Africa Media Academy

Building a new generation of wildlife media specialists

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Tutorial: How to set manual white balance for underwater filming

Manual white balance for underwater filming is one of the most important settings you need to master as an underwater videographer. Here's how.

Manual white balance for underwater filming can be tricky. It’s one of the most important setting you need to master as an underwater videographer. However, there’s a very specific process involved in getting the perfect white balance setting for your video. To learn how, watch this video tutorial by Vanessa Cara-Kerr from Behind the Mask. She gives some helpful tips on how to optimise your white balance for filming by setting it manually underwater .

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Guide to choosing an underwater camera housing

After buying a camera, the next step is choosing an underwater housing. We’ve compiled this guide to help you with your decision.

Keep these pointers in mind and you’ll have no problem choosing an underwater camera housing. If you’re a beginner and doubting whether you should be buying a housing and accessories now, test it out first. Join our underwater photography or underwater videography course in South Africa or Mozambique. It will give you all the necessary info and experience you need to decide whether you’d like to make a career out of it. After this decision, you can invest in your very own camera and underwater housing to get you started!

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Travel photography tips for beginners

Travel photography for beginners - Tips and tricks for better photographic results from your adventures. Document your travels beautifully with these tips.

The point of travel photography is to capture a setting in a way that, first of all, portrays a scene honestly. While still making the destination enticing. In order to give the viewer a glimpse into what it must be like to be there. So, travel bloggers often have to equip themselves with photography skills to add value to their writing. That is why I decided to these travel photography tips for beginners.Here are my top tips for travel photography if you are just starting out:Africa MediaAcademy

Building the next generation of wildlife and environmental media specialists

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The art of pitching an article to a magazine

This quick guide provides some insight into mastering the art of pitching an article to a magazine in the world of travel writing.

Managing your writing projects and magazine contacts as a travel journalist is one of the most important things we teach in our Travel and Environmental Journalism program. Another important skill is constantly developing your writing and pitching skills. With these tips on pitching an article to a magazine, you’re well on your way to becoming a pro freelancer. Be relentless in writing new stories, pitching them and getting your byline out there. That’s the best way to make a living as a travel journalist.

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10 things you should know about your DSLR settings (but probably don’t)

Read all about what photographer Fiona Ayerst says are the things you should know about your DSLR camera - top tips from Africa Media.

Through the teaching I have done over the past years I have noticed there are some things about cameras people don’t generally know, even people who have been to college. I find it amusing that people continually want bigger and better cameras but don’t realise their cameras can do all the things they are looking for; they just don’t know how to use them correctly. Don’t worry, I will not just say read the manual! If I had been told this stuff when I started out, it would have saved me years of practise.

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How to travel responsibly and sustainably.

If you are looking to improve your travels effect on the world around you this blog on how to travel ethically, responsibly and sustainably will help.

Traveling will make you rich, not necessarily with money but it will certainly fund you with a wealth of culture, respect and you will learn things about yourself you may have never been able to. Traveling is a privilege and for that reason we have to find ways to make our travels as sustainable and responsible as we can. In order to leave the destinations re-visitable and do our part by living sustainably. This article translates why you should and how you can travel responsibly and sustainably.

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Academy programs

We offer awesome opportunity's for media students looking to do a month-long journalism, film or photography skills development program abroad: wildlife media programs with Africa Media in South Africa. http://www.africa-media.org/internship/

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10 wildlife filmmaking jobs essential for every professional crew

Wildlife filmmaking jobs are highly coveted. Discover the essential positions in the industry and how you can become an vital crew member

Wildlife filmmaking jobs are highly prized in the filmmaking industry. Today, with reduced budgets there’s a significant cross-over between wildlife filmmaking jobs in a crew. Camera operators can also be the directors and so can producers. Occasionally, the camera operator is also the producer. Assistant producers can double up as directors and researchers as talent. But for those of you looking to find your niche in wildlife filmmaking, here are some of the most common and useful roles in the industry! This article describes some of the essential wildlife filmmaking jobs for every professional crew.

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10 Problems with lazy travel writing

The rules of journalism apply to all aspects of writing. As a travel journalist, here are the 10 problems I have with lazy travel writing.

In this article, Peter Greenberg, internationally acclaimed journalist and Travel Editor at CBS News, shares his thoughts on the shortcomings of many travel stories being published today. His advice not only applies to travel writing, but to any kind of expression in the written word – whether you like to blog, write for your college newspaper, or just want to share a few thoughts on facebook – consider his thoughts before hitting the publish button.

