Does a Responsible Traveller Take Photos of Locals?
100mm, f/5, 1/800s, ISO125 Photographing people is, understandably, a somewhat contentious activity. When we travel — and this we means absolutely anyone — we tend…
Author: Marcus
Marcus Westberg is a multiple award-winning photographer and writer from Sweden whose work — covering conservation, wildlife and travel — appears regularly in the New York Times and other global publications. He lives close to Lisbon (Portugal).
Is Tracking Gorillas Ethical?
105mm, f/3.2, 1/400s, ISO1600 Questions like this are tricky, mainly because only one of the parties involved — that would be us, the humans —…
Will Cultural Experiences Feel Commercialised?
11mm, f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO400 Quite some years ago I guided a group of tourists to Rwanda and Uganda for a Swedish tour company. They had…
Idealistic Without Being Naïve (Gorilla Highlands 2012-2015)
This is the twelfth instalment of a weekly series that marks 20 years of Edirisa and 10 years of the Gorilla Highlands Initiative. Click here for Part…
Should I Be Cautious of Wildlife?
100mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO640 This is actually a well-worded question. Had it been whether you should be worried about wildlife, my answer would have been…
Should I Expect Very Basic Accommodation Facilities?
120mm, f/8.0, 1/250s, ISO250 Hotels in the Gorilla Highlands region range from cheap and very, very basic — though rarely dirty — to the kind…
What Photography Gear Should I Pack for Rwanda, Uganda or DR Congo?
There are a dozen ways to answer this question, and it is obviously very subjective. What kind of equipment do you own? How important is…
Why Choose Uganda and Rwanda over Tanzania and Kenya?
70mm, f/8.0, 1/400s, ISO125 Every place has its charms and attractions, and Kenya and Tanzania certainly received their fair share. For sheer volume of large…
Not Malaria
24mm, f/2.8, 1/125, ISO1600 Last week I shared my own malaria scare, but since I happened to be staying at a wildlife sanctuary with a…
Avoid Kissing Chimps
I generally manage to stay pretty healthy on my travels through a combination of common sense, a robust immune system and precautions such as wearing…