151 photos
Mike Kirkinis grew up in a number of countries and was educated at international schools around the world. By the age of 18 he had lived in some of the world’s great cities; Athens, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Rio amongst them.
He began his photography at the age of 12 after having hijacked his father's 1964 Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, and by then setting up his own darkroom for school projects. He has learnt his photography right up from the very basics, starting off by developing his own films, and printing his own photographs.
His favorite cameras are by far his 1954 Leica M3 and the Leica M8 & new M9 digital cameras, combined with several superb Leica lenses. His collection includes antique Visoflex II & III mounts along with a number of 50 to 60 year-old Leica lenses, which he often drags around Africa with him.
He also uses a Sony Alpha 700 DSLR, with a couple of Zeiss lenses including a one-off DIY modified Zeiss 300mm f2.8 Tele Apotessar. This manual focus lens is his favorite lens for wildlife photography, delivering amazing results.
"I really enjoy the challenge of photographing my subjects with a manual focus lens, and manually setting the exposure. It can be extremely frustrating at times, but when you do get it right the reward and feeling of satisfaction is absolutely fantastic! This is where digital photography opens up immense opportunities other than simply point and shoot. The ability to instantly view a photograph and to make the necessary corrections and learn from one's mistakes is simply amazing.
I feel that in order for us to excel at what we do we must constantly set ourselves challenges and keep pushing ourselves further. I believe that with digital photographic equipment and software it's all become too easy, with auto focus and "auto everything", somehow there's the danger that we'll lose touch with the art of photography itself."
All the photographs on this website have been taken with manual focus lenses and in most cases with manual exposure settings.
All of the animals depicted on this website have been photographed in their natural habitat and in their natural wild state.
In the early 90's Mike started Passage To Africa, one of Southern Africa's leading photographic safari operations, to cater for the growing luxury safari market, and to allow him the opportunity of spending more time in Africa’s wilderness.
One of the safari industry’s leading personalities, Mike is involved in both the marketing of extraordinary safaris and in consulting to the ecotourism industry. Mike also plays an active role in the development of numerous rural community-based projects.
Equally at home in the bustle of New York and in the vast emptiness of the Namib Desert, Mike is very much the modern bushman. Raconteur, photographer, helicopter pilot, chef extraordinaire and committed conservationist, Mike also guides safaris for those who like the finer things in life.
He began his photography at the age of 12 after having hijacked his father's 1964 Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, and by then setting up his own darkroom for school projects. He has learnt his photography right up from the very basics, starting off by developing his own films, and printing his own photographs.
His favorite cameras are by far his 1954 Leica M3 and the Leica M8 & new M9 digital cameras, combined with several superb Leica lenses. His collection includes antique Visoflex II & III mounts along with a number of 50 to 60 year-old Leica lenses, which he often drags around Africa with him.
He also uses a Sony Alpha 700 DSLR, with a couple of Zeiss lenses including a one-off DIY modified Zeiss 300mm f2.8 Tele Apotessar. This manual focus lens is his favorite lens for wildlife photography, delivering amazing results.
"I really enjoy the challenge of photographing my subjects with a manual focus lens, and manually setting the exposure. It can be extremely frustrating at times, but when you do get it right the reward and feeling of satisfaction is absolutely fantastic! This is where digital photography opens up immense opportunities other than simply point and shoot. The ability to instantly view a photograph and to make the necessary corrections and learn from one's mistakes is simply amazing.
I feel that in order for us to excel at what we do we must constantly set ourselves challenges and keep pushing ourselves further. I believe that with digital photographic equipment and software it's all become too easy, with auto focus and "auto everything", somehow there's the danger that we'll lose touch with the art of photography itself."
All the photographs on this website have been taken with manual focus lenses and in most cases with manual exposure settings.
All of the animals depicted on this website have been photographed in their natural habitat and in their natural wild state.
In the early 90's Mike started Passage To Africa, one of Southern Africa's leading photographic safari operations, to cater for the growing luxury safari market, and to allow him the opportunity of spending more time in Africa’s wilderness.
One of the safari industry’s leading personalities, Mike is involved in both the marketing of extraordinary safaris and in consulting to the ecotourism industry. Mike also plays an active role in the development of numerous rural community-based projects.
Equally at home in the bustle of New York and in the vast emptiness of the Namib Desert, Mike is very much the modern bushman. Raconteur, photographer, helicopter pilot, chef extraordinaire and committed conservationist, Mike also guides safaris for those who like the finer things in life.
Copyright © Mike Kirkinis
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2.Juliet(non-registered)
I enjoyed looking at your Guestbook Photos - all wonderful. Thank you.
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