp is in West Kili, but is not within any park boundaries. PLUS I am just a PHOTOGRAPHER...documenting research that is already happening in that area, it's not like I am going to be changing anything that isn't already occurring! WHYYYY do I need an $1800 permit just to photograph pre existing research projects?!?
So, KERCP already has a Tawiri permit...I'm hoping I can just piggyback on their permit and get my Costech permit and get on with it! I have already delayed my departure by 2 months..now it looks like I'll be here till xmas.. :( If I leave here in January, I'll be arriving right in the middle of the mid-rain tourist season..(between the short rains and the long rains, there's a little break around January-Feb. it's a mini tourist season for a lot of Europeans) I'll have to compete with tourist air-fare and spiked prices of everything!!! Plus, it means I won't be back till next October..garrr
SO,...the GOOD news is...
I have more time to fund raise..
I am going to try to do a little enrichment night at Nauset High..
I am going to write to Canon to try to get some free equipment out of them..
I may be able to meet with Allison Argo, award winning wildlife documentary filmmaker, right here on Cape Cod!...
I'll be here for xmas....ehhh...yay?
I get to wear my winter clothes and boots for just a little longer... :)
So, until further updates...here's a little Zen monkey for you..enjoy!
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So, KERCP already has a Tawiri permit...I'm hoping I can just piggyback on their permit and get my Costech permit and get on with it! I have already delayed my departure by 2 months..now it looks like I'll be here till xmas.. :( If I leave here in January, I'll be arriving right in the middle of the mid-rain tourist season..(between the short rains and the long rains, there's a little break around January-Feb. it's a mini tourist season for a lot of Europeans) I'll have to compete with tourist air-fare and spiked prices of everything!!! Plus, it means I won't be back till next October..garrr
SO,...the GOOD news is...
I have more time to fund raise..
I am going to try to do a little enrichment night at Nauset High..
I am going to write to Canon to try to get some free equipment out of them..
I may be able to meet with Allison Argo, award winning wildlife documentary filmmaker, right here on Cape Cod!...
I'll be here for xmas....ehhh...yay?
I get to wear my winter clothes and boots for just a little longer... :)
So, until further updates...here's a little Zen monkey for you..enjoy!
.jpg)
9/10/09
Departure delay :(
So, I found out from the Tanzanian embassy last week that my Costech (Commission for Science & Technology) application was not reviewed in August, so I will have to delay my departure date. :(
A Costech research permit is required for all foreigners residing in Tanzania for longer than 6 months (or 3?) whatever the maximum time is for visitors on tourist visas. Basically I need a permit to be there for so long, along with a extended visa & residency permit! (oy, bureaucracy) Costech only reviews a certain number of applications that were sent in well before the cut off date (which they don't tell you) each time they have a "seating"...they only have these "seatings" every 2 months! So, the application that I sent in early July just didn't make it to the August seating and I will just have to wait for the next one....in October. (rrrrrrrrrrrrr)
This changes my schedule a bit...okay, a lot. Mayyybe I jumped the gun a little, but in making preparations to leave the country for 10 months I: pretty much moved out of my apartment, gave my 2 weeks notice at my summer job, didn't re-apply for my fall job, started shifting bank accounts and deferring my student loans and now I have to back peddle like crazy!!!
BUT, on the positive side, (and everything happens for a reason) I will have more time to fund raise, I may be a guest speaker at Bridgewater State college and I might try to give a presentation at Nauset High, all which helps me gain more awareness and hopefully support from my Massachusetts community. And I can enjoy the lovely New England autumn and be here for Halloweeeeennn!!!!! (I was so bummed when I realized I would miss my favorite holiday! now I won't! wheeee)
Here's a handsome male cheetah in Botswana!
A Costech research permit is required for all foreigners residing in Tanzania for longer than 6 months (or 3?) whatever the maximum time is for visitors on tourist visas. Basically I need a permit to be there for so long, along with a extended visa & residency permit! (oy, bureaucracy) Costech only reviews a certain number of applications that were sent in well before the cut off date (which they don't tell you) each time they have a "seating"...they only have these "seatings" every 2 months! So, the application that I sent in early July just didn't make it to the August seating and I will just have to wait for the next one....in October. (rrrrrrrrrrrrr)
This changes my schedule a bit...okay, a lot. Mayyybe I jumped the gun a little, but in making preparations to leave the country for 10 months I: pretty much moved out of my apartment, gave my 2 weeks notice at my summer job, didn't re-apply for my fall job, started shifting bank accounts and deferring my student loans and now I have to back peddle like crazy!!!
BUT, on the positive side, (and everything happens for a reason) I will have more time to fund raise, I may be a guest speaker at Bridgewater State college and I might try to give a presentation at Nauset High, all which helps me gain more awareness and hopefully support from my Massachusetts community. And I can enjoy the lovely New England autumn and be here for Halloweeeeennn!!!!! (I was so bummed when I realized I would miss my favorite holiday! now I won't! wheeee)
Here's a handsome male cheetah in Botswana!
8/18/09
Why elephants??
Why elephants?? With so many unique, gorgeous & threatened species in Africa, some may wonder why (or how) you could focus on just one?
