One of the most difficult things about creating bird portraits is getting close enough. I spent yesterday in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve with the specific goal of photographing birds. Even though it is the middle of winter, the amount of this water in this picturesque reserve makes for amazing bird watching and therefore, bird photography. [...]
Time off is a great thing. And perspective is even better! You see, even though I spend most my time working in a Big 5 game reserve it is, contrary to popular belief, not a full time holiday. Yes, our neighbors include lions and elephants and the sunsets seems to last forever but at times [...]
White Crowned Shrike Madikwe Game Reserve, 10 May 2010, 16h46 Nikon D300, Nikon 80-200 @125mm, 1/4000, f/3.5, ISO 200 ___________________________ Bird photography is about patience and luck. You need to be willing to sit, watch and wait. A few weeks ago we sat watching this White Crowned Shrike, willing him to move. As luck would [...]
Cape Longclaw (Macronyx capensis) Krugersdorp Game Reserve, 29 March 2010, 15h46 Nikon D300, Nikon 200-400 @ 400mm, 1/800, f/4, ISO 400 ___________________________ Up until this shot I never had a chance to photograph a Cape Longclaw. They either drop into the grass as soon as you tame aim or I just did not have the [...]
The bird photographer is an interesting species. We can spend hours inside bird hides, next to dams, or in a car, patiently waiting for that perfect opportunity to come along. It’s the challenge that intrigues us, as well as the satisfaction combined with a sense of achievement when capturing the bird in that spectacular posture. [...]
We often overlook the small things when we head out into the field. I have said it before and I am sure I will say it again. The Big 5 are absolutely amazing to photograph but too many people get so obsessed with them but this obsession can lead to many missed photo opportunities. Make [...]
Juvenile Pale Chanting Goshawk Madikwe Game Reserve, 18 April 2010, 09h58 NIkon D300, Nidkon 80-200 @ 135mm, 1/2500, f/4, ISO 200 ___________________________ I love birding and but bird photography is a whole different ballgame. I have not done a lot of bird photography but every now and then an opportunity comes long just demands photographic [...]
In wildlife photography can either aim to shoot documentary type images or lean more towards the fine art side of things. And then you get shots like this… Yeah, this morning on our coffee stop we were joined by three young lions. After stopping in an open clearing for some coffee after a great morning [...]
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 [...]
Grey Crowned Crane Krugersdorp Game Reserve, 28 March 2010, 16h11 Nikon D300, Nikon 200-400 @ 270mm, 1/1000, f/4, ISO 400 ___________________________ The last two days have been fantastic from a photography point of view. I got the opportunity to shoot a number of subjects in very different surroundings to what I normally do and it [...]
Late in the Day Madikwe Game Reserve, 9 October 2009, 17h56 Nikon D50, Nikon 70-300 @ 220mm, 1/30, f/5.6, ISO 200 ____________________________________ Found this image from a few years ago while I was busy backing up my old catalogues. Sat at the exact same waterhole a few days ago but no chance of getting anything [...]
Known locally as Ingwe, meaning “pure sovereignty”, the leopard can still be found on farmland as well as other habitats throughout Southern Africa where they co-exist with their human neighbours depending on the attitudes of both parties. Game Reserves that are inadequate in size to hold most big cats such as lion and cheetah, show [...]
Louis Psihoyos, Director of the most awarded and ultimately successful Activist Film to date ‘The Cove’ said it best for me when he exclaimed … “You are either an Activist or an Inactivist. I chose to become active”. Well, some years back I tipped into this very Active Mode when my Camera Lens no longer [...]
A name that is certainly not unfamiliar in the natural world, is “The Kalahari”. Many people, although they haven’t been there, have heard about this strange hinterland where African bushveld merges with Namib desert in a marriage that produces one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. Covering a massive 900,000 square kilometers and [...]
Welcome to September! Before we get going with this month’s free wallpaper downloads, a big thanks to Brendon Cremer for his guest post yesterday. I am sure you will agree – that is about as good a leopard photography gets! Truly spectacular photographs! Thanks for sharing! Make sure to go and check out Brendon’s site [...]
Welcome to August! I am sure that by now you know how this works. If not, it’s simple. Simply scroll down, choose your favorite image, click to download and save. Simple as that and the best part, apart from the handy little calendar – it’s free! I will be posting a few iPhone wallpapers in [...]
