I’m not a celebrity ... but get me out of here anyway

I arrived in Borneo on Sunday and headed straight to our camp in Sabah. It’s hot (around 35-degrees) and, worse, humid (about 90%). Dehydration is a constant problem and there are biting bugs and insects everywhere (not to mention snakes - we were greeted at camp by a black cobra). Borneo is, perhaps, better known for its surviving populations of orang utans. However, for this leg of the trip I am concentrating on an equally endangered but less known species, the proboscis monkey. Close to camp there are three groups - two family groups and a group of bachelor males - of these strange-looking but oddly alluring creatures, with their long, protruding snouts and wrinkled old-man looks. The photography starts in ernest tomorrow.

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Chris’s kit bag

I often get asked what equipment I use. Here’s a summary of my main gear, although the exact contents of my photo pack will depend on where I’m going and what I’m photographing.

Cameras: Nikon D3, D2X and D300
Lenses: Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 VR, 70-200 f/2.8 VR, 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 VR, 200-400 f/4 VR; Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 macro
Flash: Nikon SB800 and Metz 58 AF-I
Tripods: Gitzo and Velbon Sherpa Pro CF 730
Filters: Hoya (various)
Digital: Giga Vu Evolution portable storage, MacBook Pro laptop
Binoculars: Steiner Wildlife PRO
Camera bags: Tamrac Expedition 8, Crumpler Full Photo and Domke FX-1

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Borneo & Sumatra: Plans are in place

After weeks of planning and researching, everything is now finalised for my assignment to Borneo and onwards to Sumatra, Indonesia. I’ll be flying with BA to Singapore on the 11th, and then onto Sandakan, via Kuala Lumpur, meeting up with my consultant on the 13th. I’ll be arriving in Sumatra later in the month. My mobile broadband is now working, so I’m hoping to keep in touch while I’m away. Stay tuned for all the news and events from the field.

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