When I first traveled to Botswana in '06, it was love love love! The people, wildlife, environment, lifestyle, pace, everything. In 2 short weeks, we saw everything; lions, cheetahs, leopards, cape buffalo, hyena, giraffe, gazelles, impala, hippos, jackals, monkeys, baboons, etc. etc. but the ONE thing I missed most, were the elephants. When I returned, all I could think about was elephants..I dreamed about them, researched them, read about them, sketched them, made countless doodles and collages, I was in love! Sometimes it seemed tiring, driving around on safari, (oh, poor me!) searching for more and more rare and exotic species to satisfy a tourist's checklist, when all I wanted was to sit and watch elephants all day...
Not only are they do they seem amazingly calm and zen-like to watch strolling around, casually feeding on grasses and leaves, but they are a unique species socially and cognitively. Elephants families are matriarchal. Each family unit is led by the oldest, dominant female, accompanied by sisters, daughters and grandchildren. Unlike almost any other species of animals, elephants are born with little to no natural instincts. Young calves have to be taught everything and adolescents males do not leave their mother's until about 10-12 years old and the females sometimes never leave their family units. If 2 older dominant females within a unit are both competitive in nature, one may leave a the unit with her calves to avoid competition for resources. Once males leave the matriarch, they spend much of their time in small bachelor groups, or roam about on their own.
The social behavior of elephants is what makes all the difference for me, it's what separates them from some other African wildlife species and why I am so intrigued by them. Each elephant seems to have a unique personality and there are distinct social relationships between matriarchal families. Elephants have been recorded mourning the death of a family member for days and even returning to their remains years after. There are greeting ceremonies, where family members have been apart for a few days or weeks and the levels of excitement vary depending on the closeness of the relationship. Females in a unit will babysit and care for each other's calves, teenagers will attempt to intervene in younger calves sparring matches that get a little to rough and when the herds are fat and healthy after the rains, researchers have seen entire family units running around playing and being silly in general.
Cynthia Moss is the leader in African elephant research, she is the Jane Goodall to elephants. She has been studying the elephants in Amboseli National Park in Kenya for nearly 30 years. Her book, Elephant Memories, is a fantastic read on elephant behavior and information on social structure. Her research methods of identifying individuals by ear shape and tusks and mapping out family units has become common practice among elephant researchers worldwide.
If anyone is very interested in elephants, I highly recommend reading it. It does contain an awful lot of information that only animal nerds like myself might find interesting, but it also starts each chapter with a fact-based story about elephant family life in Amboseli, which are all very touching.
I am especially interested in Cynthia's book because I am working in northern Tanzania, right along the border of Kenya, where Amboseli is. Elephant tracking data has shown that some herds from Amboseli migrate into west Kilimanjaro on a yearly basis. There might be a slight chance that I may be documenting some of Cynthia Moss's elephants! I don't know if the people I will be working with would be able to identify one herd as "Amboseli elephants" or particularly Cynthia's elephants, but it is exciting to think about, nonetheless.
So now I will have my chance to sit and simply watch elephants all day long. Of course, I will probably have to spend a fair amount of time locating them with a game scout, but I will be able to view them on my own time, without the pressure of finding as many animals as I can, like on safari. There will also be some aspects of this project that will not be so enjoyable. There is an anti-poaching squad that has the gruesome responsibility of seeking out elephants that have already been killed due to poachers and to seek out the poachers themselves...an aspect of elephant management that is too important for me not to document. But for the most part I will be focusing on the daily efforts of the elephant research camp and local elephant/human interactions. And enjoying my 10 months of camping in the middle of nowhere in Africa! aaahhhhhhhhhh......
here's a good YouTube video of elephants just being elephants, without the dramatic music or narration...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrlZsQ8iU6M
When I first traveled to Botswana in '06, it was love love love! The people, wildlife, environment, lifestyle, pace, everything. In 2 short weeks, we saw everything; lions, cheetahs, leopards, cape buffalo, hyena, giraffe, gazelles, impala, hippos, jackals, monkeys, baboons, etc. etc. but the ONE thing I missed most, were the elephants. When I returned, all I could think about was elephants..I dreamed about them, researched them, read about them, sketched them, made countless doodles and collages, I was in love! Sometimes it seemed tiring, driving around on safari, (oh, poor me!) searching for more and more rare and exotic species to satisfy a tourist's checklist, when all I wanted was to sit and watch elephants all day...
Not only are they do they seem amazingly calm and zen-like to watch strolling around, casually feeding on grasses and leaves, but they are a unique species socially and cognitively. Elephants families are matriarchal. Each family unit is led by the oldest, dominant female, accompanied by sisters, daughters and grandchildren. Unlike almost any other species of animals, elephants are born with little to no natural instincts. Young calves have to be taught everything and adolescents males do not leave their mother's until about 10-12 years old and the females sometimes never leave their family units. If 2 older dominant females within a unit are both competitive in nature, one may leave a the unit with her calves to avoid competition for resources. Once males leave the matriarch, they spend much of their time in small bachelor groups, or roam about on their own.
