Welcome to October 2010!

Yeah yeah, I know it is a little late but only a few days!

As you know, at the beginning of each month you get to download an African wildlife wallpaper for your computer directly from Photo-Africa.  All the following images were captured in the Madikwe Game Reserve and features real wild animals.  No zoos.  No cages.  This is real African wildlife photography.

Like always, each of the following three downloads includes a handy desktop calendar and is available in two sizes.  The large version of each image is sized at 2560 x 1600 and the smaller one 1280 x 800.

Hope you enjoy!

October 2010 – Wallpaper #1

The giraffe must be one of the most quintessentially African animals out there.  This one was walking along an open field making for a great African moment.  Click on the image to download the large version or click here to download the smaller version.

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October 2010 – Wallpaper #2

Right up there with truly African animals is the Zebra.  This little dazzle kept us busy one morning as they grazed in some amazing morning light.  Click on the image to download the large version or click here to download the smaller version.

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October 2010 – Wallpaper #3

This photograph of a Lioness was great in color but just felt right as a soft, glowing sepia image.  Click on the image to download the large version or click here to download the smaller version.

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Feel free to share these wallpapers with your friends and family!  Let me know which one is your favorite!

Bye 4 now!

Gerry

As you might know, 24 July 2010 is Worldwide Photo Walk day!

Last year I lead the photo walk at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town but this year decided to keep it a little closer to home!  To that end, I will be leading a photo walk in Melville, Johannesburg.  For more info, or to sign up for the walk,  you can click here.

If you are not quite sure about this ‘photo walk thing’, here is a quick run down, as per the Worldwide Photo Walk site.

“So, what exactly is a photo walk?

You take yourself and a camera to a designated meeting place to meet up with other photographers, then venture out into an area and snap away! Walk around taking pictures for a couple of hours, then gather at a restaurant, bar, or other eatery/drinkery, and compare, share, discuss, and have a good time. Then, if you want, submit your favorite photos from the day to the leader of your photo walk to be put in the running for the GRAND PRIZE!

What are the benefits of going on a photo walk? If it’s an area that you’re already familiar with, being there with a group of creative people can help you see things in ways you hadn’t noticed before. Or if it’s an area you’re unfamiliar with, you can get to know the area with other people who may have lived there all their lives! But the best part is that you get to meet fellow photographers, make new friends, and have fun!

What do you need to bring? Yourself and a camera. Doesn’t matter what kind. If you want to come with a cell phone, go for it. If you want to show up with a top-of-the-line camera and an assortment of lenses and accessories, great. Just remember that it is a photo walk, so what you bring with you, you’ll be carrying the entire time. Personally, I would recommend bringing fairly minimal gear that’s versatile so you don’t have to change lenses every five minutes. Oh, and money for food and/or drink at the end of the photo walk. Wouldn’t want you to starve

We’re looking forward to a great day of fun, photography, and forming new friendships across the world. As of this posting we have over 370 walks (a number of which are already full), and over 5,300 participants signed up since the Photo Walk was announced!”

If you have never done a photo walk, here are some tips and things to keep in mind to help you prepare.

- This is not a training session or seminar, it’s a social event.  
While you may pick up some tips or tricks during the event, the main purpose of the event is to meet fellow photographers and have fun taking pictures.

- You might consider bringing just one lens since you’ll be walking around for a while. It’s up to you if you want to bring a lot of gear, but keep in mind that you’ll be carrying it the whole time.

- Bring your point and shoot!  Don’t worry if you don’t have a big fancy camera.

- If you do want to learn more about photography, you might consider letting people know before the walk begins that you’re a newbie and would like to tag along with a pro if they don’t mind.

- Bring sunscreen if you’re going to be out in the sun during your walk, as well as appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes.

- Check out the map on your Photo Walk page to familiarize yourself before the walk.

- The contest is open to anyone who registers for the photo walk, but you do not have to participate if you don’t want to.

- Each local walk winner will receive a free book from Scott Kelby, and the prizes for the overall winners are listed here.

All the images in this post were taken during last year’s photo walk.  Great fun and an amazing way to ‘share’ photography.

If you own a camera, any camera, and have nothing better to do on the morning of Saturday 24 July, why not join us?  Click on the logo below to sign up for more info!

Bye 4 now!

Gerry

Welcome to June!

