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Mark Alberhasky: Pro Photographer Goes on a Photo Safari to Kenya

© Mark Alberhasky Loading...

© Mark Alberhasky

D3; AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED; 1.8000 sec.; f/9.5; 24mm Focal length; 3D Color Matrix Metering II; No flash; Manual mode; 0 EV; ISO 640

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Last fall Mark Alberhasky took part in a three-week photo trek to Kenya. Which is a bit unusual. As a professional photographer and photo instructor, you'd think it more likely that Mark would be leading a photo trek rather than joining one as a student.

But in Mark's career, "likely" isn't a word that turns up very often.

Seven years ago, Dr. Mark Alberhasky, chief pathologist and director of the pathology lab at a Kentucky hospital, decided it was time to pursue his long-time passion for photography. He made the change, and today he's a successful pro shooter and a skilled photography teacher.

So why the photo trek?

"I've always wanted to photograph wildlife in Africa, and this seemed like the best way," Mark says. "The thing is, my professional photography career is a very short one. I started late in life, and the experience I have to draw on is mainly from my medical career—and, if you're smart, one of the things you learn as a young physician is that you don't know it all. And you learn, also, to take advantage of the expertise that's around you."

Believing that "the quickest way to learn is from somebody who's really good at it," Mark did some research. "I got on the Internet, went through all the different photo safaris and found Joe and Mary Ann McDonald's website."

Mark liked their philosophy. "They basically say, don't come with us if your idea of shooting safari wildlife is, oh, there's a lion...we got the picture...now where's the zebra? If they find a pride of lions, they're going to get great shots by sitting there for three hours and observing their behavior and seeing how they interact.