The social behavior of elephants is what makes all the difference for me, it's what separates them from some other African wildlife species and why I am so intrigued by them. Each elephant seems to have a unique personality and there are distinct social relationships between matriarchal families. Elephants have been recorded mourning the death of a family member for days and even returning to their remains years after. There are greeting ceremonies, where family members have been apart for a few days or weeks and the levels of excitement vary depending on the closeness of the relationship. Females in a unit will babysit and care for each other's calves, teenagers will attempt to intervene in younger calves sparring matches that get a little to rough and when the herds are fat and healthy after the rains, researchers have seen entire family units running around playing and being silly in general.
Cynthia Moss is the leader in African elephant research, she is the Jane Goodall to elephants. She has been studying the elephants in Amboseli National Park in Kenya for nearly 30 years. Her book, Elephant Memories, is a fantastic read on elephant behavior and information on social structure. Her research methods of identifying individuals by ear shape and tusks and mapping out family units has become common practice among elephant researchers worldwide.
If anyone is very interested in elephants, I highly recommend reading it. It does contain an awful lot of information that only animal nerds like myself might find interesting, but it also starts each chapter with a fact-based story about elephant family life in Amboseli, which are all very touching.
I am especially interested in Cynthia's book because I am working in northern Tanzania, right along the border of Kenya, where Amboseli is. Elephant tracking data has shown that some herds from Amboseli migrate into west Kilimanjaro on a yearly basis. There might be a slight chance that I may be documenting some of Cynthia Moss's elephants! I don't know if the people I will be working with would be able to identify one herd as "Amboseli elephants" or particularly Cynthia's elephants, but it is exciting to think about, nonetheless.
So now I will have my chance to sit and simply watch elephants all day long. Of course, I will probably have to spend a fair amount of time locating them with a game scout, but I will be able to view them on my own time, without the pressure of finding as many animals as I can, like on safari. There will also be some aspects of this project that will not be so enjoyable. There is an anti-poaching squad that has the gruesome responsibility of seeking out elephants that have already been killed due to poachers and to seek out the poachers themselves...an aspect of elephant management that is too important for me not to document. But for the most part I will be focusing on the daily efforts of the elephant research camp and local elephant/human interactions. And enjoying my 10 months of camping in the middle of nowhere in Africa! aaahhhhhhhhhh......
here's a good YouTube video of elephants just being elephants, without the dramatic music or narration...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrlZsQ8iU6M
8/12/09
Fund Raising!
Here's a list of equipment I need to buy...which, after reading, you will understand why I am fund raising!!! A lot of this equipment in not covered by my grant, but are essential to the success of my project. The good thing is, once I complete my grant, I can sell my vehicle back. That money will then be used to thank every donor with a first edition, original, signed print from my trip and a public exhibit of my work on Cape Cod! (just think of how much that print will be worth when I'm a famous National Geographic photographer! ;)
I am hoping to raise $5,000 to help purchase this equipment.
If 200 people donate just $25, I would be able to reach this goal!!!
Please help me make the most of my Fulbright project!! Become a sponsor today!! If you are part of a business and would prefer to donate through a registered, non-profit organization, please contact me at liana.ras@gmail.com.
Thank you!!!!
I am hoping to raise $5,000 to help purchase this equipment.
If 200 people donate just $25, I would be able to reach this goal!!!
Please help me make the most of my Fulbright project!! Become a sponsor today!! If you are part of a business and would prefer to donate through a registered, non-profit organization, please contact me at liana.ras@gmail.com.
Thank you!!!!
details for equip. list
Below: top-bottom, left-right;
Some sort of used, 4wd vehicle. Kikoti said I'd be fine with a Suzuki, just for getting around the area. They are a bit cheaper than other safari vehicles...
$6-7,000
Canon EF 100-400 IS f/4.5-5.6 Zoom lens. Essential for wildlife photography. It would just be silly for me to go without a zoom lens.
$1,500
3 - OWC Mercury Elite AL Pro 1 Terabyte, 7200RPM, 32MB External Hard Drive
Honestly, I have no idea what this means... I need 3 separate external hard drives to back up all my photos and HD video; one to just dump everything on, another one to back it all up and one more in case of emergency or I need extra room. My roomate said that 3 terabytes would be enough and that this is a good, reliable brand.
$185/each ~ $555 total
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars ...soooo awesome!! These binoculars have a huge range, so far that it makes you dizzy...until you press the Image Stabilize button on top and no matter how far off you're looking, the image just freezes! it's amazing, you have to try them! (and I got a connection!)
approx. $230
Manfrotto 701HDV fluid head with 547B tripod kit
A new tripod was not in my budget, but I was strongly advised by a professional wildlife photographer to invest in a new one because the one I have is not made for video. This is one is the best bang for your buck, and perfect for shooting video with my 5D Mark II.
(with connections) approx. $200
These are all things that are not in my budget. In all it is almost $9,000 worth of equipment! (ooyyyy) PLEASE HELP AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY!!!!!!
Some sort of used, 4wd vehicle. Kikoti said I'd be fine with a Suzuki, just for getting around the area. They are a bit cheaper than other safari vehicles...
$6-7,000
Canon EF 100-400 IS f/4.5-5.6 Zoom lens. Essential for wildlife photography. It would just be silly for me to go without a zoom lens.
$1,500
3 - OWC Mercury Elite AL Pro 1 Terabyte, 7200RPM, 32MB External Hard Drive
Honestly, I have no idea what this means... I need 3 separate external hard drives to back up all my photos and HD video; one to just dump everything on, another one to back it all up and one more in case of emergency or I need extra room. My roomate said that 3 terabytes would be enough and that this is a good, reliable brand.
