Photography Series
In the month of March, Londolozi is showcasing some of our best photography and photographers alike. This five part blog series will take readers behind some stunning imagery and discuss how the shot came to be. The episodes will delve into the stories behind images and the photographers who capture them. In this series we’ll be highlighting some tips and tricks that we hope will inspire you when capturing imagery of your own.
Chris Kane-Berman (Stoff)
Episode 2 of the series focuses on Chris Kane-Berman, more commonly known as Stoff. He always loved animals and wild spaces and knew that this was his calling. Chris’ love affair with Londolozi dates back 30 years. He has made his way from ranger to head ranger, general manager and is now our managing director. A father figure in our Londolozi family, he is central to the brilliance and character that is the Londolozi experience.
Stoff takes us way back to 1992 to the first leopard cub that he saw and photographed at Londolozi. Thirty years on he has amassed a wealth of imagery. He’s experienced multiple generations of leopard come and go whilst raising two children of his own. His understanding and love for Londolozi are unmatched and his perspective of the space is about as holistic as it gets.
In the beginning there was the mighty Tugwaan Female, mother to the very beloved 3:4 Female (Stoff was there!)
Stories of the Tugwaan Female are about as legendary as they come. Her reputation at Londolozi could be compared to that of Genghis Khan as she was fierce and often came exploding out of a bush. A ranger would be driving along and the Tugwaan Female would break out of cover in full charge at the vehicle, not batting an eyelid at the fact that it was a loud moving metal target. She was a daughter of the Mother Leopard and the mother of the 3:4 Female.
Excerpt:
In August of 1992, one dry winter afternoon, we were out on a drive and out of nowhere a leopard let out a roar and came barreling out of a thicket.
She did a quick charge then did something she had never done before, as she neared the vehicle she spun around, ran about 50 meters away and lay down.
We knew straight away who she was, the Tugwaan Female was not to be messed with and I wanted to get out of the area as soon as possible.
The Tugwaan Female lies with one of her two cubs. This was the first Leopard cub that Stoff saw and photographed in August of 1992 on Londolozi and the first time he was able to capture the Tugwaan female.
A daughter of the original Mother Leopard, the Tugwaan female was born in April of 1984.
Wisdom of the Tracker
But my tracker, Erence Inyati advised we give it a minute or two.
Let her calm down, Erence said
I sat quivering, wondering if we were being brave or just plain silly, whilst Erence perched on the tracker seat, scoured the area with his binoculars.
As a 19 year old, starting as a ranger at Londolozi, I was lucky enough to be paired with Erence. We had a lot of fun together and became good friends, he was one of the best trackers I’ve encountered in the industry.
Tracker Erence Inyati in 1992
As my shaking hands began to quell and I began to settle down, Erence calmly pointed out two small cubs hiding behind her in the grass. She didn’t move and I began to photograph her. This was the first time I was able to capture her (the Tugwaan Female), usually she’d be growling at the vehicle so you couldn’t get a shot.
Ranger and Tracker team Stoff and Erence in 1993
It was also the first time I saw and photographed a leopard cub at Londolozi. It was quite far away and not a spectacular shot but for me it’s always been about that moment and the memory attached.
Over the next 17 years Stoff witnessed the life of that incredible leopard cub that was to become know as the 3:4 Female.
The Tugwaan Female’s small new leopard cub captured on a film camera 1992
Unlike her mother she was not aggressive, she was an incredible leopard to view and worked her way into the hearts of all who visited. She took up territory in the centre of Londolozi, virtually the same area that was inhabited by her grandmother, The Mother Leopard and continued the royal lineage with three successful cubs.
The 3:4 Female sits on a boulder with her first litter of cubs. Stoff witnessed the highs and lows of this incredible leopard and remembers this as a particularly fond memory.
Born to the Tugwaan female in August 1992, this leopard would redefine the relationship between man and wild cat.
Stoff’s perspective on photography
The photographs captured by Stoff are nothing short of sheer brilliance. But he brought everything down to earth when discussing his perspective inside and outside of photography. His humble and genuine nature weaves its way into the fibre of this perspective. If there is someone who has “seen and done it”, it’s Stoff. However, he stands by the fact that his journey is a collection of the incredible people along the way. Whether it’s his incredible wife and family, or a special friend and tracker, or any number of mentors. His ears are always open to the new ideas and developments of the people around him. And its this uncanny ability that makes him an outstanding photographer and leader of our Londolozi family.
