Page last updated at 12:00 GMT, Sunday 1 November 2009
 
Camera Equipment & Care
[Based on chasing tigers with clients]
The tigers can be anywhere from 500m (small shapes) to 5m or less (adrenalin time), so you need to be flexible in technique and approach. The technique is probably unlike anything you'll have done before, but most people only have problems because they think like an “African” safari, with larger vehicles and more open landscapes. Shooting from an elephant is a unique experience, relying solely on your hand holding technique. The principles are fairly straightforward.
For camera kit, I habitually carry three lenses; 28-80mm, 100-400mm (f4.5 to 5.6), and 150-500mm (f5 to 6.3), all image stabilised, plus a 1.4x converter, two EOS 5D bodies, and an EOS 50D complete with battery packs. The short lens gets used infrequently for landscape work, and the other two in equal measure. For elephant work, the mid length zoom is essential. The EOS 50D with 150-500mm is good for birds as the sensor magnifies the effect of the lens (though the 100-400mm will cope with a lot of the larger birds such as eagles) and also for tiger close ups from vehicles. If I had to pack only one lens, it would be the 100-400mm zoom.
[If I were working solo as a Wildlife Photographer I would be packing bigger and faster lenses, but the clients have priority so the space isn't available]
A spare body is a good idea for two reasons. First, it allows you to have two lens combinations ready to use at any one time – you never know where your subject is going to appear. Second, if one body fails, there is no facility nearby to get it repaired.
Tripods are more of a hindrance than help in the park (though they may be useful outside of the parks for landscape and bird work). There really is not enough room in the jeep to set them up and, with the likelihood that your subject can appear fleetingly at any point of the compass, you will probably find that you can’t move quickly enough to get both the tripod and yourself in position before it’s gone. A beanbag is essential, and a monopod useful.
For transport in economy, I pack a Peli 1510 case in the hold with the 150-500mm lens connected to one body, a second body, small lens, plus any other smaller items that will go. In the cabin I take a soft bag with the rest of the kit, digital storage devices and laptop. The remainder of the allowance is clothes for the hold. This usually goes over the limit by a few kilos, but I tend to arrive early and smile, and this usually works ! The split also adds protection in case the hold luggage gets delayed en route. If I ever have the luxury of business class, I pack a Peli 1650 in the hold (30kgs fully loaded).
For carrying kit in the daytime, we basically walk a short distance to the jeep and work from that or on elephant. I've found that a top loading "reporter style" bag works much better than a backpack that you have to lay flat to open. I also wear a vest or “cargo style” trousers with plenty of pockets for spare flash cards and batteries. When using film, which was more bulky, I wore a Lowepro Street and Field harness with pouches for the film and other stuff, even in the jeep. Whichever style you choose, the idea is to be able to lay your hands on what you need quickly. This is even more important on elephant where taking a bag is impractical. A safety line from harness to camera when on the elephant prevents the long expensive drop to the floor. (Retrieval can also be a little tricky considering the subject we're shooting, although I have had an elephant collect a dropped film on one occasion!).
Whatever media you shoot on, always count on taking a lot more shots than you expect. When shooting film I usually counted on using at least 100 rolls of Fuji Provia 100F over the ten days, plus a few rolls of Provia 400F. For digital users, pack in those memory cards! Now a digital convert I carry Sandisk Extreme III memory cards (1 x 8GB, 3 x 4GB and 4 x 2GB), two Epson P4000 80GB storage devices and a laptop with a 320GB drive. The same rule applies to batteries, whether you use alkaline or rechargeable – bring more than you think you need. For rechargeable battery users, the camps do occasionally suffer from power cuts, so it is a good idea to be able to carry at least one spare with you in the daytime whilst leaving another to charge back at camp.
Important
Whatever kit you carry, the major concern is dust. You need to have a camera in hand for a "quick draw" but this needs to be covered to stop dust getting on the lens and penetrating the camera body. One solution is to use a pillowcase - it's cheap, easy to clean, and can be dropped on the floor and trampled without any damage. (For info., when the BBC did the documentary footage in April 2005, one VC packed in halfway through because of dust and the other was making strange noises by the end - it never recovered properly!) You will need to bring a camera cleaning kit for use back at camp. My kit comprises of tissues, a general purpose brush, a Giotto “rocket blower” for a more concentrated puff of air, and a small chamois for general cleaning. For sensor cleaning I carry specialist brushes and solutions.
 
Visas
For visiting India, all foreigners are required to acquire a Visa in their home country before travelling. You cannoy obtain a Visa on arrival in India.

The Indian High Commission has now decided to outsource their visa services, so you are no longer able to send applications to, or queue at, the High Commission in London, Birmingham or Edinburgh. All applications need to be processed via the appointed agents, VFS Global, and full details can be found on their website.
Go to VFS Global
In brief, applications need to be submitted to the office that deals with your home county. This can either be done by post or in person, but there is no same day service; if you don’t wish to use the post you would need to make two visits to the office, one for collection and one for delivery. It is possible to fill out an online application, leaving only your passport to be posted.