Amazing how fast this year is going and with everything going on I can see the remainder of this year flying by as well. Photo workshops, photographic safaris, new business partners just to name a few.

With so many things to juggle it is quite a challenge to keep you focus on the important things.  You see, some of the future plans I am currently working on includes a number of items that have been on my photographic bucket list for quite some time which make for a lot of amazing photographic prospects on the horizon.

It is important… no, imperative that you stay on top of the business side of things and not get swept up in the romance of all the photographic possibilities.  Yeah, those moments are what makes it all worthwhile and why we do what we do but still.  You have to keep the focus.  Difficult sometimes and feels like (and is) a lot of work, but important to keep the focus.  With everything going on, so far so good!

Right, with that out of the way I am still in the fortunate position to photograph African wildlife on almost daily basis and that brings us to this months free wallpaper downloads.  All of the following subjects were photographed in the wild, in their natural environment, and you can now download the desktop calendar wallpapers for free.

Simply choose your favorite, click on the image, or on the link below the image for a smaller version, and save it to you PC or iPhone. Done!

Here goes with June’s free wallpaper downloads.  Enjoy!

June 2010 – Wallpaper #1

I photographed this Wild Dog a few weeks ago in Madikwe.  We sat watching the pack for a good 30 minutes or so as they played around our vehicle before they took off into the bush.  In post production I dropped the greens and added a very soft glow and feint warm tint to the image to end up with the final product.  To download the large version (2560 x 1600) click on the image or click here to download the small version (1280 x 800).

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June 2010 – Wallpaper #2

Late afternoon in the African busy is a magical time.  The afternoon after I shot the Wild Dog image above we found a young female leopard.  Well, actually see found us as we pretty much bumped into each other on the road.    Little by little she led us to a large leadwood tree where she stashed a kill from the previous evening.  Watching her climb the tree and feed off the impala was amazing but this scene made for such an amazing moment that it just had to one of this month’s wallpaper choices.  To download the large version (2560 x 1600) click on the image or click here to download the small version (1280 x 800).

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June 2010 – Wallpaper #3

This image from Kerry de Bruyn shows another great moment.  African sunsets are amazing on their own but when you add a silhouette it just goes to that next level.  To download the large version (2560 x 1600) click on the image or click here to download the small version (1280 x 800).

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June 2010 – iPhone Wallpaper #1

Was hoping to catch the Purple Roller as he took off but after a while it became apparent that he had no immediate plans to go anywhere soon.  Luckily these colorful birds are strikingly beautiful even when they are sitting still.   To download this image click here.

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June 2010 – iPhone Wallpaper #2

Giraffe silhouette against an African sky,  Enough said.  To download this image click here.

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June 2010 – iPhone Wallpaper #3

I decided to add this one as a part of Bush Warriors Rhino Week. It is very sad that these beautiful giants are under serious threat from poaching and human greed.  To download this image click here.

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There you go.  Free wallpapers for your desktop and iPhone but why stop there!

Below are two more free wildlife wallpapers from Andrew Beck from Moya Wa Tenga Safaris.  During the next few weeks you will be reading a whole lot more about Moya Wa Tenga here on Photo-Africa.  Some very exciting collaborations coming up so watch this space!

Love the late afternoon feel of this one.  Great use of lines also lead your eye down from the mountain to the tree and then to the lone elephant.

Single subject plus great use of color makes for a fantastic wildlife image captured in Madikwe.

To download any of Andrew’s desktop wallpapers simply click on either of the above two images which will take you to the Moya Wa Tenga site where you will find download instructions.

I hope you enjoy this month’s wallpapers and please feel free to share them with your friends and family. Also, please take a moment to let us know which is your favorite!

See you tomorrow!

Gerry

A day early but since I am not going to have time tomorrow, here goes with the wallpaper downloads for April 2010.

I had my wallpapers all finalized and ready but during the last two weeks I have had a blast photographing in and around Johannesburg and the Krugersdorp Game Reserve so I decided to include a few of these as well.  I reckon this is quite a nice mix of images that you can download for free to use as desktop wallpapers or on your iPhone during April 2010.  Even if I have to say so myself.

Later today I will be updating the 5 slideshow images at the top of the site but for now scroll down to choose your favorite desktop image.

