Morning food
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 1D Mark III | 600mmf/4 + 1.4tc | 1/250sec at f/8, ISO 1250
Thursday, February 16, 2012
MORNING FOOD
Kudu is perhaps one the most elegant antelope in Africa. They are leaf eaters and despite its thorns, the acacia tree with its soft small green leaves is a favorite. I found this female kudu enjoying the leaves of an acacia that had been washed clean by the morning's rain. The dark bushes behind her provided the perfect backdrop to accentuate the expression on the kudu's face and the freshness of the leaves.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
FRESH
Water means life, and this is especially true in the dry regions of Southern Africa. The Etosha National Park in Namibia is often associated with dry arid landscapes. During two months of good summer rainfall however, the landscape is transformed into a green paradise. A herd of springbok were grazing on the open plains close to Gemsbokvlakte waterhole when the setting sun illuminated the drizzling clouds on the horizon in a beautiful orange colour.
Fresh
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Canon 1D Mark III | EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | 1/160sec at f/5.6, ISO 400
Monday, February 13, 2012
BEFORE THE STORM
Having visited the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya on numerous occasions, the plan for this photographic safari was to capture unique and unusual images of elephants. Famous for big skies and open rolling landscapes, the Masai Mara lends itself to spectacular sightings of nature in its wildest form. We were lucky to find a herd of breeding elephants walking across the plains with an approaching thunderstorm as the perfect backdrop to capture a mesmerizing moment in time.
Elephant mother and calf
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Canon 1D Mark III | EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM | 1/400sec at f/11, ISO 640
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
MASHATU WINTER BLISS
The dry season in Mashatu usually means good game sightings. The dry conditions force animals to congregate at the last remaining waterholes. Our recent photographic workshop to Mashatu in June always had the prospect of good sightings, but nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to see. The sightings and photographic opportunities were not just good, they were phenomenal!
One of the highlights on our first afternoon drive was to try different lighting techniques on a pair of lions with the vehicles' spotlights. Everyone had fun mastering backlit/rim, side and front lighting. The next morning we were out early and found a hyena den close to camp - a big clan with lots of youngsters that were playing outside the den each morning until late. Mashatu also delivered the usual specials with large breeding herds of elephants, including a day-old baby still with a piece of its umbilical cord attached, good bird photographic opportunities and the normal plains game.
One afternoon we stumbled upon a small pan with about 30 foraging glossy ibises. These usually bland subjects looked spectacular in the late afternoon sun. That was exactly the type of photography that gets my heart racing - making ordinary subjects look spectacular. They were surprisingly accommodating and allowed us to get very close to them - out of the vehicle and onto the ground for that low angle perspective.
You know that a trip is going well when a sighting of lions fighting with hyenas are not even considered the highlight of the weekend. On the second morning's drive we followed the same male and female lion we saw on our first game drive and observed how they wandered too close to the hyena den. The whole clan of eight adult hyenas grouped together and started harassing the trespassers. The young male's temper flared up in a number of sequences that offered first class action photography opportunities as he defended himself.
A female leopard with three cubs have been in the area for our entire stay and we were dying to get a good look at them. Small gaps through the thicket allowed us to get some record shots at various stages, but with such young cubs we knew our chances were slim of getting good leopard cub shots. On our fifth drive our patience were rewarded when the leopard and her cubs walked in a dry riverbed an even allowed us to observe them while drinking water. This was a special moment for us all. At the time we did not know however, that this was just an appetizer for things to come. That night she made a kill and dragged it into a nearby tree. We returned to this sighting on each of our last three game drives and felt privileged to observe and photograph an episode of these leopards' lives!
Once again Mashatu revealed to us some of its unique and spectacular treasures. We can not wait to return there soon!
- Isak
First Day
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 1D Mark IV | 600mm | 1/400sec at f/5.6, ISO 200
One of the highlights on our first afternoon drive was to try different lighting techniques on a pair of lions with the vehicles' spotlights. Everyone had fun mastering backlit/rim, side and front lighting. The next morning we were out early and found a hyena den close to camp - a big clan with lots of youngsters that were playing outside the den each morning until late. Mashatu also delivered the usual specials with large breeding herds of elephants, including a day-old baby still with a piece of its umbilical cord attached, good bird photographic opportunities and the normal plains game.