$185/each ~ $555 total
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars ...soooo awesome!! These binoculars have a huge range, so far that it makes you dizzy...until you press the Image Stabilize button on top and no matter how far off you're looking, the image just freezes! it's amazing, you have to try them! (and I got a connection!)
approx. $230
Manfrotto 701HDV fluid head with 547B tripod kit
A new tripod was not in my budget, but I was strongly advised by a professional wildlife photographer to invest in a new one because the one I have is not made for video. This is one is the best bang for your buck, and perfect for shooting video with my 5D Mark II.
(with connections) approx. $200
These are all things that are not in my budget. In all it is almost $9,000 worth of equipment! (ooyyyy) PLEASE HELP AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY!!!!!!
8/5/09
My home in West Kili
So this is the beautiful tent I will be living in for 10 months. It is 10'x14' and very well may be set up in my backyard in Brewster before I go! When I get to Arusha, I'll have to get a bed, (not a cot, like a real deal bed & frame) tables, chairs, etc. Maybe a few tent plants,...baby animals?......
7/31/09
Thank You to my donors!
I just want to put up a current list of everyone who has already donated to my project!!
This opportunity is sure to be one the most amazing trips of my life. The Fulbright is such a fantastic program to send students and teachers all over the world to study what they love and I am SO grateful to be one of those people.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to the people who have donated!!!! Your contributions are making it possible for me to get all the equipment and supplies I need for 10 months of camping!! I truly cannot thank each one of you enough!
Current Donors:
Bernard McHugh
Ben Woods
Nik Pimental
Lexi Gaetano
Mark Hammond
Mary Lou Foley
Pat & Russ Bracewell
Carol Bracewell
Ron Rasmussen Sr.
Newtonville Camera
Scooter Software, Inc.
THANK YOUUUUUU!!!
This opportunity is sure to be one the most amazing trips of my life. The Fulbright is such a fantastic program to send students and teachers all over the world to study what they love and I am SO grateful to be one of those people.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to the people who have donated!!!! Your contributions are making it possible for me to get all the equipment and supplies I need for 10 months of camping!! I truly cannot thank each one of you enough!
Current Donors:
Bernard McHugh
Ben Woods
Nik Pimental
Lexi Gaetano
Mark Hammond
Mary Lou Foley
Pat & Russ Bracewell
Carol Bracewell
Ron Rasmussen Sr.
Newtonville Camera
Scooter Software, Inc.
THANK YOUUUUUU!!!
7/29/09
NEW Cameraaa!!!!!!!!!
So, Monday I went to the camera store to buy a User Guide for the new Canon camera I was impatiently waiting for in the mail. I wondered when it might deliver, I never saw an email that it shipped, or a tracking number or anything. I was a little anxious, cause I didn't want to be at work and miss it when UPS came to deliver my sexy new camera, or, even worse, leave it sitting on my doorstep!
So I wandered around the store, dreaming about the new filters, memory cards, lenses and bags I was going to buy for my beautiful new camera...kinda like shopping for a pet... I finally left and headed home. When I pulled into the driveway, I saw it; a big square box with Canon labels on it SITTING ON MY DOORSTEP!!! I freaked out for a second, but quickly got over it, ran inside, screaming and tore open the package.
The GORGEOUS 5d Mark II is heavier than my last camera, which is not surprising at all, considering the last camera I bought was the Digital Rebel XSi, 3 years ago. Sadly, that great little camera is obsolete now, but will be a perfect back up. The lens that I got with my kit is surprisingly a great lens, not that Canon would pair such a fantastic body with a mediocre lens, but typically kit lenses aren't that great..that's cause they want you to buy a better one. The kit lens is a 24-105mm f/4, it will be great for landscapes and portraits!
Now, I think I have changed my mind about the Zoom lens I want to buy. I had picked out the 70-200 f2.8, but there will be so much overlap in range between the kit lens and that zoom, that I think I may go with the 100-400 f/4...? I'll have to bring my camera in and play with them both...oh boy!
7/27/09
Press Release!!!
I know this is a little too small to read, click the link below to see the full size image!
fbpress2009_1
fbpress2009_1
7/16/09
This guy came strolling right through our picnic area! He walked right in front of me, he was probably 15ft away from me at one point,..it was bananas!
I have decided that Giraffes live in slow motion. These Giraffes ran right past us, but it looked like they were moving sooo slow, but they are actually traveling so fast! Their stride is probably like, 12ft. and their necks kinda bob back & forth slowly, definitely the most uniquely built animals in Africa!
Zebras have the best booties in Africa!
New Fund Raising Goals
Slight change of plans...
I have changed my fund raising goals to focus on one thing I really need; a new Zoom lens. There is no way I will be able to raise enough to cover all the expensive equipment I would like to have, so I am just going to juggle some things around, scratch a few items of my list and work it out!
The beauty of a lens that I would LOVE to have is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens with a 1.4x converter. For those of you who have no idea what that means (and I still need to have it explained to me, so don't feel bad) This is an awesome, weather sealed, image stabilized zoom lens that is better than some other zoom lenses in low light conditions. Plus, with a converter, it extends the range of the zoom to almost 300mm.