April Wallpaper #1

The first wallpaper this month is an abstract of color and textures.  It shows a close up of the Grey Crowned Crane featured in this post. To download the large version (2560×1600) of this wallpaper simply click on the image or alternatively click here to download the smaller version (1280×800).

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April Wallpaper #2

This image was featured in ‘Worth Another Look‘ and it was just begging to be used as a wallpaper.  I did a little more processing on the image and added a very feint blue tint leaving quite an arty elephant scene.  To download the large version (2560×1600) of this wallpaper simply click on the image or alternatively click here to download the smaller version (1280×800).

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April Wallpaper #3

Not wildlife, but I just had to include this.  Being in Johannesburg for a while I was up early and needed something to do at 05h00 in the morning.  Climbed on the roof, waited for the light over the city skyline and captured a sunrise over the city of gold.  To download the large version (2560×1600) of this wallpaper simply click on the image or alternatively click here to download the smaller version (1280×800).

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April iPhone Wallpaper #1

I shot photographed this zebra in the Krugesrdorp Game Reserve.  Click here to download this image for your iPhone.

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April Iphone Wallpaper #2

Ostrich in open grasslands.  Click here to download this image for your iPhone.

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April iPhone Wallpaper #3

Ground squirrel feeding.  Click here to download this image for your iPhone.

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There you go.  Download your favorite, send it to your friends and family and then let me know which one is your favorite for April 2010!

See ya tomorrow!

Gerry

Welcome to February!

With the year well underway it’s time for this month’s free wallpapers.  The first three are for your desktop and, as mentioned in a previous post, I have also included three wallpapers for your iPhone and yeah… it’s free.  No cost!  Nothing!  All you have to do is download your favorite image, use it as your desktop and (hopefully) tell everybody to come and get there free downloads as well.  To download simply scroll down, pick your favorite and click on the appropriate link.  Done!

Here goes with my choices of desktop and iPhone wallpapers for February 2010.

February Wallpaper #1

If you have ever experienced an African sunset you will know that it seems to lasts forever.  It is an absolutely fantastic time of day and this image shows just a little bit of that magic.  To download the large version (2560×1600) click on the image above or alternatively click here for the small version (1280×800).

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February Wallpaper #2

In  most game reserves in Africa you will get fantastic elephant sightings.  After you have all your normal elephant shots look for different angles, zoom in or focus on a specific body part.  This image shows the trunk as the big guy was trying to get our scent.  To download the large version (2560×1600) click on the image above or alternatively click here for the small version (1280×800).

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February Wallpaper #3

I know this is not a wildlife image but with all the great images I got during our trip to Bangkok I thought I’d throw one into the mix.  I shot the above image just as we entered the Grand Palace.  The size, detail and absolute splendor of this place is difficult to explain.  It is truly an ancient wonder and a photographers playground.  I shot the above image at a very wide focal length of 10mm to try and get as much visual elements into one frame.  You can see the obvious distortion in the image but I think it actually works to have all the elements pulling together.  To download the large version (2560×1600) click on the image above or alternatively click here for the small version (1280×800).

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Iphone Wallpaper #1

About as African as you can get – a giraffe silhouette at sunrise.  Click on the image to download this image for your iPhone.

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iPhone Wallpaper #2

A monochrome image of a male Waterbuck.  This image was ok in color but the black & white brings the texture of the thick fur alive.  Click on the image to download this image for your iPhone.

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iPhone Wallpaper #3

When a male Buffalo stares at you, you know about it.  This image shows an old boy with water still dripping from his mouth after having a drink.  Click on the image to download this image for your iPhone.

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As always I look forward to hearing which one you chose and why!  To view these and previous desktop and iPhone wallpapers click here and use the password – thisisfree

Later today Adele and I leave for the Drakensberg to complete a hotel shoot that was rained out last week.  So far all forecasts are looking good so looking forward to getting back to the mountains for a few days.  The hotel is fantastic and the scenery in and the around the mountain breathtaking.  Hmm… landscapes!  I have already loaded the post for tomorrow in which I look at the five new images at the top of the site.  You might by now have noticed that these slideshow images get updated every month so tomorrow I share thoughts on why I chose these specific ones.

Enjoy the wallpapers, send this link to all your friends and family so they can also get their free wallpapers and I will be back on Wednesday.

Bye 4 now!

Gerry