Over my 30 years working with the Varty’s I’ve been able to experience so much. I’d attend meetings in London and New York and the next day be meeting with local, rural farmers to establish a chicken farm. It has been a privilege to do so with camera in hand. It took me a while to get into photography, and I was lucky to have good mentors.
Understanding photography changed the way I took game drives. We were selling a photographic safari so to be a better ranger I needed to understand photography. And then I grew to love it.
For me, a great shot is about capturing a single moment. The history and relationship that developed over 17 years with the 3:4 Female. And for every moment I’ve been able to share with animals in these wild spaces. Now I have those interactions cemented in time, it’s special. I’ve never aspired to be a professional photographer, I’ve always done it as a hobby, to keep those memories and moments alive.
Stoff’s photography gadgets
Stoff has developed his photographic perspective alongside rapidly developing technology. His knowledge of gadgets and how they have developed really rounds his understanding of what he can do with cameras. It is incredible to see the development of the images he has captured. From being a 19 year old ranger and capturing his first leopard cub on a film camera in 1992. To today capturing all manner of species in the most incredible detail on all sorts of the latest technology.
Excerpt:
Gadgets have always helped me do what I love. From a technology point of view, if there is development, something better, I want to get it as it’ll make me better.
When I started we used slide film, and you couldn’t choose your ISO. So you bought the film and you had 36 shots. You couldn’t change those settings, as soon as new cameras came I was the first to put my hand up and buy it. And if an iPhone comes out I want to get it cause the camera is better than the last model.
I’ve always liked gadgets, and liked exploring with them. With rapidly developing tech, there is so much we could do to enhance the wildlife experience. If we get into the sound of the animals or night vision binoculars we could follow hunting lions at night with the lights turned off. The opportunities are endless!
“I currently use the Nikon D850, which is a 45 megapixel camera. And I’ll usually take two lenses, The 70-200mm f2.8 and the 200-400mm f4”
Londolozi’s photographic studio has a 600mm f4 and 800 mm f5.6 lens which I take birding whenever possible. Both are in a class of their own, the detail in that imagery is incredible!
I tend use my phone a lot, more and more with every new model coming out. It is incredible how the technology has developed. The phone is brilliant for videoing especially in low light or when something is happening quickly.
And finally the big debate and discussion that centres around mirrorless cameras, I haven’t gone there yet and still debating making the move but what is coming out now on the mirrorless front is amazing!
Concluding remarks
This draws to an end the photographic series episode 2 with Stoff Kane-Berman. A stalwart in the Londolozi family, a photographic genius who has lived the photographic evolution and of course Londolozi’s very own gadget guy. He has grown alongside Londolozi for 30 years and we cant wait to see what he does in this ever changing space!
Next up in the series we’ll look at people in nature, through the lens of marketing manager Amanda Ritchie. Amanda is a photography enthusiast and life coach, her understanding of people lies in a league of its own. She brings people into our wild spaces and captures incredible imagery where they meet. I look forward to continuing our photographic journey next week!
Learn more about Photographic Safari
At Londolozi, wildlife photography holds an important place. We use it as a way to reconnect with nature, with the animals that inhabit the Game Reserve with us. This is why this article isn’t the only one we written in this photography series. If ever you want to learn more about wildlife photography, please feel free to consult:
- Photography Series episode 1: The Ranger’s eye
- Photography series episode 3: People in nature
- Photography Series Episode 4 – Country and Critters
- Photography Series Episode 5: Londolozi’s Eye
If you want to know what wildlife photography is at Londolozi, check out our Photographic Safari experience page! Or find our what our ranger Nick Simms had to say about his experiences in photography
Really great photos! Interesting to see the ones of the late female leopards.
It really incredible to see the generations of leopard Christa. Also gives a real feel of just how much Stoff has witnessed in his time at Londolozi!
Tristan, We absolutely love this new series! It was wonderful to hear Stoff’s history at Londolozi and learn more about leopard lineage! He is such a special man and we always enjoy our time with him. Now we are even more impressed with his photographic skills! It was interesting to read about how his camera equipment has evolved, and his images are fabulous!! We have followed a similar path with our equipment and gadgets – always wanting the newest camera or iPhone. Please send Stoff our best regards!!!
Thank you very much Michael and Terri. It warms my soul to hear your kind words. Stoff is such a wealth of knowledge and an incredible photographer. I learnt so much about this special place and am thinking about writing another blog just on Stoff’s history at Londolozi, there is so much to tell. Great to hear there are more gadget wizards out there, and I’m sure your imagery is incredible. Will pass on your regards to Stoff!