The processing time can be as little as 2/3 working days from receipt of the passport, but circumstances can occur to slow this down considerably (e.g. postal strikes). If you can make an appointment to deliver or collect your passports this may speed up their return to you.

Tourist Visas are valid for six months from the date of issue, not your date of arrival, so you need to bear this in mind when planning the timing of your application.
Currency
The currency in India is the Rupee. When quoting amounts to foreigners, the US Dollar is sometimes used, though this has fallen out of favour in India in recent months.
Rupees should not be taken into or out of India, so the usual method is to take traveller’s cheques and change them to Rupees on arrival. This is best done at the airport as hotels may have limited cash available. Try to get some small notes for tips. Sterling cheques are currently recommended.

On leaving India, you can only change Rupees back to foreign currency at the airport, and you will need to produce the encashment certificate that you were given when you originally obtained the Rupees. Insist on receiving one when you change cash.

There are no limits on the anount of foreign currency that can be taken into India, but above certain limits the amount must be declared on arrival. The current limits are USD 5,000 in cash or USD 10,000 of cash and equivalents e.g., travellers cheques. You should check the limits with the authorities before you travel.
Travel Safety
In India there seems to be a more relaxed attitude to carrying cash around, but care should still be taken. It is an idea to carry a small amount of cash in an outside pocket for paying tips and small bills in public places such as the train station.

In the large city hotels, room safes are often available. In rural areas, it is general practice to leave doors locked, and good practice to keep money and passports out of sight in a locked case. For travelling on the train, it is recommended that you bring a length of thin chain and a small padlock to fasten your luggage together and/or to the seat whilst we sleep. It must be stressed that the trains are very safe, but this is a simple precaution often used by the local people.

India is a warm and welcoming country, and it is possible to feel safe and relaxed when you walk around. However, basic common sense rules should still apply, and activities such as wandering down dark alleys at night can still get you into trouble in India as in anywhere else.
Do's and Don'ts
Local byelaws prohibit smoking and the consumption of alcohol on trains and stations. Please respect these rules; getting caught can result in a fine, eviction from the train and imprisonment.
The import of prohibited articles such as dangerous drugs, live plants, gold and silver bullion and collectable coins are either totally prohibited or restricted. The law provides heavy penalties for infringements, sometimes extending to the death penalty.
Visitors are also banned by law from taking antiques out of the country.
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act bans all forms of wildlife trade. Violations of the Act are punishable by heavy fines and imprisonment up to 7 years. You should not buy any wildlife or wildlife products or derivatives, especially ivory, skins, furs and articles derived from wild animals such as Shahtoosh.
 
Electricity
Voltage is the same as the UK (240V AC), but the plugs are 2 or 3 pin round hole so you will need an adaptor if you wish to use any equipment that you bring with you.
Visiting Places & Photography
Visitors to India will find many and varied subjects for photography, including people, monuments, wildlife festivities and landscapes. However, there are some formalities to be observed:
Special permission of the Archeological Survey of India is required for use of tripod and artificial light on monuments. So you won't, for example, be able to take your tripod into the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Special permission of the Government is required for any photography for the purpose of publicity and commercial use.
Photography is prohibited in tribal areas.
Taking photographs of airports, railway stations, bridges, military installations, and from the air is prohibited.
Most people don't mind their photograph being taken, but it is always good manners to ask first. Be prepared to show the subject the photograph if you are using digital cameras with a viewer, and a few Rupees as a thank you can be a good idea.
Removing your shoes before entering temples is essential. (Consider wearing sandals for easy and frequent removal if your day is filled with temples). Avoid taking leather goods and cigarettes into places of worship, and avoid wearing shorts or sleeveless tops in places of public worship. Some places, such as mosques, will also require you to cover your head.
Insurance
It is essential that you have adequate health and travel insurance vefore you travel to India. The company we recommend is InsureAndGo. The policy is clear and concise, and specifies specific activities that are included, such as safaris.

Go to InsureAndGo
Time Zones
India has one time zone across the whole country. Local time is BST +4 1/2 hours and GMT +5 1/2 hours.
Climate
Brief climate information for Delhi and Cochin. The darker the colour, the hotter or wetter it is. Away from the oceans there can be a significant temperature fluctuation between day and night, sometimes as much as 15 - 20C.
 
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Temp C                      
Delhi
21
23
31
37
40
40
37
36
36
37
30
23
Cochin
29
32
35
36
38
37
37
35
36
33
30
29
Rain mm                      
Delhi
25
22
17
7
8
65
211
173
150
31
1
5
Cochin
24
7
15
25
52
53
83
124
118
267
309
139
Map
Click on the map to view a larger image