This would make all the difference when shooting wildlife in Tanzania, especially in the unprotected areas. In Parks and Game Reserves, the wildlife has been desensitized to humans and vehicles. When I was in Botswana, we could just pull up next to an Elephant, like he was standing on the sidewalk and take close-ups of his eyeball! But outside the high traffic areas, the animals are still scared of vehicles and humans. (as they should be!)
I have done some serious number crunching, (which is quite a task for an artist! ;) and I think I have found a way to cover some of the larger items I know I will need. Here is a list of things I plan on getting before I go, if anyone has any suggestions, connections or feels like donating used equipment, pleeaaase let me know!!
4wd vehicle to be purchased in Tz:.........................check!
Heavy Duty Canvas Wall Tent, also getting in Tz:...........check!
Canon EOS 5D Mark II, ordered TODAY!!!!:...................check!
Things I still need to get:
10x Binoculars
Large Storm Case
Solar Powered Car Battery Charger
Car Adapter to charge camera, laptop etc..
Head Lamp
Solar Powered Lantern
Heavy Duty Flashlight (rechargeable or solar)
Global GPS
Field Guides for East Africa
Kiswahili Textbook
Fancy backpack that will fit ALL of my equipment
Serious hiking boots!
I leave SEPT. 28th! That's just 11 weeks away!! I am starting to get really excited/nervous and I still have SO much to do!!
I have changed my fund raising goals to focus on one thing I really need; a new Zoom lens. There is no way I will be able to raise enough to cover all the expensive equipment I would like to have, so I am just going to juggle some things around, scratch a few items of my list and work it out!
The beauty of a lens that I would LOVE to have is the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens with a 1.4x converter. For those of you who have no idea what that means (and I still need to have it explained to me, so don't feel bad) This is an awesome, weather sealed, image stabilized zoom lens that is better than some other zoom lenses in low light conditions. Plus, with a converter, it extends the range of the zoom to almost 300mm.
This would make all the difference when shooting wildlife in Tanzania, especially in the unprotected areas. In Parks and Game Reserves, the wildlife has been desensitized to humans and vehicles. When I was in Botswana, we could just pull up next to an Elephant, like he was standing on the sidewalk and take close-ups of his eyeball! But outside the high traffic areas, the animals are still scared of vehicles and humans. (as they should be!)
I have done some serious number crunching, (which is quite a task for an artist! ;) and I think I have found a way to cover some of the larger items I know I will need. Here is a list of things I plan on getting before I go, if anyone has any suggestions, connections or feels like donating used equipment, pleeaaase let me know!!
4wd vehicle to be purchased in Tz:.........................check!
Heavy Duty Canvas Wall Tent, also getting in Tz:...........check!
Canon EOS 5D Mark II, ordered TODAY!!!!:...................check!
Things I still need to get:
10x Binoculars
Large Storm Case
Solar Powered Car Battery Charger
Car Adapter to charge camera, laptop etc..
Head Lamp
Solar Powered Lantern
Heavy Duty Flashlight (rechargeable or solar)
Global GPS
Field Guides for East Africa
Kiswahili Textbook
Fancy backpack that will fit ALL of my equipment
Serious hiking boots!
I leave SEPT. 28th! That's just 11 weeks away!! I am starting to get really excited/nervous and I still have SO much to do!!
6/15/09
Some of my favorite moments during my trip to Tanzania were when we had to get together for group photos. First of all, group photos in general can never be anything less than a shot full of goofy, forced smiles and awkward poses, especially when you're with a group of kids you've never hung out with before in a foreign country! The best part was, while we sat there, trying to keep steady smiles on our faces and our eyes from watering as we stared into the sun, was Curt, Kikoti and Julian fumbling with a dozen different cameras for 5 minutes. Curt, who isn't exactly camera-savvy (no offense, Curt) took the shots, while Kikoti "prepared" them by turning them on, Julian just held the ones that were already used. Between Curt's near-sighted shutterbug skills, Kikoti's tech knowledge and Julian's English it was like watching the 3 Stooges. It was at least a 15 minute ordeal to collect everyone's camera and squeeze into a small enough huddle to fit into the shot, yet at every scenic vista and observation area we had to get out and do it again. Watching Curt, Kikoti & Julian juggle and babble back and forth between English and Swahili never got old for me, it was just as ridiculous and hilarious as the time before. I felt like I was on family vacation all over again!Here's the same shot from the other side....
Fulbright Conference coming up!
So in 2 weeks there is a mandatory (all expenses paid!) Fulbright Conference for all Sub-Saharan grantees. I get flown down to Washington D.C., put up in the Marriott Renaissance Hotel for 2 nights while I attend a 3 day orientation at the Convention Center! Hopefully allll of my questions will be answered...such as;
What is the best way to ship a crate FULL of my stuff to Tanzania?
Where will I stay while I am meeting with the Tanzanian Ambassador in Dar Es Salaam?
Should I get a gun license? Will I even have to know how to shoot a gun?
How much should I spend on a canvas tent that won't melt in the sun?
Can I get research permits that will let me off-road in the parks?
Can I get permits that let me go out at night?
(With most Safari tours, you are not allowed to go off the main roads, you are DEFINITELY not allowed to get out of the vehicle and you must be back before dark. I want to be able to do all of those things...)