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How wildlife films can change the world

Wildlife films have the power to influence the minds and actions of those who watch them. Here are eight ways that wildlife films can change the world.

You see them on National Geographic and BBC Earth. Even when nobody is watching, you can always leave them playing on the living room TV, because no-one will turn it off. They are a beautiful and educational art form that has inspired people for decades. Wildlife films are powerful tools for spreading information about nature and animals. What’s more, they also have the power to influence the minds and actions of those who watch them. Here are seven ways that wildlife films can change the world.

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Environmental and Travel Journalism

Environmental journalism training internship program in the heart of south Africa. Explore Africa on a 1-month environmental and travel journalism program. Call: [phone].

Learn how to research and produce written content, and receive guidance in establishing a successful career in the fields of environmental journalism and travel writing.

Environmental journalism and travel writing are both powerful tools to advocate for the natural world and to inform the general public on ways to travel sustainably and how to best experience the wonders of nature. Join us to learn invaluable new skills, especially practical ones. You’ll revel in our unique environment, travel and culture locations and wildlife. You can experience firsthand what to expect as you embark upon a career as a journalist. Let our team work with you to put into words the wonders and challenges our world faces.

To be a successful journalist you must have an understanding of: current environmental concerns; environmental policy decisions; scientific studies; have knowledge of historical environmental events and, above all else, possess an enquiring and curious mind.

Learn how to become a successful and environmental or travel writer, setting yourself up for an incredible career of travel and adventure. You’ll have the career that everyone else dreams of.

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Your first draft is not terrible.

It is not any sort of insulting name you call it.

It is a baby.  A young, inexperienced baby that might throw up on your shirt and cause you to lose sleep at night but you love it all the same and will patiently feed it and tuck it into bed at night with a kiss no matter what happens.

You do not call a baby stupid or awful because they are new to the world and do not have the ability or knowledge to function on their own.  Instead, you nurture and teach them so they grow up smart and strong and capable.

Such it is with a first draft.  A first draft is not bad because it needs care and attention. Don’t insult it because it is newly written down with ideas that are not yet fully formed.  In fact, that is the reason why it is AMAZING.  It’s a DRAFT!  The FIRST one for the story!  LOOK at it!  It exists!  It is ALIVE!  And it is YOURS, this story you made.  

So be proud of your first draft baby and, most importantly, be proud of yourself. 

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Basic underwater photography camera settings

Whether you’re shooting wide-angle or macro, there are ways to optimise your images with both a compact and a DSLR camera.

These are the camera settings for macro and wide-angle to get you started on either your compact or DSLR.

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Advice on building a wildlife photography portfolio

This simple guide on building a wildlife photography portfolio will help you handle this crucial business aspect with the skill and ease of a professional.

The myth: wildlife photography is a life of adventure, inspiring wildlife encounters and easy photo sales. The reality: it’s all true! However, it’s also hard work. It’s only about 55% inspiration and adventure, and it requires a lot of time and admin. Even compiling a portfolio to showcase your work, is a challenging task. It’s actually one of the most important things you need to do as a photographer. That’s why we’ve compiled this simple guide on building a wildlife photography portfolio. It will help you handle this crucial business aspect with the skill and ease of a professional.

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Mastering freshwater underwater photography

Freshwater underwater photography is a photography field in its own right. Even though you use the same skills and equipment for it.

Many believe that underwater photography is only done in the ocean. But, this is not the case! Freshwater underwater photography is a creative field in its own right. Even though you use the same skills and equipment as with ocean photos. Lakes, rivers, dams and underground lakes all have plenty of beautiful underwater life. If you want to try something new, here are some tips you can keep in mind to take some fantastic freshwater photos.

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Wildlife photography tips: Make the most of natural light

Three factors influence how natural light renders a subject: time of day, camera direction and weather. Here are some tips on how to optimise these factors.

Paying more attention to natural light is perhaps the single most important step to improve your photography. With many landscapes, having good natural lighting can even be more important than the choice of subject itself. Different types of natural light produce a wide variety of subject appearances — even though these all have the same light source. Learn how to achieve the right light for your subject by using the unique qualities of your particular time of day and weather.

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Blogging in 2020 and beyond

Blogging in 2020 and beyond. How to ensure your blog survives and thrives the new challenges and changes to the blogging industry as a new blogger.

Keeping ahead of the pack is getting increasingly difficult as the blog market introduces more and more new bloggers to the scene. But is blogging in 2020 a waste of time? Certainly not! You can still create a successful blog today so long as you start with a strong foundation and keep consistent. Here are my top tips for blogging in 2020 and beyond.