Quest Overseas - Gap Year Travel

This week we are starting with some simple terminology that will greatly affect how you go about taking any photo.  It doesn’t mater what kind of camera you have the same principles apply.

Shutter speed – the length of time the shutter is open for.  The longer it is open the more light is let in which is preferable in poor light conditions, however this will increase the chance of blur in the photo.

Aperture – is the size of the hole in the lens that lets light into the camera.  Aperture affects the depth of field of a photograph.  A small hole will concentrate the rays of light hitting the sensor/film and so more of the photo will be in focus creating a large depth of field.

Focal Length - measurement that determines the magnification and field of view of a lens.  This will be in millimeters on SLR cameras and zoom on compact digital.  3X zoom is equivalent to 35 – 105mm.  Focal length over 100mm is considered telephoto.

Depth of field - the distance in front of and behind the subject that appears to be in focus.

Mt. Meru lies just outside the city of Arusha in Tanzania.  It is the third largest mountain in Sub saharan Africa (after Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro) and is an active stratovolcano.  The climb takes just 3 days to the summit at 4562.13m over steep rocky terrain.  The views of the ash crater and Kilimanjaro to the east are spectacular.  It is necessary for groups to be accompanied by an armed Ranger due to the buffalo that freely range Arusha National Park.

Ascending via the worlds 3rd highest cliff face

Always ready to throw himself at every opportunity, he never misses a trick.

Since the time of the conquistadors, the legend of an ancient, lost civilisation deep in the Amazon forest has beguiled hundreds of explorers and led many to their deaths. Some called their dream El Dorado. Others, most notably Colonel Percy Fawcett, the gloriously moustached British explorer (and real-life model for Indiana Jones) named it the City of Z. But no one has ever returned from the Amazon with conclusive proof that such a place existed.

With the imminent departure of our first Bolivia 2010 going overseas we are awash in the office with excitement. Not only will they be learning the language and the culture but they will be providing much needed help in the new animal park of Jacjcuisi. Followed by heading off into the great unknown with the more than capable Mr. Matt Brimble our Bolivian Country Director.

They will be spending their time between the two parks of Jacjcuisi and Machia. Though excited for them all I am also insanely jealous!

Here are a few friendly faces they are likely to meet