Do I need permits to go in a Helicopter?
Can I write "FILM CREW" in big letters across my vehicle?
Will I have to kill my own animals for dinner?
and so on and so on....
My Professor (Curt) and my host/primary elephant researcher for the AWF (Kikoti) are busy with Kikoti's Dissertation, so I have not been able to meet with them or harass them via email.
For now, all I can do is research all the equipment I need and figure out how I can get a credit card with a big enough limit to cover it!
What is the best way to ship a crate FULL of my stuff to Tanzania?
Where will I stay while I am meeting with the Tanzanian Ambassador in Dar Es Salaam?
Should I get a gun license? Will I even have to know how to shoot a gun?
How much should I spend on a canvas tent that won't melt in the sun?
Can I get research permits that will let me off-road in the parks?
Can I get permits that let me go out at night?
(With most Safari tours, you are not allowed to go off the main roads, you are DEFINITELY not allowed to get out of the vehicle and you must be back before dark. I want to be able to do all of those things...)
Do I need permits to go in a Helicopter?
Can I write "FILM CREW" in big letters across my vehicle?
Will I have to kill my own animals for dinner?
and so on and so on....
My Professor (Curt) and my host/primary elephant researcher for the AWF (Kikoti) are busy with Kikoti's Dissertation, so I have not been able to meet with them or harass them via email.
For now, all I can do is research all the equipment I need and figure out how I can get a credit card with a big enough limit to cover it!
5/14/09
New Laptop: CHECK!
I Finally got a brand new Mac Book Pro!!!!!
My days of using a clunky, ancient, slow-as-mud PC desktop are OVER!!
It's sleek, it's beautiful, the keys light up, my photos look rrrreaall nice on the screen....it's love.
My days of using a clunky, ancient, slow-as-mud PC desktop are OVER!!
It's sleek, it's beautiful, the keys light up, my photos look rrrreaall nice on the screen....it's love.
4/22/09
Living at an Elephant Research Camp!
After meeting with Professor Curt Griffin and my host, Alfred Kikoti, I felt a little more excited and at ease about my trip into the African bush! I knew I would be staying at the Elephant Research Camp, but I didn't know anything more about the camp itself. I figured it was rustic, bucket showers, in-ground toilets, no electricity, no internet, (gasp!) But it turns out I was wrong, about all those things. There are bath houses with running water, flush toilets, electricity from the generator every night and internet access!!
After getting some specifics about the place, I realized I would be staying at the actual African Wildlife Foundation's official Elephant Research Camp, in which Kikoti is the head researcher!
So I am obviously very very exited, I can't WAIT to camp out for 10 months and I am eager to learn some Swahili so I can communicate easily with the game scouts at the camp and the Masai in the nearby village.
Here's a photo of the Visitor's Center at Ngorongoro Crater, with Curt & Kikoti...
After getting some specifics about the place, I realized I would be staying at the actual African Wildlife Foundation's official Elephant Research Camp, in which Kikoti is the head researcher!
So I am obviously very very exited, I can't WAIT to camp out for 10 months and I am eager to learn some Swahili so I can communicate easily with the game scouts at the camp and the Masai in the nearby village.
Here's a photo of the Visitor's Center at Ngorongoro Crater, with Curt & Kikoti...
Lots to do..
It looks like I have my work cut out for me from now until September, just getting ready to start the Fulbright! I plan on leaving in September and staying the full 10 months that the grant allows. That way, I will avoid the 'winter' months of July & August. Right now I have to apply for Research Clearance and Residency Permits, get the Swahili Rosetta Stone and learn how to drive standard! Then I'll have to learn it right-handed...and how to drive on the other side of the road!...
In June I have a 3 day Fulbright Grantee conference for all Sub-Saharan programs in Washington D.C.!!!
In June I have a 3 day Fulbright Grantee conference for all Sub-Saharan programs in Washington D.C.!!!
4/21/09
Fulbright Research Proposal
I am applying for a grant in Photography to document Human / Elephant conflict and interaction in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. I have been invited by my host, and head elephant researcher, Alfred Kikoti from the African Wildlife Foundation. I will be able to stay at their research facility in Kilimanjaro in order to have access to the neighboring Maasai community and to be able to travel with them in the field. In order to produce the most in depth documentation of this unique and complex interaction between people and wildlife, I plan on interviewing many individuals from local villages, parks and centers. The project will result in a book of compiled information, photographs, transcribed interviews, journal entries and elephant tracking data.
In the spring of 2006, I had the opportunity to travel to Botswana for two weeks with Professor Curt Griffin and a group of students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The trip was a field study in Wildlife Ecology and Management, but the style in which we were accommodated made it more like a luxury safari. We were toured about the bush, making routine stops for tea and cookies. We sat in lawn chairs with drinks in our hands as members of the San tribe danced around a fire in makeshift hide clothing. At a restaurant in Victoria Falls, we were handed a drum and encouraged to participate in a call and response routine lead by men in bright, patterned outfits. This was my first glimpse into the tourism industry of Africa. I was charmed and bewildered by the veneer of idealistic tribal culture and shocked by the gross stereotypes that are acted out for an audience. The experience was nonetheless, completely amazing, despite the manner in which it was conducted. We visited three National Parks and learned the successes and challenges facing each region. By connecting with individuals of the Safari staff and constantly interrogating my professor and guide, I managed to learn a great deal about African wildlife and elephant conservation issues.
