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With help from the congolese ngo H.E.L.P. Congo and the french H.E.L.P. International I could explore and photograph a small piece of the Conkouati-Douli National Park, situated in the south of the republic or Congo. It was great because I managed my time myself and there wasn't before a nature photographer in here. Even the well-known wildlife photographer Michael 'Nick' Nichols, who works for national geographic is interested in this park.
It wasn't an easy job. At the start I had the help from a guide, but after a while I explored the forest myself. I could use also the logistics of the ngo: motorboat, climbing material, wood... My starting point was most of the time the junglecamp 'le triangle'. I used a little digital camera for taking pictures of leafs and fruit, eaten by chimpansees (Nikon Coolpix 5700, sponsored by De Beuckelaar) . For the real stuff, like taking pictures of elephants or gorilla's, I took my own analog stuff (250 films fuji sponsored by Metropolis Antwerp).
Download here some adventures I've experienced in the jungle.
I returned two years later to the park as a volunteer for the ngo H.E.L.P. Congo. The project of exploring and photographing the wild nature wasn't finished. I saw the first time a lot of animals, but taking pictures of it was very hard. That's why I returned.
My stay in the park passed totally different than I expected. The dry season wasn't that good, because it was most of the time cloudy and for the tropics cold. You find a lot of big animals, but when there's no light ... Also the insects and frogs were hidden ... And I had bad luck with my equipment : a broken tripod, two flashes demolished, fungi in several lenses, ... But no panic, I'm glad I can show you some nice pictures, even when it wasn't that easy.
I want to say that Metropolis Antwerp has given again 250 films fuji.
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