Low Angle Glossy Ibis
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 1D Mark IV | 600mm | 1/1600sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
One afternoon we stumbled upon a small pan with about 30 foraging glossy ibises. These usually bland subjects looked spectacular in the late afternoon sun. That was exactly the type of photography that gets my heart racing - making ordinary subjects look spectacular. They were surprisingly accommodating and allowed us to get very close to them - out of the vehicle and onto the ground for that low angle perspective.
Mounting Tension
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Nikon D3s | 400mm (200-400mm) | 1/800sec at f/5, ISO 1000
You know that a trip is going well when a sighting of lions fighting with hyenas are not even considered the highlight of the weekend. On the second morning's drive we followed the same male and female lion we saw on our first game drive and observed how they wandered too close to the hyena den. The whole clan of eight adult hyenas grouped together and started harassing the trespassers. The young male's temper flared up in a number of sequences that offered first class action photography opportunities as he defended himself.
Red Nose Day
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Nikon D3s | 250mm (200-400mm) | 1/100sec at f/4.5, ISO 3200
A female leopard with three cubs have been in the area for our entire stay and we were dying to get a good look at them. Small gaps through the thicket allowed us to get some record shots at various stages, but with such young cubs we knew our chances were slim of getting good leopard cub shots. On our fifth drive our patience were rewarded when the leopard and her cubs walked in a dry riverbed an even allowed us to observe them while drinking water. This was a special moment for us all. At the time we did not know however, that this was just an appetizer for things to come. That night she made a kill and dragged it into a nearby tree. We returned to this sighting on each of our last three game drives and felt privileged to observe and photograph an episode of these leopards' lives!
An Ear with Character
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 1D Mark IV | 600mm | 1/250sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
Once again Mashatu revealed to us some of its unique and spectacular treasures. We can not wait to return there soon!
- Isak
Monday, January 10, 2011
CHANGING ANGLES AT MASHATU
"Changing your angle" is one of the techniques we teach during our photographic workshops. It means photographing from a different angle than normal, usually from a lower angle, close to the ground, capturing the subject eye-level with a soft background to create more striking photographs. With the right subject and conditions, this technique can help you make a good photo, GREAT!
During C4 Images' last Mashatu workshop for 2010, in early December, we focussed on applying this technique - with great success I might add. It's not just the freedom that a place like Mashatu Game Reserve gives us to get out the vehicles and try different techniques, but also the number of photographic opportunities that makes Mashatu such a productive photographic destination. It always delivers unique and spectacular subjects and environments.
During the photographic workshop, our clients thoroughly enjoyed exploring all genres of photography. It was not only the striking images we got from changing our angle and photographing laying flat on the ground on numerous occasions, but also one afternoon's spectacular thunderstorm with photographs of lightning and landscapes that had everybody very excited. A great sighting of a leopard on a log and lions with very small playful cubs rounded off a very successful five days spent in the bush.
Mashatu always deliver spectacular subjects in unique environments. C4 Images are looking forward to 2011 and our workshops to this wonderful place!
- Isak
Leopard King
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 1D Mark IV | 600mm | 1/20sec at f/4, ISO 800
During C4 Images' last Mashatu workshop for 2010, in early December, we focussed on applying this technique - with great success I might add. It's not just the freedom that a place like Mashatu Game Reserve gives us to get out the vehicles and try different techniques, but also the number of photographic opportunities that makes Mashatu such a productive photographic destination. It always delivers unique and spectacular subjects and environments.
Saddle-billed Stork Looking for Breakfast
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Nikon D3s | 200mm (200-400mm) | 1/1600sec at f/4, ISO 400
During the photographic workshop, our clients thoroughly enjoyed exploring all genres of photography. It was not only the striking images we got from changing our angle and photographing laying flat on the ground on numerous occasions, but also one afternoon's spectacular thunderstorm with photographs of lightning and landscapes that had everybody very excited. A great sighting of a leopard on a log and lions with very small playful cubs rounded off a very successful five days spent in the bush.
Low Angle Hyena
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Nikon D3s | 320mm (200-400mm) | 1/320sec at f/4, ISO 400
Mashatu always deliver spectacular subjects in unique environments. C4 Images are looking forward to 2011 and our workshops to this wonderful place!
Low Angle Photography
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 5D Mark II | 16mm (16-35mm) | 1/250sec at f/8, ISO 800
Mopani Contrast
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana
Canon 1D Mark III | 150mm | 1/20sec at f/22, ISO 400
- Isak
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)