The following spring, I again traveled with students and Professor Griffin to Tanzania on a Wildlife Conservation and Management Study. This trip was the polar opposite of my visit to Botswana and the experience I was waiting for. We stayed at the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka, on the foothills of Kilimanjaro. There we attended lectures in Tanzanian history, Kiswahili, wildlife ecology and management before visiting four major National Parks; Taraguire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. I had the chance to meet Professor Griffin’s partner and graduate student Alfred Kikoti and learn of the wildlife issues that face the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. I became fascinated with the social complexities of the Maasai peoples and how they fit into the struggles of wildlife conservation. It was on that trip that I felt I had to dedicate myself to understanding the dynamic of Human/Elephant conflict and to help broaden that understanding on a global level.
In many countries in Africa, tourism is the largest factor of the economy. In Tanzania, the social and political stability, unique landscape and diverse wildlife population make it a popular destination for travelers. Tourism, in fact, is the major economic benefactor for the local population. Tanzania is home to the Maasai peoples and several natural wonders, including fourteen National Parks and a thriving wildlife population. However, development around park borders is posing a threat to the migrating wildlife population, as well as putting people in harm’s way of larger or predatory species. It is a true paradox; in order to reap the financial benefits of the tourist economy, local peoples relocate themselves, often with their entire families, closer to areas that the tourists are visiting. Though this may provide the local people with much needed financial stability, they are actually indirectly harming the very wildlife that brought the tourists there in the first place.
One of the biggest issues, literally, is Human / Elephant conflict in the Kilimanjaro region, which is a direct result of the flourishing tourist economy, paired with rapid development around the parks. Tanzania does not have the highest elephant population in Africa; the issue is there are densely populated ‘pocket’ areas where elephant migratory routes have been blocked. Due to the large amount of traffic inside the National Parks, Elephants are becoming desensitized to vehicles and humans. Elephants are wandering dangerously close to villages and major roads, where the odds of conflict are very high. Because of this development, the Maasai and Elephant populations within Tanzania are competing for what open grasslands remain. Recently, many Maasai have been forced into a more agricultural based lifestyle due to the loss of open grazing land. In turn, many farmers’ crops are raided or destroyed by elephants attempting to travel between protected areas, a confrontation that often results in famine for a family or the death of an elephant.
A solution to this imbalance must be reached. The common methodologies of elephant conservation are proving to be ineffective. Elephants are a highly intelligent and resilient species. The most widely practiced method is the culling of entire breeding herds. This is a grossly inhumane solution to the overpopulation issue. Other techniques such as birth control or relocation from a herd have proved cost ineffective and futile. KERCP works to protect what is left of natural corridors created and used by migrating wildlife. By simply prohibiting development in those corridors, it allows elephants to move freely between protected areas, relying on natural dispersal of highly populated regions. This solution is simple and effective by conserving open land for migratory animals, providing space to the Maasai for cattle grazing and keeping elephants and humans at a safe distance from each other. By supporting the efforts of the KERCP, I hope to educate people on the various methods of elephant management and the real trials of living within a tourist destination in Africa. Placing humans and the largest living land mammal within such close proximity to each other is dangerous and unnatural. I hope to witness and document this close interaction and capture the dynamic of such a paradoxical situation.
The success of my project relies on complete cultural immersion. Although English is the primary language in Tanzania, I plan on spending the next year studying Kiswahili and Maa in order to conduct interviews without depending on a translator. While working closely with KERCP, I will have the opportunity to experience elephant interaction in Tanzania firsthand. At their research camp in West Kilimanjaro, I will be able to visit the local Maasai village, speak with individuals who have had personal encounters with elephants and gain a real sense of what it is like to live with such an immense and intelligent creature. While I will be working primarily with digital cameras, I plan to supplement my work with several different film cameras and digital video. I hope to publish my work in a way that represents the trials and delicacies of living in an eco-tourism based economy in modern day Africa.
We played hacky-sack with these Masai kids in the Ngorongoro Reserve.
In the spring of 2006, I had the opportunity to travel to Botswana for two weeks with Professor Curt Griffin and a group of students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The trip was a field study in Wildlife Ecology and Management, but the style in which we were accommodated made it more like a luxury safari. We were toured about the bush, making routine stops for tea and cookies. We sat in lawn chairs with drinks in our hands as members of the San tribe danced around a fire in makeshift hide clothing. At a restaurant in Victoria Falls, we were handed a drum and encouraged to participate in a call and response routine lead by men in bright, patterned outfits. This was my first glimpse into the tourism industry of Africa. I was charmed and bewildered by the veneer of idealistic tribal culture and shocked by the gross stereotypes that are acted out for an audience. The experience was nonetheless, completely amazing, despite the manner in which it was conducted. We visited three National Parks and learned the successes and challenges facing each region. By connecting with individuals of the Safari staff and constantly interrogating my professor and guide, I managed to learn a great deal about African wildlife and elephant conservation issues.