Thank you SO much for sharing such precious memories and amazing pictures of leopards royal lineage! I watched the documentaries on such amazing creatures. I’m so glad they reach a very good age. The look of the 3:4 baby is incredible. She’s fantastic!
It really is a fantastic sight to see these memories. I felt privileged to tell Stoff’s story. Its really special to see the 3:4 female on a slide and gives a real feel of just how much history the Londolozi leopards hold!
Tristan it must be such an experience learning and working with the legendary Kane. He certainly has gained so much information that he has shared with you Rangers and us, much appreciated. The foto of the leopard cub in the rocky den is priceless, so beautiful. That is were all the stories started on the leopards from the mother leopard.
Valmai its truly incredible to learn from Stoff! It all stems from the Mother Leopard and the dynasty she created. I agree that the photo of the cub is really moving, it’s special to see an apex predator so small and vulnerable.
Nice change of pace Tristan. Stoff’s shot of the leopard at the pan is stellar!
Thank you Bob and Lucie. I fully agree with you on the pan shot, the intensity Stoff captures is just incredible!
I really like this new series on photography. Wonderful pictures, thanks.
Thank you very much William! It is so easy to put peoples passion on paper and I just can’t wait to get the next episode out.
I’m thoroughly enjoying your photography series Tristan and loved reading about Stoff’s journey from guide to Managing Director, all the while taking up photography as a serious hobby. His early slide photos of the Tugwaan female and her cubs are so special and classic images for the time.
I share his passion and interest in capturing images are are meaningful to oneself, not for profit, but for the love. I have moved through my own photo journey much like Stoff, beginning with film and slides, and acquiring my first little digital in 2006. Now I own the same Nikon as him, but bought a mirrorless Sony A7r4 to try something lighter and with eye tracking. Now that Nikon has released their own mirrorless, it’s only a matter of time and I’m sure Stoff will give it a go. I’m looking forward to your next feature on Amanda!!
I am very glad that you are enjoying the series Denise. You kind words inspire and I can’t help but feel excited for the episodes to come. It is incredible to hear the photographic journey that you are on and its inspiring to find people in search of meaning with their photography. Your holistic understanding of tech really does make me envious. I never got to work with film and slides and sometimes I feel I take our new cameras for granted. I look forward to connecting further over the passion of Amanda’s people photography and how she connects us all to wild spaces!
A really interesting blog Tristan. Loved the pics. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Leonie. I am glad that you liked the blog, and my hope is that you’ll follow along for the next episode!
Hi Tristan, Well that’s really bought back memories after 32 years and 20+ visits, many with Stoff and Erence who first introduced us to 3 4 ! Still have an amazing 3ft photo of her in our hallway! Feel very privileged to have been a very small part of the Londolozi Journey and hopefully not all over as looking forward to our return this November. Love to all. Joan and Derek Wright
I’m humbled to be in the presence of giants Derek and Joan. As our guests I feel you are far more than a small part, you are our Londolozi journey. It is incredible to hear that you have been visiting for 32 years and I’m sure you would have incredible stories of 3:4! I have heard she was such an incredible leopard. Keep well and the Londolozi family will be waiting with open arms in November!
Thanks for providing a small selection of Stoff’s portfolio. I remember a conversation we had with Stoff telling me about the new Nikon D850. As soon as I landed back home I managed to get the only D850 on Hong Kong island. Still my go to camera (and the 300mm 2.8 that I used to have to “borrow” from Stoff during my visits to Londolozi)!
Hey Al, yeah as you said just scratching the surface of his portfolio. We are looking to doing a historical piece of his life at Londolozi, we felt it deserved its own blog! Glad to hear that you got your hands on the D850! Such an incredible piece of equipment, the detail in those shots are just breathtaking.
Loved this blog Tristan and the story behind Stoff’s life at Londolozi…..certainly takes me back to my rather poor photo I got of my first leopard at Londolozi 40 years ago…so bad that no one can recognize who it was at the time 😁. Stoff has come a long way, unlike myself and has created some superb photos. I look forward to the next episode 🙏🏻
Hello Cally, I’m glad that you enjoyed the blog! And I relate to you as I recall trying to capture a leopard though binoculars with my phone camera. The results were not what I hoped. I’m sure that you have some good imagery. And if not I promise give it a bit of time, read the series, get some tips from friends. You’ll be capturing great shots in no time