The following spring, I again traveled with students and Professor Griffin to Tanzania on a Wildlife Conservation and Management Study. This trip was the polar opposite of my visit to Botswana and the experience I was waiting for. We stayed at the College of African Wildlife Management at Mweka, on the foothills of Kilimanjaro. There we attended lectures in Tanzanian history, Kiswahili, wildlife ecology and management before visiting four major National Parks; Taraguire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. I had the chance to meet Professor Griffin’s partner and graduate student Alfred Kikoti and learn of the wildlife issues that face the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. I became fascinated with the social complexities of the Maasai peoples and how they fit into the struggles of wildlife conservation. It was on that trip that I felt I had to dedicate myself to understanding the dynamic of Human/Elephant conflict and to help broaden that understanding on a global level.
In many countries in Africa, tourism is the largest factor of the economy. In Tanzania, the social and political stability, unique landscape and diverse wildlife population make it a popular destination for travelers. Tourism, in fact, is the major economic benefactor for the local population. Tanzania is home to the Maasai peoples and several natural wonders, including fourteen National Parks and a thriving wildlife population. However, development around park borders is posing a threat to the migrating wildlife population, as well as putting people in harm’s way of larger or predatory species. It is a true paradox; in order to reap the financial benefits of the tourist economy, local peoples relocate themselves, often with their entire families, closer to areas that the tourists are visiting. Though this may provide the local people with much needed financial stability, they are actually indirectly harming the very wildlife that brought the tourists there in the first place.
One of the biggest issues, literally, is Human / Elephant conflict in the Kilimanjaro region, which is a direct result of the flourishing tourist economy, paired with rapid development around the parks. Tanzania does not have the highest elephant population in Africa; the issue is there are densely populated ‘pocket’ areas where elephant migratory routes have been blocked. Due to the large amount of traffic inside the National Parks, Elephants are becoming desensitized to vehicles and humans. Elephants are wandering dangerously close to villages and major roads, where the odds of conflict are very high. Because of this development, the Maasai and Elephant populations within Tanzania are competing for what open grasslands remain. Recently, many Maasai have been forced into a more agricultural based lifestyle due to the loss of open grazing land. In turn, many farmers’ crops are raided or destroyed by elephants attempting to travel between protected areas, a confrontation that often results in famine for a family or the death of an elephant.
A solution to this imbalance must be reached. The common methodologies of elephant conservation are proving to be ineffective. Elephants are a highly intelligent and resilient species. The most widely practiced method is the culling of entire breeding herds. This is a grossly inhumane solution to the overpopulation issue. Other techniques such as birth control or relocation from a herd have proved cost ineffective and futile. KERCP works to protect what is left of natural corridors created and used by migrating wildlife. By simply prohibiting development in those corridors, it allows elephants to move freely between protected areas, relying on natural dispersal of highly populated regions. This solution is simple and effective by conserving open land for migratory animals, providing space to the Maasai for cattle grazing and keeping elephants and humans at a safe distance from each other. By supporting the efforts of the KERCP, I hope to educate people on the various methods of elephant management and the real trials of living within a tourist destination in Africa. Placing humans and the largest living land mammal within such close proximity to each other is dangerous and unnatural. I hope to witness and document this close interaction and capture the dynamic of such a paradoxical situation.
The success of my project relies on complete cultural immersion. Although English is the primary language in Tanzania, I plan on spending the next year studying Kiswahili and Maa in order to conduct interviews without depending on a translator. While working closely with KERCP, I will have the opportunity to experience elephant interaction in Tanzania firsthand. At their research camp in West Kilimanjaro, I will be able to visit the local Maasai village, speak with individuals who have had personal encounters with elephants and gain a real sense of what it is like to live with such an immense and intelligent creature. While I will be working primarily with digital cameras, I plan to supplement my work with several different film cameras and digital video. I hope to publish my work in a way that represents the trials and delicacies of living in an eco-tourism based economy in modern day Africa.
We played hacky-sack with these Masai kids in the Ngorongoro Reserve.
4/20/09
It's official!!
IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!
This past weekend, I received a packet from the Embassy with a letter of congratulations for receiving a Fulbright Grant Award!!! ...and a stack of Health Forms!....
So, I met with my host, Mr. Alfred Kikoti, head researcher at the Kilimanjaro Elephant Research Camp, his partner, and my professor, Mr. Curt Griffin from Umass Amherst. We discussed when I should go, what to expect, what to bring and what to buy.
The Fulbright grant IS full funding, but it only covers general living and travel expenses. Unfortunately, I happen to need all new equipment for me to get the most out of this scholarship. A laptop may be a good start?...
4/6/09
Intro
Hello, Hello!!I have recently been awarded with a Fulbright Grant to study Elephant Conservation in Tanzania!! My research proposal is titled; A Photographic Documentation of Masai / Elephant Conflict in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania. In September, I will be moving to the Tanzanian bush, to live in a tent for 10 months and document Elephants through photo and video.
I grew up on Cape Cod, in the middle of conservation land in Brewster. Hence, my love of nature, and its preservation. I attended Umass Amherst for 5 years and graduated in 2008 with a B.A. in Photography and Fine Art. During my years at Umass, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Botswana and Zimbabwe on a Wildlife Conservation field study, then a year later to Tanzania on an African Ecology field study. Both trips were a short 2 weeks in length, but have had an immense impact on my life.
